East Coast News is thrilled to announce that they have partnered with sex education powerhouse Everyone Deserves Sex Ed (EDSE) to create a lineup of expansive sex education materials and workshops for ECN customers and colleagues. Understanding the crucial impact that sex education has within adult retail spaces, ECN and EDSE aim to destigmatize sexuality conversations while providing accurate information and tools that adult retail staff can use right away.

This non-exclusive partnership with EDSE includes a series of digital educational guides that combine sales tools and tips with accurate information about sex and sexuality, starting with the ECN Flagging Guide currently in circulation and the ECN Sexual Orientation Guide set for release on Aug. 30. EDSE Founder Anne Hodder-Shipp will also host an exclusive workshop for ECN customers on Sept. 1 during the 2021 ECN Virtual Show.

“East Coast News is proud to have enlisted EDSE to create innovative, accessible, easy-to-understand educational content featuring accurate sexual health information and an expansive perspective on human sexuality,” ECN Director of Marketing Pete La Mantia said. “We knew we needed a trusted, knowledgeable source to help us with this initiative and Anne Hodder-Shipp and EDSE were the obvious choice. Not only is Anne extremely well educated herself, but with EDSE, she makes a point to learn from, work with, and elevate other respected professionals in the field and the entire industry will benefit from that.”

ECN’s partnership with EDSE will make it possible for adult retailers and their staff to access education materials and opportunities that can help build trust – and boost sales – within their communities.

“Sexual health, wellness, and education have become powerful cornerstones in our industry and it’s smart to bring the tools and skills directly to adult retailers,” Hodder-Shipp said. “Not everyone has the time or resources for formal training and this project can help bridge the gaps that traditional product trainings simply can’t offer. What better way to help store staff learn than by offering physical and digital materials they can read and benefit from in real time? I’m honored that ECN reached out to me and EDSE to spearhead this and support stores across the country.”

Education is crucial when creating and selling adult toys, and insufficient or inaccurate information can be harmful not just to shoppers but also stores’ profit margins. ECN also recognizes that learning about products beyond their pleasure applications can give staff the knowledge necessary to serve shoppers seeking more than a sex toy – including those experiencing sexual dysfunction and folks seeking gender-affirming products and apparel.

“Human sexuality is expansive, and we want to help the adult retail industry reflect that by normalizing these conversations with the help of experts in the field,” La Mantia said. “There are often a lot of terms thrown around with little explanation behind them, and we want to offer education on categories and lifestyles that often go undiscussed or misunderstood. These are not just buzzwords; these are real people and real aspects of human sexuality.”

While supporting ECN, EDSE hosts online trainings, professional development workshops, and a certification for sexuality professionals. To apply for EDSE’s next 35-hour Sex Educator Certification, visit Everyone Deserves  Sexed. To view the next lineup of workshops and Master Classes, visit Everyone deserves Sex ED.

EDSE’s next Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR) is scheduled Sept. 3-5, 2021. Learn more and sign up here: hEveryone Deserves Sex Ed.

For more information, please contact your ECN representative, email sales@ecn.com, or call (800) 999-2483.

To sign up with ECN, please visit East Coast News.