Answer extracted from the Cliterally Obsessed podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How do sex shop staff handle customers who appear uncomfortable?
Staff at Wicked Wanda's are trained to read body language and initiate light, human connection before asking about personal preferences. Rather than immediately probing into what customers want, team members offer a gentle tour of the store, starting with familiar territory like body care and novelty sections, while reassuring visitors that staff have heard everything and judgment has no place in the conversation.
The approach reflects a deliberate shift away from high-pressure sales tactics. Creating psychological safety is the priority — staff understand that many first-time visitors carry shame, embarrassment, or simple uncertainty about entering an intimate wellness space. By observing how someone moves through the store and responding to non-verbal cues, team members can adjust their pace and level of engagement in real time.
Starting with a guided tour of less-charged sections gives customers a chance to acclimate. As explained in the Cliterally Obsessed episode, this method allows people to build confidence before encountering more specialized products. The message behind this sequencing is clear: you belong here, and we move at your pace.
"I started working in the store in an official capacity and I just fell in love. I fell in love with the customers, the conversations, and then the whole entrepreneurship side as well."
Madeline Dorian — Sex educator and entrepreneur with over 13 years of experience in the intimate wellness industry. She holds academic roots in sexuality studies from Concordia University and has received hands-on training from leading brands. Dorian co-runs Wicked Wanda's alongside her mother, a community-focused pleasure shop and educational space that doubles as a platform for connection and destigmatization.
The verbal reassurance — that staff have heard everything and carry no judgment — is equally essential. This single statement can dissolve much of the anxiety a person brings into a pleasure shop. It signals that the space exists specifically for people at all stages of curiosity, comfort, and experience. Whether someone is buying their first toy or seeking something entirely new, the culture at Wicked Wanda's emphasizes that all questions and interests are normal.
Beyond individual transactions, this philosophy shapes the entire environment. As detailed in this podcast episode, Wicked Wanda's operates as both a retail space and an educational platform, hosting workshops and support groups that further normalize conversations about pleasure and wellness. The staff training in body language reading and compassionate engagement is part of a larger commitment to making intimate wellness truly accessible.
A curious detail worth exploring: Madeline Dorian has consulted with healthcare professionals on how to better support their clients, showing how this retail approach bridges into clinical and therapeutic contexts. The training methods Wicked Wanda's uses may have applications far beyond a pleasure shop.
Key takeaways
- Staff read body language and adjust engagement in real time, rather than launching into a scripted pitch.
- Guided tours begin with low-stakes sections like body care before moving to more intimate products, allowing customers to build confidence.
- Explicit verbal reassurance that staff carry no judgment and have "heard everything" dissolves much of the shame that new customers carry.
- This compassionate approach reflects Wicked Wanda's identity as both a retail space and an educational platform committed to destigmatizing pleasure.
See also
How has the sex toy industry changed over the past 15 to 20 years?
Product quality and marketing have matured significantly, with vibrators becoming much quieter and rechargeable rather than battery-powered, reflecting broader shifts toward sustainability and user experience.
What should you look for when buying a butt plug or anal toy?
The most important feature to look for in an anal toy is a flared base that is as wide as, or wider than, the widest part of the toy itself, ensuring safety and comfort.
Why should you avoid silicone lubricant with silicone sex toys?
Silicone lubricant and silicone toys are incompatible because the liquid silicone breaks down the solid silicone material of the toy, degrading its integrity over time.