'Pre-Loved' Sex Shop Lewes - Rumours
Mike BellSo my physical shop is closing its doors, but not to become the Pre-Loved Sex Shop in Lewes - the recycled sex toy emporium! (I admit, that would make for quite the conversation starter.)
The Real Transition - not into 'Sex Shop Lewes'
After a time running my brick-and-mortar store in Lewes, I'm making a strategic pivot. My success at Top Drawer has opened wholesale opportunities I can't ignore, and my growing role in supplying bands and festivals with merchandise has created exciting new connections in the music industry.
Lessons from Retail Life
My time running the physical shop has been an invaluable education in:
- Product pricing strategies
- Packaging that works (and doesn't)
- Managing variations and inventory
- The delicate art of retail relationships
What I'll Miss Most
Nothing compares to those face-to-face interactions with genuine music and film enthusiasts. I've treasured conversations with musicians who stopped by, the frantic last-minute shoppers looking for "a gift for a man" (a surprisingly universal dilemma), and of course, my unofficial game of "Genius Bingo" – tallying each time a customer used that magic word to describe something in the shop.
Looking Forward
This transition gives me the freedom to:
- Focus on designing more music maps and film plot maps
- Build relationships with wholesale partners
- Expand my festival and band merchandise business
- Connect with people beyond the confines of a single location
While I'll miss the daily interactions at the shop, I’m excited about applying what I've learned to a broader canvas. The physical doors may be closing, but the business is opening to new possibilities.
To everyone who's visited the shop over the years ,thank you for being part of this chapter. As this next phase unfolds, I’ll see you at festivals, trade shows, and online.
And yes, I’m still secretly keeping score in Genius Bingo, but not opening a sex shop in Lewes.