I'm Ky, founder of Sh!, and I'd like to say a HUGE 'thank-you' for being part of the Sh! community - we couldn't do what we do without you!
When I started Sh!, waaaaay back in 1992, it was to create a comfortable place in which to explore our unique relationship to sex, pleasure and our bodies, because nothing like that existed for women.
32+ years on, with women's right to owning their sexuality firmly on the map and with toys now freely on the shelves of every major high street, Amazon and a billion online stores, so to this extent, our mission is complete.
So, the fact that you choose to buy from Sh!, and so support our work and vision means everything, because it allows us to do sooooo much more than just flog sex toys!
Our customers make all the hard work worth it.
A wonderful email popped into our inbox. When we are busy spinning plates and ticking off as many tasks as possible on to-do lists, we sometimes forget to take time out to reflect on the work we have done so far. Like most women, we just keep going! So, being reminded of moments that have made a difference to somebody is simply incredible. Thank you.
What You Helped Us Achive in 2024:
What a year it has been! From thought-provoking conversations to joyous celebrations, from breaking taboos to building communities, 2024 has been an unforgettable journey. Through podcasts, workshops, market stalls, and training sessions, your support has encouraged us every step of the way. Let’s look at what you helped us achieve this year!
Untold Pleasures
The year started with us being the first guests on Untold Pleasures, a brand-spanking new podcast by the lovely twosome Sarah & Cheryl of Cancer, Sex & Intimacy. The series consists of 6 episodes featuring wonderful guests who were willing to share their experience of how they navigated the silent and often stigmatised space of cancer, sex and intimacy. Supported by @shinecancersupport and funded by @macmillancancer, we were so proud to be a part of this podcast. Listen to us talking about toys, taboos and the importance of community here.
River House Trust in Hammersmith is a lovely place to spend a day. We were invited to a couple of ladies' days where we talked about pleasure & safer sex for women living with HIV. We started one of the events by asking each guest to share something good that had happened to them in the last week. We went around the room, celebrating good stuff. The last person to speak said it was her 50th birthday. She didn’t think she’d live to see the day, which was a sobering moment.
Pleasure can be a crucial part of life regardless of health status. Of course, not everyone is keen, which is fine. But, for those who find pleasure an essential part of their overall well-being, information and support must be readily available. If healthcare staff feels uncomfortable talking about sex, they need to signpost to places like Sh!
With this in mind, we were beyond chuffed when we received an invitation to hold an online training session for junior doctors working in Oncology. Our session was built around advice on how best to support patients to maintain intimacy through illness and treatment. We covered sex-positive language, when and how to ask if a patient wants to talk about sex, the necessity of lube and, of course, basic pleasure product knowledge.
Proud As Punch
The London Dyke Market in July was a lesbian triumph - never has so many dildos been sold in such a short time! We weren't quite sure what to expect, but it was a wonderfully joyful (and sweaty!) event with a whopping 1895 (!) delicious dykes queuing for up to 45 minutes to get in.
The lovely folks at TENGA decided to throw rainbow glitter over LGBTQIA+ businesses and Sh! was, quite rightly, at the top of their gaydar. Maria & Ikenna stopped by for an interview with Ky as part of their Pride to the High Street campaign to celebrate Pride ‘24. It was a fun afternoon - check out the interview here!
We were invited to University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for their open day for women & vulva owners born intersex. At first glance, many visitors thought we were selling ‘candles’ - there were quite a few double-takes as delighted whispers spread across the room. Our table ended up being very popular! :)
A FLINTA Queermas
Our Christmas season began with a sold-out strap-on class at Strapped Flinta Wonderland in Hackney, our old stomping grounds. The Banapants Lippi grinder was particularly popular (no surprise!) and before long, party-goers were trying on harnesses and fondling dildos. All in all, an excellent day at work!
No sooner had we recovered from the strap-on class than it was time for the exceptionally well-organised Queermas Christmas market in Deptford. Queer queens & kings braved the wet weather for a spot of indy gift shopping. Many were too shy to buy a dildo, but we noticed you looking..!
Here’s to all the laughter, the learning, the connections made, and the barriers broken. Thank you for being part of our story this year. As we look to 2025, we’re excited to continue this journey with you. Let’s keep celebrating pleasure, challenging norms, and building a world where everyone feels empowered to explore and enjoy their intimate selves.
What You Helped Us Achive in 2023:
Vaginismus Awareness Day - IRL!
We are slowly starting to offer pop-up shops and educational events when we find venues with an ethos similar to our own.
We decided to create our first in-person Vaginismus Awareness Day event since Covid. And to be honest - we had forgotten how much work is included! An online event is so much faster and easier in terms of the actual event - all you need is a laptop, internet access and a cuppa :)
Moving stock, setting up, organsing an awesome all-women panel and clearing down within a tight timeframe wasn't all plain sailing - but it turned out to be a wonderful evening <3
Evie Fehilly, Hazel Mead, Lisa Mackenzie, Fran Bushe and Sarah Berry shared personal experiences and advice as guests relaxed in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Sex, Toys & Pleasure
Our collaboration with @sex_cancer_intimacy is going from strength to strength and we're incredibly proud to have our advice, tips and a selection of curated products included in their free booklet Pleasure & Intimacy: A Guide for People Living With Cancer.
The booklet is aimed at health professionals who want to ensure they are clued up enough to offer useful advice on sex & pleasure. Contact us or CSI for a copy.
Sarah & Cheryl (the wonderful women behind Cancer, Sex & Intimacy) organised their first in-person event at Future Dreams House in Kings Cross, London.
We, along with our suitcase full of lube and toys, were invited to talk about ways to reconnect with your body and sexuality when you are living with or beyond cancer.
It was an emotional evening with laughter, tears and hugs. Friendships were forged, body-maps were drawn, sex toys were woman-handled...
What You Helped Us Achieve in 2022
1st of April - Sh! is 30!
Happy 30th birthday! Despite having many wins to celebrate, we didn't go all out with a night on the tiles (or did we?). As always - we were busy looking after our customers :)))
Take a peak at some of our best (and worst!) memories over the last 30 years, shared on Instagram.
A Short History of Vibrators
'Welcome to Sh!'s 30th birthday celebrations, complete with cake and a short history of sex toys & vibrators! Let Fanny Talks take you on a whirlwind tour of cake batter, hand-cranked vibes and what appears to be a cheeky moment under the table...'
View A Short History of Vibrators by director Evie Fehilly here.
Cancer, Sex & Libido
After losing her husband to a brain tumour in 2019, @katlister (author of A Widowhood) visited Sh!, hoping to find a safe haven - and her lost libido...
In 2022, she contacted us and we spent a lovely afternoon drinking tea, catching and looking at sex toys in our warehouse in Epping. Hitting the (G)spot, her article about reclaiming her libido as a young widow was published in March '22.
What You Helped Us Achieve in 2021
Sadly, the pandemonium of the Covid-19 pandemic meant the closure of our (multi-award-winning!) physical store in 2020. We were all gutted about that, because individually advising peeps and providing upfront, comfortable info around sex and pleasure was always at the heart of Sh! Being a Yorkshire lass through and through, I was determined to carry this on.
Only one thing for it: Roll up sleeves and move the Sh! ethic online.
With the help of wonderful sex educator Evie Fehilly, the enormous wealth of expertise of Renee (multi-award-winning former store manager) and a fantastic film crew, the Sh! classes were reworked into online courses, and Shush Life was created.
Shush Life Launch
Shush Life is a sex-positive, educational platform harnessing decades of Sh! experience. Here, you can take courses to enhance your pleasure and get tailored advice from us.
Personal details (like names) are of course kept anonymous, but we use the platform to share our advice so everyone can benefit, as this question on how to have an orgasm.
It's your support that allows us to spend time spreading our advice.
We launched Shushlife in March 2021, with a huge online bonanza featuring Ginger and singer & TV personality Sinitta and big thanks also go out to them for their Sh! love and support!
Shush Life was featured Notebook, the Sunday Mirror supplement, which helped spread the word - according to the article, I help 500 women orgasm each week – but no woman is an Island - Sh! is run by an amazing team, more on whom later...
Sex Talk on This Morning
Then, on the back of the Notebook piece came This Morning. A researcher picked up the article and before I knew it, I was discussing orgasms and Vaginismus with Phil & Holly. Take a look at the recording here: This Morning.
Emails started coming in before the segment was even over. The stories shared with us were heartwarming and equally honest. Most thanked me for talking so openly/honestly about sex on morning TV, and many asked for advice regarding their particular issue (see one of the emails here).
It took days to individually respond to each person who got in touch, but we did. And it's your support that allows us to do that.
Macmillan - Cancer, Sex & Intimacy Launch
Just before the pandemic launched itself on the world, we were approached by Sarah, a young woman looking to reignite pleasure after cancer. Sarah also got in touch with Emma Quintal at Macmillan, who instigated an innovative and pioneering collaboration with Sh! As Covid-19 and lockdowns happened, the wonderful Cheryl came on board too and together we created four sex-positive online sessions for women affected by cancer.
Vaginismus Awareness Day - Our Most Far-Reaching Event Yet!
Over the years, we've met thousands of women with Vaginismus, and we made it our mission to break the silence around this painful (and lonely) condition that prevents vaginal penetration.
In 2015 we created a dedicated Vaginismus website alongside Vaginismus Awareness Day in 2015, and each year VAD grew.
This year’s event was our biggest to date. Due to lockdown, we took the event online, which meant guests from all over the world could attend, and they did!
As fun as sex toys are, our passion really lies in helping women find pleasure and empowerment.
Having Vaginismus doesn’t mean that pleasure isn’t possible – it most definitely is. It’s about figuring out other ways of exploring and experiencing pleasure without penetration. The first step is simply talking about this taboo subject and we're proud that the conversation was started in places as far afield as India, Canada, Australia, and South America.
PS: If you’d like Vaginismus advice or tips on how to explore penetration-free pleasure, please email us at advice@sh-womenstore.com
Sex with Cancer Online Shop Launch
I’m incredibly proud of our partnership with Sex with Cancer, an online sex shop and digital resource created by and for people with cancer.
SwC was conceived by friends and artists Brian Lobel and Joon Lynn Goh in dialogue with a steering group of community activists, creative thinkers and professionals across sex, sexual health and cancer care. The website is full of peer-led advice, practical resources, newly commissioned artworks, and a specially curated selection of Sh! products available to purchase.
Simply a HUGE Thank You! I have a small but formidable team of women working hard to help keep all the plates spinning and all the projects pioneering!
In terms of the day-to-day, Aphra expertly manages stock and deliveries, Yak handmakes our beautiful Sh! silicone dildos, strap-ons and bondage. Renee takes care of advice & education and Sophie, wizzard number-cruncher, keeps everything tickety-boo with the tax & Vat man.
Between us, and with some help from partners, friends & family, we keep this ship on course. When you order products from Sh! or buy a course from Shush Life, you're supporting the work we do.
We couldn't have done any of the above without your support, so once again, THANK YOU! We are YOUR biggest fans!
With love,
Ky & Team Sh! xx
