Cover Mabel Lau, Lovehoney Group’s territory manager for Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan (Photo: courtesy of Lovehoney Group)
Mabel Lau, Lovehoney Group’s territory manager for Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan (Photo: courtesy of Lovehoney Group)
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In our 10 Minutes With ... Mabel Lau, Lovehoney Group’s territory manager shares what her parents think about her job and how sexual wellness gets mixed up with pornography
The sexual wellness industry has boomed during Covid-19, according to a 2022 YouTube video by The Economist, which reported that US$19 billion was spent on sex toys in 2021 globally—almost twice as much as the amount spent in 2016. The same report also suggests that the industry is finally becoming destigmatised, with sexual wellness now being considered a necessary aspect of holistic wellbeing.
Mabel Lau, Territory Manager Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan at Lovehoney Group—the sexual wellness company that owns vibrator and sex toy brands such as Womanizer, We-Vibe and Happy Rabbit—feels that this new approach towards normalising sexual wellness has also permeated to many parts of Asia. We sat down with her for a chat over coffee to discuss the state of the industry in Asia, the increasing normalisation of sexual pleasure and how the smallness of Hong Kong homes can interfere with one’s sex life.
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How did you get into the sexual wellness industry?
By accident actually! I used to work for Hugo Boss in Germany. I loved it, but I was missing Hong Kong, especially during Covid-19, so I wanted to move back. But I also wanted to shift to the wellness industry because of my love for yoga and meditation. So, when I came across this position at Lovehoney Group on LinkedIn, I applied, got the interview the next day, and after five rounds of interview, I got the job. It’s been an amazing journey so far.
How did your family and friends react to your new job?
My parents still don’t know that my company makes sex toys. I told them I was making “massage machines”, which is technically not wrong (laughs). But my partner and friends have been very supportive. Some have started talking to me about their own sex lives; it’s amazing to see how my new job has made them open up to me. Also, when I’m at networking events, I quickly become the centre of attention because I am part of such a unique industry.
What are the unique factors to consider while selling sex toys in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is more traditional than other markets. Singapore is also a bit conservative, but probably less than Hong Kong. Meanwhile, our sales in Japan have picked up since a sex toy from [our vibrator brand] Womanizer was used as evidence in a [divorce] trial highly publicised by the country’s media [a few years back]. [People in] Mainland China and Taiwan are also quite open about sex toys.
In Hong Kong, one of the things to consider is that people’s homes are very small, and people—especially young ones—have less privacy in their own homes. That’s why we’ve been developing new products, such as Womanizer Wave, to address this.
Tell me more about Womanizer Wave.
For our Womanizer brand, we partnered with Hansgrohe, a German brand in the bathroom and kitchen industry with more than 100 years of experience, to create a shower head that uses the power of water to stimulate the clitoris. We’ve realised the bathroom is often the only place where Hongkongers—and others—can enjoy some private time. It’s exciting for us that a company as recognised as Hansgrohe worked with us on this project, because it is a sign that sexual wellness is getting more and more destigmatised. The Womanizer Wave has been awarded three design and innovation awards so far! It’s our first device that bridges the gap between mainstream products and sex toys.
Above The Womanizer Wave (Photo: courtesy of Lovehoney Group)
Above The Womanizer Wave in use (Photo: courtesy of Lovehoney Group)
The Womanizer Wave (Photo: courtesy of Lovehoney Group)
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What channels do you use to advertise your products?
It’s a challenge, especially in Asia. We can’t sell our products in supermarkets, put advertisements on streets or on TV, because a lot of people still link our products to pornography. Even when our advertisement is simply images of women smiling, we face a lot of rejection from drugstores, pharmacies, beauty and lifestyle shops. So, we’re trying to look at other solutions that are more relatable to our target market. Influencers, for example, are great to work with, because they’re open to [this idea], and they give honest feedback. But even then, there are some limitations.
Such as?
Influencers have faced backlash from users and have been banned from social media platforms, especially in Taiwan, for endorsing sex toys brands, including ours. It’s a reminder that we still have some work to do to normalise sexual wellness in the region.
Salomé Grouard was Digital Editor and Front & Female Content Lead at Tatler Hong Kong. Primarily focused on managing Tatler Hong Kong’s digital platform and content, she also covers gender equality, the music scene and sports through interviews with industry leaders, experts and trendsetters.
Interview highlights include renowned conservationist Dr Jane Goodall, Korean actor Park Seo Jun, singer Jorja Smith, Chinese TV host Yue-Sai Kan, YouTuber Kimono Mom, Japanese rapper Awich, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter Mikey Musumeci.
She has also produced stories on revolutionising sexual wellness in Asia, activism within the surfing community, Asian trans musicians reclaiming their narratives through music and looked at the toxicity of gym culture through the lens of the plus-size community. She also covers music festivals, such as Hong Kong’s Clockenflap and Bali’s Suara.
