2. Where’s MY Porn Store?
Examining the Business Models of Sex-Oriented Retail in Las Vegas

3. Introduction

4. Introduction

5. Introduction
Living in NY in 2007 I went to the Museum of Sex, leather
stores, worked at Agent Provocateur, found live burlesque...

6. Introduction
Living in NY in 2007 I went to the Museum of Sex, leather
stores, worked at Agent Provocateur, found live burlesque...
still had the attitude that it was supposed to be like foreplay, but I wasnt
actually supposed to talk about it... until babeland...

7. Introduction
Living in NY in 2007 I went to the Museum of Sex, leather
stores, worked at Agent Provocateur, found live burlesque...
still had the attitude that it was supposed to be like foreplay, but I wasnt
actually supposed to talk about it... until babeland...
Shoestring Promotions

8. Terms

9. Terms
Non-store retail

10. Terms
Non-store retail
Brick and Mortar

11. Terms
Non-store retail
Brick and Mortar
Sex-Positive

12. Terms
Non-store retail
Brick and Mortar
Sex-Positive
Secondary Effects

13. Terms
Non-store retail
Brick and Mortar
Sex-Positive
Secondary Effects
Cis-Gendered

14. Positionality

15. Positionality
I identify as a sex-positive, cis-gendered, queer, white,
middle-class womyn; born & raised in Las Vegas,
where sex and churches are everywhere.

16. Research Questions

17. Research Questions
Why isn’t there a sex-positive, sex-oriented retail store
in Las Vegas?

18. Research Questions
Why isn’t there a sex-positive, sex-oriented retail store
in Las Vegas?
What factors do or don’t support this kind of store
in Las Vegas?

19. Research Questions
Why isn’t there a sex-positive, sex-oriented retail store
in Las Vegas?
What factors do or don’t support this kind of store
in Las Vegas?
Where and how is pleasure for women sold
in Las Vegas?

20. Literature & Theorhetical Framework

21. Literature & Theorhetical Framework
Radical Feminism

22. Literature & Theorhetical Framework
Radical Feminism
Sex Positive Feminism

23. Literature & Theorhetical Framework
Radical Feminism
Sex Positive Feminism
Sex Toy Retail

24. Literature & Theorhetical Framework
Radical Feminism
Sex Positive Feminism
Sex Toy Retail
Zoning History in Las Vegas

25. Methods

26. Methods
Interviews - 4

27. Methods
Interviews - 4
Email Interviews - 6

28. Methods
Interviews - 4
Email Interviews - 6
Ethnographic Sites - 9

29. Methods
Interviews - 4
Email Interviews - 6
Ethnographic Sites - 9
Frantic Emails & Calls - 3,937

30. Portland Stores
Shebop
It’s My Pleasure -

31. Vegas Stores
Xandria -
The Rack -

32. Priscilla’s -
The Studio -
Affiliates - 1099 employees, no licensure, buyback of product,
online option for purchase, or online affiliate only..

33. Findings - Business Models
Location Incorporation Employees Structure Licensure
*SheBop (i/e) LLC, co-investors officers, investors, PT b/m, online business license only
*It’s My Pleasure(i/e) LLC, one officer one officer, one PT b/m, local delivery business license only
Counter Media ... owner/employee b/m business license only
Adult Superstore INC., subsidiary hierarchy; FT, PT b/m Industrial, Adult Retail
Unrestricted
Priscilla’s (i/e) INC., subsidiary hierarchy; FT, PT b/m Commercial, Adult Retail
51%
*Rack (e) LLC, two officers/ officers, PT b/m Commercial,
co-investors Adult Retail 51%
Studio (e) LLC officers, PT b/m, online Industrial, Adult Retail
Unrestricted
*Xandria (i/e) INC, subsidiary hierarchy; FT, PT **internet based, Industrial, Adult Retail
separate call center Unrestricted
*Affiliates (e) **1099 Employees hierarchy; PT **home-based w/ optional **no separate business
internet component license
(i) = interview * = feminism informs in **factors that shape LV
(e) = ethnographic site some way retail

34. Findings

35. Findings
Relatively Closed Communities

36. Findings
Relatively Closed Communities
Vegas History

37. Findings
Relatively Closed Communities
Vegas History
Affiliate Model circumnavigates zoning and licensure restristions

38. Findings
Relatively Closed Communities
Vegas History
Affiliate Model circumnavigates zoning and licensure restristions
Majorly successful models in Las Vegas have combination licensure on
the same property or are large corporations

39. Findings
Relatively Closed Communities
Vegas History
Affiliate Model circumnavigates zoning and licensure restristions
Majorly successful models in Las Vegas have combination licensure on
the same property or are large corporations
These models are not intrinsically informed by feminism

40. Analysis

41. Analysis
Face of sex-oriented retail in Las Vegas is white, older and male, even if its
queer

42. Analysis
Face of sex-oriented retail in Las Vegas is white, older and male, even if its
queer
If you zone it, it will come...

43. Analysis
Face of sex-oriented retail in Las Vegas is white, older and male, even if its
queer
If you zone it, it will come...
Pleasure for Women is still undercover in Las Vegas

44. Analysis
Face of sex-oriented retail in Las Vegas is white, older and male, even if its
queer
If you zone it, it will come...
Pleasure for Women is still undercover in Las Vegas
Other successful feminist models are economic, as well as patriarchal
interventions.

45. Analysis
Face of sex-oriented retail in Las Vegas is white, older and male, even if its
queer
If you zone it, it will come...
Pleasure for Women is still undercover in Las Vegas
Other successful feminist models are economic, as well as patriarchal
interventions.
in LV, the most financially successful models are traditional retail models,
and alternative or more independently financed models are slower to grow
customer bases

46. Thank You!
Look under your chair please :)
The Xandria Collection - http://www.xandria.com/index.php?siteid=corporate
The Rack - http://www.onyxtheatre.com/index.htm
The Studio - http://www.peselectro.com/
Shebop - www.sheboptheshop.com
Welcome to the Slumber Parties by Michelle Website!
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