Good Vibrations

Good Vibrations is a sex toy business based in San Francisco, California and originally founded in 1977 by sex therapist and educator Joani Blank[1] a graduate of Oberlin College, University of Hawaii and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Good Vibrations operates three retail stores in the San Francisco Bay Area, and another in Brookline, MA, a mail-order business, a website and three publishing companies: Down There Press, Passion Press and Sexpositive Productions. The company's official name is Open Enterprises, Inc.

Initially established with the goal of being a sex-positive and woman-centered alternative to the 'adult' bookstores of the time, Good Vibrations offered sex information and education and featured erotica and books about sexual health and pleasure. A notable part of the store was the display of antique vibrators, which became a tourist draw --- known as 'the antique vibrator museum.'

The business grew beyond books to encompass products such as sex toys and erotic videos. Good Vibrations began to offer seminars and workshops on sex and sexual health. Many notable persons have been employed by Good Vibrations, including sex educators Anne Semans, Cathy Winks, Violet Blue, and Susie Bright, author and sexologist Carol Queen, activist and San Francisco Police Commissioner Theresa Sparks, and founders of other sex-positive businesses.

In 1992, Blank sold Good Vibrations to the workers (including herself) incorporating it as a worker cooperative. In 1994, Blank left the company to pursue other interests. Facing increasing competition and a desire to expand operations, the company restructured as a worker-owned general business corporation in March 2006. Also in 2006, Good Vibrations opened the first Good Vibrations location outside of the San Francisco Bay Area, in Brookline, Massachusetts.

In 1995, Good Vibrations declared May to be National Masturbation Month, to raise awareness of masturbation and sexual health across the country. The company is a notable sponsor of LGBT events.

Board of Directors

• Margaret Cho Korean-american comedienne
• Donna Daniels
• Adrienne Haddad
• Carol Queen
• Linda Shaw
• Theresa Sparks

See also

• Center for Sex and Culture

References

• Important Events in the History of Masturbation, About.com Sexuality, February 16, 2006.
• "Profile - Joani Blank, a sexual aide: Founder of revolutionary store Good Vibrations brought sex toys to the masses" by Rona Marech, San Francisco Chronicle, February 14, 2003.
• "Groups seek to remove taboo on self-lovin'", Stanford Daily Online, May 22, 2006.
• Good Vibrations History, Open Enterprises, Inc, 2006.
• "Business Q&A with Carol Queen" at PussyCat Magazine
• Susie Bright FAQ by Susie Bright
• Margaret Cho joins sex toy retailer's board of directors

External links

• Good Vibrations Online
• Good Vibrations Blog - Official Company Blog
• GV Sex Tips - Good Vibrations Sex Tips Blog
• Good Vibrations Erotica Archive
• GV Weekly – Good Vibrations online magazine
• Good Vibrations on MySpace
• GVTV from Good Vibrations on YouTube
• Antique Vibrator Museum

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