‘Fifty Shades’ Effect: Famed Sex Shops Report Record Sales for Handcuffs, Collars, BDSM Toys

“In more than twenty years of business, I’ve never seen a cultural force like this,” one national retailer tells TheWrap

Fifty Shades of Grey BDSM

The “Fifty Shades of Grey” effect knows no bounds — not even for the gags, restraints, ticklers and toys its helping move in sex shops across the country.

TheWrap spoke with standalone boutiques and national chains about sales spikes following the film’s staggering $94.4 million opening weekend, and they’re reporting back with record nunbers and rampant interest in the BDSM toys central to the Jamie DornanDakota Johnson romance.

Babeland, a bi-coastal operation that markets largely to females, said sales of accessories in the BDSM category are up 90 percent from last February with their locations in Seattle and New York posting best-ever in-store numbers.

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