Crave Launches to Make Sex Toys More Accessible

San Francisco startup launches to bring discreet, beautifully designed luxury sex toys to mainstream consumers.

News provided by

Feb 14, 2013, 05:43 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CRAVE, a San Francisco-based startup specializing in making discreet and beautifully designed luxury sex toys, announced today that it has officially launched, leaving its initial crowd-funded beta phase.

From Fifty Shades of Grey selling over 60 million copies to local drugstores now selling sex toys in aisles directly next to condoms, it's undeniable that a sexual awakening is sweeping the nation. Sexuality, a core of humanity that has long been stigmatized, is now experiencing an acceptance and empowerment that is here to stay and its bringing sex toys to the mainstream.

CRAVE Founders, seasoned entrepreneur Michael Topolovac, and industrial designer Ti Chang, are helping to shape and celebrate this awakening. They are doing this by bringing accessibility, luxury, and quality design, materials, and manufacturing practices to an industry that has previously been limited to XXX stores and dark alleyways.

"The historical stigma around the category has largely kept thoughtful design and entrepreneurial companies away from the space. This has left a dramatic disconnect between what the market appears to want, and what is generally available," said CRAVE co-founder and CEO, Michael Topolovac. "With cultural shifts rapidly moving past this stigma, a remarkable opportunity is emerging that extends well beyond the business economics, as compelling as they may be."

"The look and feel of the products that were in the market really struck me. I wanted to create quality products that feel worthy of a woman's most intimate moments; a product that is easy to live with and use without shame," said CRAVE co-founder and industrial designer, Ti Chang. "Our way of approaching design and local manufacturing speaks to the attention to detail and care that we believe these products deserve."

New Vibrators and Foreplay Jewelry
In addition to officially launching and leaving the crowd-funded beta phase, the company is expanding its product line beyond its initial flagship product, the CRAVE DUET. The DUET was the first vibrator to merge quality, luxury design, and a USB memory drive. Today, the company debuts two new vibrators, including the Solo and Wink, as well as foreplay accessories that double as fashionable jewelry and blur the line between public and private. The edgy foreplay jewelry easily goes from daytime fashion to nighttime fun and includes the Droplet Necklace, Leather Cuffs, and Tassels. The expanded product line starts at $62 and is available for purchase online and in retailers across the US.

"Vibrators On-Demand"
In the spirit of making vibrators more accessible, the company is rolling out its new "Vibrators On-Demand" delivery option for last minute Valentine's Day shoppers in San Francisco. For today only, San Francisco residents can use their mobile phone or computer to access Lovecrave.com/Vday, place an order for a CRAVE DUET vibrator, and receive same day delivery in the comfort of their home, office, or anywhere of their choosing.

The vibrators will come specially gift-wrapped, discreetly delivered by the co-founders themselves, and will be sure to keep last minute Valentine's Day shoppers out of the dog house.

Build-A-Vibe Workshop
Further extending CRAVE's mission to make vibrators more accessible, the company is hosting Build-A-Vibe, a series of hour-long workshops welcoming singles and couples alike to build their own customized CRAVE DUET vibrator. For $75, attendees can assemble their own vibrator with custom engraving, get a behind-the-scenes look into how these discreet vibrators are built in San Francisco, enjoy unlimited wine and apps, and meet the founders.

Build-A-Vibe offers a unique Valentine's Day activity while celebrating the official launch of CRAVE and providing a view into the company's rare and innovative onshore manufacturing practices.

About CRAVE
CRAVE was founded by seasoned entrepreneur and Stanford product designer Michael Topolovac, and skilled industrial designer Ti Chang, in the fall of 2011. First identifying the shifting sentiment and need for sex toys that shed the stigma, CRAVE launched a crowd-funding project, merging a USB memory drive with a vibrator. The project, ultimately securing over $100K from over 900 donors, introduced the DUET vibrator to the world and further validated the company's belief that sensual products should look as good as they feel. Beyond beautiful and accessible design, CRAVE is among the few companies in the pleasure products industry that is led by a skilled female product designer and manufactures in the US right from their San Francisco office - allowing the team to design higher quality and more innovative products.

Media Contact:
Nadine Haija
206-619-7124
[email protected]

SOURCE CRAVE