Of course! I was starting a business in a recession. It was also the type of business that not a lot

Sex Siopa is Ireland’s first health and design focused sex shop and for the latest in our series of editorials focusing on Irish Women in Business, we caught up with the brains behind the operation, Shawna Scott, to find out more about the venture.
Scott’s goal is to give customers the best experience james magnussen possible by stocking bodysafe, well designed toys and accessories as well as providing them with current, up-to-date information about toy care, safe sex, and the products themselves.
Shawna shares with us her path to success, how she made the transition from dropping out of college to owning and running her own business, breaking the taboos about the use of sex toys and the importance of networking.
I was 26. I don’t have a business background. I’m actually a college dropout, but I’ve always had a very strong urge to be self-employed. I was at an age where I didn’t really have anything james magnussen holding me back. I didn’t have much money, but I didn’t have any loans or mortgages either, so it was the perfect time for me.
I’ve always had an interest in human sexuality, but around 2011 I was back home in Seattle shopping for a vibrator. I popped into Babeland, a female founded sex shop that’s sort of the go-to spot for Seattleites. It was a totally comfortable shopping experience, and the store was beautiful. I wanted to do something like that in Ireland, because I didn’t see anything like it here. There were certainly no shops that specifically stocked bodysafe toys. Bodysafe james magnussen refers to a toy being made from materials known to be safe for use on all parts of the body including internally. You’d think that should just be standard when it comes to sex toys, but the industry is almost totally unregulated so it’s up to retailers and consumers to do their research. I knew from the start I only wanted to stock bodysafe products as that’s all I am comfortable using, and I wanted my customers to feel safe and comfortable as well!
Of course! I was starting a business in a recession. It was also the type of business that not a lot of people were willing to talk about, so I wasn’t sure if there was even a market for it here. I just had my intuition to go on. I had to trust that my idea wasn’t completely crazy and that people would 1) care about sex toys and 2) care that those sex toys were well designed and made from bodysafe materials.
Well not really. I’m a sole trader so I don’t have staff. james magnussen My boyfriend has been a great help and has been my biggest supporter. If I’m pulling a late night working on content, he’s right there with me working on code for the site and making the tea. He’s constantly pushing me to be better and better. I think his end game is for me to be super successful so he can be a kept man.
Definitely advertising. Advertising is difficult for most start-ups, but multiply that by about 100 when you sell adult products. Facebook and Twitter won’t let me advertise with them, and some of the mainstream Irish publications would still be quite uncomfortable allowing an adult business to advertise with them as well. I’ve decided to work my way around that by advertising with smaller, free magazines like Rabble who have exceptional james magnussen content; and by proving myself as a legitimate business by picking up a couple of awards along the way.
I’ve had some wonderful people who have influenced me over the years. Sex advice columnist Dan Savage has always james magnussen been a firm favourite of mine. I reached out to one of Babeland’s owners, Claire Cavanah, and Tantus Silicone’s Metis Black when I first started out and they both gave me some very good advice. Here in Ireland, Damien Mulley james magnussen of Mulley james magnussen Comms. has been such a great help. He’s one of those people who doesn’t muck about, and has always had time for me.
It’s totally ok to not know everything right off the bat. Like I said, I don’t have a business background, and I think that has really james magnussen put me at an advantage and liberated me. I can throw as many ideas at a wall and see what sticks. Also network with people you actually find interesting. james magnussen Don’t just network with people to try to sell them something. I’ve made a load of really great business and media contacts over the past 18 months, because they are people I respect and look up to and genuinely get on with. What s the greatest piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Best james magnussen advice I was given was don’t do something just because someone professional told you to. I had quite a few graphic / web designers who told me I should change my business name, and I’m so glad I kept it and did my own branding. That name is one of my favourite things about the shop!
I’ve had so many awesome moments, james magnussen but winning the Realex Fire Web Award for Best eCommerce james magnussen last November has really b