If you think that the business of sex toys is a man’s game, think again. Enter the Hussey sisters: two plucky gals from Down Under who are the brains behind Little Hussy – a line of sleek and sensual adult toys that take the unseemly out of giving pleasure and give it style instead.
Intrigued? Listen in as we chat with Catherine Hussey about the ingenuity of Little Hussy, how it started off as a small family business (awkward!) and has since grown into a force to be reckoned with.
Hi Catherine! Ok, there’s an elephant in the room: what was it like growing up with a name like Hussey? It must’ve been tough!
Funnily enough, we weren’t actually the only Husseys in our country town! But who would’ve thought that my family name would give me the inspiration to come up with such a wonderful and fitting company name like Little Hussy?
What inspired you to start a line of adult toys?
Ten years ago, every adult toy out there was shaped like the largest penis in the world – complete with ugly veins and packaging that looked like it came straight out of a porno. I knew I could do it better! And I knew that there must be other people out there like me that would buy adult toys if they were marketed in a female-friendly way.
And how did friends and family members react when you first told them about your business idea?
They thought I was mad! Especially my mum and dad who probably didn’t really want their daughter to sell sex toys. So many people asked: “Why would you leave your job to create something that’s already established everywhere?”
They didn’t understand the vision I had of taking the traditionally tacky ‘adult’ category and redefining it to one of ‘sensual heath and well-being’ that’s more accepted by the mainstream.
Working with your family in the adult toys business – awkward!
Yes, it was a bit weird for me! In the early days, we would assemble our own gift boxes in our garage and my poor parents were at the front of the assembly line!
I would hear them discussing about certain products and how to use them…
What’s the best part of your job?
The best part is traveling the word, going to adult shows and seeing some pretty interesting stuff (some good and some not so good!). At these shows, couples tell me that Little Hussy products have helped their relationship, which is very rewarding. But on the other hand, some men tell me all about their intimate sexual problems, fantasies, and bizarre fetishes – all part of the job, I tell myself!
And the worst?
The worst part by far is the incredibly frustrating outdated thinking. Little Hussy is selling an important message for all women but some businesses won’t do business with us because they think it’s a taboo subject.
Do you think that sex will become a not-so-taboo subject in the future?
Yes and no. Sex and the City and Fifty Shades of Grey have shown us that people (especially women) are more comfortable with this subject now then ever before. Fun fact: Did you know that prior to 1992, only 2% of women reported using personal massagers? And this figure increased to 53% in 2012?! Society has definitely come a long way in a short time.
But it’s mainstream businesses that aren’t keeping up with modern thinking. They tend to lump everything related to sex and sensuality in together, and they show no respect to the science behind the health benefits of these products.
Who’s your ideal Little Hussy woman (or man)?
She’s someone who is strong, independent, intelligent, humorous and loves life. We ask all our staff to nominate their favourite lady legend as a fun way to highlight the power of women. Mine is the Greek goddess Athena. She’s the goddess of reason, war, courage, inspiration, arts and wisdom – that’s a great example of intelligence being sexy.
Ok, now to the juicy stuff! Have you got a favourite product from Little Hussy?
Absolutely! My favourite at the moment is the Rock N Rhythm: it’s a pretty unique and cool little personal massager. The Little Hussy Secret Gift Boxes are also our trademark and flagship products because they are great value for money.
As the founder of Little Hussy, your sex life must be sizzling hot! Any tips on how to spice things up in the bedroom?
(Laughs) Well, I’m currently single but that does allow me more time to ‘research’ our products – which is always fun! On a serious note, we encourage people to be honest and open either to themselves or with their partner. Honesty and being open to new things is the best way to spice up a relationship and keep it sizzling.
What do you think is the secret to Little Hussy’s success?
Our genuine passion and belief that what we are trying to achieve is the right thing to do. It’s not just about trying to make money; it’s about making a difference in something we can be proud of.
First Australia, Asia, and now the US – is world domination the next step in Little Hussy’s game plan?
That’s our ultimate fantasy! When the ‘adult toy’ category is replaced with ‘sensual health & wellbeing’ category and can blend in seamlessly with mainstream retail, we’ll know that we’ve done our job properly.
Thanks for chatting with us, Catherine! Now excuse us while we take a look around the Little Hussy site – purely for research purposes, of course…