The story behind Squeaky Clean Toys – how did it all start ?
Icky & Yucky… or Shrewd & Smart?
The original back story of how SQUEAKY CLEAN TOYS began wasn’t our own, but it’s what got this off the ground.
Then read on to see how the heck we ended up really owning it.
The story...
“In a frenzy of house decluttering, we came across one stubborn box that remained a mystery – it was our collection of naughty adult toys. And there were a LOT. We had old favorites that got replaced by newer models, some that we tried but didn’t quite work for us, some that we never used and were never opened, and more.
So we tallied up the potential value of these unwanted toys and were shocked by what lay in front of us – many of the toys were high-end, designer toys (Lelo, We-vibe, Womanizer, etc) that we had spent between $100-200 on… each! It was a gold mine…or so we thought.
At a dinner party later that week, the topic of decluttering came up and to our surprise, our “mystery box” issue quickly became a hot topic. Suddenly, between the six of us, we were thrown into a Sherlock Holmes thriller, each thinking of ways we could each cash in on our fortune.
Surely we could figure out this puzzle!
Yet, after an hour of brainstorming and problem-solving, we were left scratching our heads and we realised that there was no online marketplace for selling our used and unwanted adult toys. And worse, no easy solution after all.
We imagined a marketplace where buyers and sellers could easily (and cheaply) both buy and sell adult toys online discreetly. There would be a secure payments system, easily searchable categories (toys, clothing, bondage, better sex, etc.), affordable commissions, anonymity, good customer support, and an opportunity for people to cash in on otherwise unwanted items.”
And so it began.
Their ‘ideal’ was a secure, discreet, professional marketplace – but there didn’t even seem to be a way to recycle or give away sex toys! We figured that they couldn’t be the only people with this issue. So we decided to help them out.
We did the research, and we did find places where you could sell or trade practically anything, used, not clean, and definitely not in a discreet, professional, or secure way. But somewhere deep within the mass toy market, and amongst the people using them, there is also a tiny little market that was clean and sterile too. It brought out a passion to help them, help the planet, and the sex toy industry all move in a positive direction.
Squeaky Clean Toys was set up with the intention of solving this “mystery box” dilemma once and for all!
Before you judge!
Naturally, we thought, many people will have a strong opinion about buying and selling unwanted adult toys. There will be questions too – is it an “icky idea” or actually a very savvy idea? Of course there will be those that think the idea is gross, but, when over 51% of people in the USA are reported to own at least one of these toys, the big question we kept coming back around to was “how could we help over half the population that probably has this same predicament?” And as we learn more, it’s also “how can we help them know when to buy a good body-safe toy, (new from a shop even) over one that might do them a lot of harm!”
Not an easy path.
We started this by helping someone else out, and to be fair, it piqued our interest to see if we could make this work in an open, mainstream, professional way. We do like a positive challenge! We’re totally hands on, from the tech. behind the scenes, to the hand-holding support guiding the users through the process. As we all learned about the enormous sex toy world, it was clear that it was going to be a difficult to get it right. The original toys that sparked the idea got sold (and their owners moved on), whilst we kept navigating our way through some tricky waters. By that time, we had developed a connection with all the users because we provide a high level of customer support and heavily monitor everything on the site. We had a definite view about the direction we wanted this business to go in, in order to bring it to as many people as possible in the most safe, sex-positive way.
But we really own this now.
We continue to do the nitty gritty work, and in touch with the users every day. For us it’s been a mind-blowing journey, and we’re building a great community that gets what we’re doing. We never expected the seemingly boring jobs we have, to end up here! We love what life’s twists and turns can bring, but we never expected this!
What a journey!
The initial reality opened the Pandora’s box up! We learned a heck of a lot more about sex and toys – stuff we should all have known but our lives were too busy in other ways. The variety of toys for a start – it´s mind-blowing and exciting, and the importance of the material they´re made up of – it´s scary and enlightening! The original stash was all top-notch silicone, with one tempting exception of a cool-looking transparent jelly dildo (well that went promptly into the trash once they learned how to pick a body-safe toy.) Not so cool !!!”
We spent a lot of our days working out what Squeaky does not represent, as much as developing what it does. We’ve learned about the mass consumerism of cheap and nasty throw away ones vs. the waste of so many good quality toys sitting in a drawer unused. We also discovered the beauty of the design, and the care and attention that the best or more modern manufacturers take; the unexpected medical nature and health benefits that many of the toys help people with; and the amazing insight into the fantasy, and collectors worlds. But mostly, we now realize the diverse self discovery journeys that these amazing toys can facilitate for so many, and it excites us to be able to help facilitate this for more people.
Our ideal solution
Our ideal marketplace is only for the few – the premium branded, body-safe, non-porous, sterilizable toys.
Sellers can de-clutter & raise cash, and buyers can get a bargain or experiment with new types of toys.
Everyone in the community gets the chance to help someone else out of their journey.
The planet could breathe a little sigh of relief.
The real value
Because sex, (sexuality, or even sensuality!) can be a topic that carries a stigma, most people are simply not aware of how a sex toy can help them physically, or how they can help you know your own body, have a better your relationship with it, and as well as with a partner. The real value of owning the right toys for you is more than just saving money or the planet. So we’re staying focused on all those positive reasons why we’ve taken this on!
Thank-you
It’s nice to keep getting positive feedback, we do need it too to keep going. Today as I write, a buyer emailed to say thank-you, and…
“you’ve really established a safe and overall positive environment, where selling/buying used toys becomes a serious yet nonchalant business. “
The story continues.
Our daily reading now revolves around self development and sex toys – how the world uses or views them, and how we can help. We research everything through the fabulous scientific data & medical staff, and sex bloggers that are dedicating their lives to the goodness and positivity of sex.
We’re hooked, and we want to be part of that sex-positive, “open the world´s eyes” movement in our own small way.
Always keeping things professional, clean, simple & secure, we´ll do our utmost to help every member as much as we possibly can in this brave new world of squeaky clean second-hand, sex-related gear. There are loads of sex toys out there to help us grow sexually ( and believe me it´s never too late to start !). It´s just a matter of keeping trying them so you can keep refining that perfect toy box. We´re going to help you afford to do that!
Overall, our mission is to help you live a better, happier sex life, and make a little extra money too, of course in a very practical, discreet, and safe way. We require that all used toys be cleaned and sterilized by both the seller before dispatch, and by the buyer before they use the toy.
But keep in mind, many of these toys have hardly been used – they’re stashed away in some mystery box and can´t wait for “play time.”
It’s time to be bold & brave. So saddle up, take a chance, and have some fun!
You may find exactly what you’ve been waiting for 🙂
“The only place where private individuals can buy and sell clean and sterilized, used or nearly new, body-safe adult items – in a really simple, discreet, and secure way.”
We are always looking for feedback and ways to improve the future of Squeaky Clean Toys, so if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please reach out to us at hello@squeakycleantoys.com. We’re always just one click away!
