CREDIT: CHRIS BROWN
Spot of Delight doesn't look like your typical sex shop. Co-owner Ana Brown said they used the Apple Store as inspiration when they designed their store.

Alone for Valentine’s Day? No problem. Spot of Delight may be just the place for you.

The new sex shop, located at 426 Richmond St., features a showroom style layout with a tester for every product available for purchase on display. Co-owner Ana Brown said this is so consumers know exactly what they’re getting when they make a purchase.

Brown said it’s a unique experience compared to other sex shops in the city.

“Our customers tell us they feel very comfortable shopping in our store, when sometimes they haven’t felt comfortable shopping at some of the other stores,” Brown said.

She credits this to the open, bright and airy layout as well as the non-judgmental and informed staff. There is also no packaging on display in the store, which means there is no nudity or pornographic images.

“They told us we normalized the experience and put them at ease.”

Spot of Delight stands by three core principles: being discreet, inclusive and being body safe.

When it comes to discretion, Brown said Spot of Delight can be as discreet as you want it to be. Private sessions can be booked from 9:00 a.m. until noon for anyone who is hesitant to shop at a sex store so they can come and browse the store alone.

Brown added that this is also an opportunity to schedule a fun day with friends or with a partner.

Selling products that are safe for bodies is also a priority at Spot of Delight. Brown said the store does not carry products made of potentially harmful materials or chemicals such as phalates. All of the toys available are made of silicone, steel or glass.

“[It puts people] at ease because they know that any product that they pick up at our store is body safe. They don’t even need to look at the package to see what’s in them because we’ve already done that for them,” Brown said.

Making the store inclusive for all gender orientations, sexual orientations, kink orientations and more was also an important factor in the development of the store. Brown said all staff take sensitivity training to ensure they use appropriate language when speaking about issues that may be sensitive to some consumers.

The store will also be hosting their first gallery event featuring the artwork of Nic DeGroot, a local live performance painter, on Feb. 12.

Spot of Delight also offers workshops to introduce customers to new experiences and can cost as little as $5. The store is currently offering a Sensual Couples Valentines Workshop with a Dominatrix on Feb. 14 and a wax play workshop on Feb. 20.

Spot of Delight offers a 10 per cent student discount.

Brown said she was nervous the first time she went into a sex shop but advises Londoners and Fanshawe students that Spot of Delight will put them at ease and make their shopping experience enjoyable.

“This isn’t an activity that needs to be hidden, that’s why we put [the store] on Richmond Row on a busy intersection… every other city has a sex shop right downtown, and it’s a fundamental part of human nature and a fundamental part of culture.”