Shopper
Ann Summers Ipswich
Pulse & Cocktails Ipswich
Private Ipswich
I relocated to Ipswich to round off my Suffolk odyssey and found Ann Summers on a nice corner plot in a semi-pedestianised location. It began by striking me with great windows (“Have a Sexy Staycation - Come Fly With Me!”) and the pinkness of its floor tiles before I picked up on the music, the shop’s buzz of customers and general tidiness. At the rear, beyond the usual buffers of lingerie, lubes and novelties, plus signs promoting Ann Summers’ battery and toy recycling service, I reached the compact toy department. Here the Try Before You Buy unit was a little spoiled by stray toys sat on top of it and a £25 Desire Shaft from the IN2U range lurking where the £33.50 Touch Shaft should live, according to the label. Beside the doorway to the attractive changing area the 18-rated DVDs looked rather lost. The two I checked were £6 and unpriced; a recurring problem for Ann Summers I’m sorry to say. Circling wireless egg vibes and a rack of sale lingerie, I reached PVC corsets down from £40 to a very tempting £15. I repassed the now less-busy manageress but failed to get a welcome or offer of help again. At the door I noted deals running on various dressing-up playwear uniforms and exposed nipples on packaging. These might be too visible from the street, where they could raise eyebrows. Far from perfect but still a clean, bright, appealing adult shop in a prime location, fully deserving good marks.
P&C was also close to Ipswich’s centre and was the largest shop visited on this trip. With room to play with, all important areas of adult retail had the space to be displayed well. From the two rooms of DVDs upstairs - bondage and gay in one, more general interest in the other - to the two rooms of toys and outfits downstairs, I was impressed with both the scope and presentation of the stock. Dècor-wise, the standout room was the main one, with mirrored slatwall and marble-effect floor tiles giving it a bright, playful, theatrical sense. Framed art on the staircase, a friendly and helpful manageress and Music Legs hosiery were all plus points but I did feel the atmosphere suffered from the absence of music, especially in the duller blue carpeted/grey slatwalled rooms upstairs - where R18 films were £25, 3 for £50 or 7 for £100 and the preview TV was off. I wasn’t so keen on Sweet Sixteen sex dolls either, but each to their own. Among fetish bits in the lower side room I liked the choice of crops and PVC nurses dress for £44.99. There was also a good selection of Roxana, a Hustler Virtual Girl (no obvious price) and overly complex deals: Buy a toy over £X and get a second toy for half price, or buy any toy over £Y and get £10 off any multi-purchase of DVDs... Although my head was spinning a little as I left, this excellent store still deserves full marks.
A ten minute walk from the middle of town, past BBC Radio Suffolk, this Private had free parking close by and was next to a busy junction. Blessed with a personable, bearded manager, I was instantly made to feel at home and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in undemanding surroundings. The grey and blue/red slatwall, fluorescent tube lighting and blue carpet tiles were standard issue, but the DVD room had been given a gentle makeover with small posters up high helping to add interest. Tapes in a basket were £10 or 3 for £25 while DVDs were £25 each or 3 for 2. Unlike the Lowestoft branch, I didn’t notice any 3 for 1 deals though. On the other hand there were lots of gay, bi, TV/TS and fetish titles, as well as conventional straight porn to pick from. Music played from a radio on the floor as I looked over magazines, including a £10 Skin- Two from 2005. Plenty of choice though. I moved deeper into the main room under the watchful eye of the manager, admiring a six DVD ‘cube of porn’ deal on the counter. The white-sleeved films had been taped together into £40 cubes which could be had at half price with another purchase - very nice. A wooden shelving unit looked cheap and gappy though, with the ID lubes on it being especially in need of replenishment. A pretty good store overall, but one that could benefit from a little attention in certain areas.
57
Erotic Trade Only June 2011
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