Christmas at the sex shop

The recession proves: sex doesn’t sell everything.

The short Mrs. Christmas outfit and the black laced nightie are decorating the store window on the Upper Dominick Street.  David Andrews opened the Laura Jane Adult Shop in Galway two and a half years ago. It has been over 17 years since he started to work in the erotic business in Dublin.

Laura Jane Adult Shop in Galway, Photo: Tanja Goldbecher

Next to the Firewoman, police and school girl costumes a red velvet dress with white feathers attached to it is hung up. “Until the 31^st of October we have the Halloween costumes put up and from the 1^st of November until the end of December it’s Christmas,” explains the owner of shop. It is the middle of November and none of the Christmas themed items have been sold yet.

Sales are down and even suspender underwear in red and white isn’t able to change that. “I don’t foresee any big rush for Christmas,” says David Andrews. “Not many people have money right now,” he adds. “It’s more like secret Santa than Christmas presents.”

“We are the most female friendly of the shops,” says Andrews. The sex shop has very little competition in the city and is located right in the middle of the pub and party area. To specialize on women’s accessories is a new concept of the family business. “Seven out of ten customers are women,” comments the 56 year old owner. Two days a week he employs well trained female staff to have an excellent customer service.

Looking back at the 70s the sex industry has made a huge transformation. “The women’s attitude has changed. They aren’t afraid to come into the shop anymore,” comments Andrews and says he thinks women are more independent and at ease these days. He even refers to the TV series `Sex and the city´ as an impulse for demanding female desires.

Most of the items that are sold are sexy underwear and toys for women. The bright range of choices makes that quite obvious. Andrews points at the blue rabbit vibrator with two big teeth on the side as the most popular product of its type.  

A big red sign at the entrance indicates no one under the age of 18 is welcome in this shop. That is a self-regulation the shop has imposed to itself. The father of six believes a certain age is necessary to understand the equipment of a sex shop and asks customers for their ID if necessary. Even if he could increase sales Andrews wouldn’t lower the age limit.

The Laura Jane Shop is constantly trying to develop its business. Buying lots of its products in China is a way to reduce the prices for them. “It’s exactly the same product, just not branded,” states Andrews. “With €20 you can leave with two or three items,” he predicts, and adds that this wouldn’t have been possible before. Nevertheless, the shop guarantees to be 100 per cent Irish because of the two retail outlets in Ireland. The Laura Jane homepage even offers online shopping and has widened its range of products to club and footwear. In its self-description the shop claims to be “not intimidating and overpowering” like other sex shops but instead “bright, welcoming and comfortable”.

The Laura Jane Adult Shop was a founding member of the Irish Adult Shop Association in 2003. Unfortunately, nothing that indicates the existence of the association or other members can be found on the internet.

Three times Andrews has been to the biggest erotic trade show Venus in Berlin to look for new ideas and contacts in the industry. Venus is the biggest erotic exhibition worldwide with a broad entertainment program and the Venus awards. Since 1997 the event takes place at the Messegelände in Westberlin every year in October. In 2006 the Venus trade show even exhibited in Shanghai and Paris. After three trips to Germany David Andrews meets the same people every time and therefore hasn’t planned to go again.

Apart from underwear, costumes and toys the shop offers magazines and DVDs in the back. The number of sales isn’t high in that area either because of the availability of erotic movies on the internet. Nevertheless, the shop owner wouldn’t change the nature of his work. Andrews is convinced: “There will always be a market.”

Occupation of Galway City

It has been two weeks since the first tents were put up in the city centre of Galway to join the global Wall Street protests and many more followed.

Ocupation Camp at Eyre Square in Galway, Photo: Tanja Goldbecher

From work to the protest camp on Eyre Square and back to work. This is what Daniel Rusek does during the week. “I waited 28 years for the global revolution,” he says and places himself in one of the camping chairs in the kitchen tent. Last Saturday Daniel Rusek cycled by the occupation camp on Eyre Square when he decided to stay there. “I just asked if I could put up a tent here,” and that is exactly what he did. With a polish background Daniel Rusek travelled to Galway five years ago and began working for the ISS Company. When asked how he manages to work and protest at the same time he says: “I’m tired because I can’t sleep because drunken people around here try to attack us”. Nevertheless, he wants to continue with the occupation. The 28 year old believes this is the beginning of a revolution and says “camping life is solidarity”. 

Protest Camp, Photo: Tanja Goldbecher

 Two weeks ago, only four or five tents were put up at the occupation. Until now the camp has developed to 20 constant protesters and a growing community. For Michael Linden it is also the first protest he participates in. “I protest for something I believe in. I don’t protest for the sake of protest,” says the former GTI student. The 20 year old wants the government to listen to the people and support a global movement. “I don’t have a definite time,” he answers to the question for how long he is planning to stay at the occupation. All of the protesters have this reply in common.

The people living at the occupation camp spend their days with building tents, constructing facilities, creating and putting up posters and discussing the aims of the movement. The group even organized a security night shift to make sure no damage is made to the site. Pallets and cardboard underneath the tents protect against the cold stony ground. Gas stoves were brought to the improvised cooking spot to heat up water and food. Little things are added to the protest camp every day and local people are supportive with handing over groceries. In front of the camp a small stage is erected to provide a space for public speakers and musicians. As this is Ireland, canopies for the rain are very important.   

Protest Signs, Photo: Tanja Goldbecher

“We have had amazing talks with people who have been completely against the idea,” says Liam Heffernan who has been part of the occupation since it started. “We want to show the people that they can be empowered when they awake from government propaganda,” he claims and expresses the aims of the protest in that way. The Galway collective has been in contact with the Dublin, Cork and Waterford groups and see this as “a great way for all people’s worries and griefs to get community support”. He says it is about the people realizing that they “have a choice”.

While the New Yorker occupation movement reports the current happenings via live stream, camps in Ireland or Germany transferred the protest to a global dimension. “Fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process,” is the self-representation of the movement on the occupywallst.org homepage. They accuse the financial district of being responsible for the economic crisis and got inspired by the Arab spring. With the slogan: “We are 99 per cent,” the protesters want to show how only the richest one per cent of the people are ruling the financial market and in that way politics, too. The resistance movement supports collective decision making and a participatory democracy in the occupation camps. The group wants to inspire all different people of the world to create a “people’s assembly” in their local community and set up guidelines for it.

Sign at the Protest Camp, Photo: Tanja Goldbecher

As the weather gets colder, the more difficult the camping life is going to be. That’s the point of the protest: to resist even under hard conditions until the government is paying attention to the movement and takes its claims seriously. “We might put it up to a public vote if we should stay or not,” says Liam Heffernan to the prospect of the Christmas market put up on Eyre Square. While the public broadcaster RTÉ covered stories about protests in Egypt, Yemen or Portugal, the Irish city occupations remain mostly unreported. Even though, the occupying groups are growing and the protests continue.