Lovehoney History and Awards

In 2000 co-founders Richard Longhurst (pictured left) and Neal Slateford (right) decided to start an online shop. Their vision was to use their knowledge of the internet to create a user-friendly and yet technically advanced website, that would deliver a superior shopping experience. Most sex toy sites at that time were semi-pornographic and targeting men rather than women, thus alienating a whole gender of potential consumers. Taking a female-friendly approach, Richard and Neal set about designing a consumer website that would exceed customer expectation on every level. Lovehoney was launched in Bath (UK) in April 2002 and grew quickly as a result of word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied customers and media coverage.

Lovehoney launched the company's first own brand product, the Lovehoney Jessica Rabbit, in 2004 and the seeds for innovation in the sex toy market were sewn. In 2005, Lovehoney branched out to product development with the launch of its groundbreaking music activated vibrator, the iBuzz – an innovation which received international broadcast and print media recognition. Since then, Lovehoney has developed a best-selling range of Lovehoney own-brand sex toys and launched a range of innovative projects including its Rabbit Amnesty Sex Toy Recycling Scheme and Design a Sex Toy Competition. The first winner of the competition was Trevor Murphy with the Sqweel Oral Sex Simulator. The Lovehoney Sqweel Oral Sex Simulator is the best selling oral sex simulation sex toy in the world.

Lovehoney's own-brand ranges include the exclusive range of sex toys produced with sex expert Tracey Cox, a range of BASIC Sex Toys for people new to vibrators and Bondage Boutique, a range of top quality bondage gear. Lovehoney USA launched in 2007 to sell Lovehoney own brand products wholesale to the USA.

In 2011 Lovehoney underwent some exciting changes, adopting the tagline "the sexual happiness people" and expanding its workforce and warehouse in a mission to keep making a fun and fulfilling sex life available to everyone.

Awards

2011 – Best Customer Service Award, eCommerce Awards for Excellence.

2011 – Shortlisted National Business Awards - Online Business of the Year and Customer Focus Award

2011 – Hitwise Top 10 Website Award: Intimate Apparel and Accessories, Experian Hitwise. 

2011 – Richard Longhurst voted Business Person of the Year, Bath Business Awards.

2011 – Best Online Retailer, ETO Adult Industry Awards.

2010 – Best Online Retailer, ETO Adult Industry Awards.

2010 – Outstanding Distributor - East, AVN 'O' Awards.

2009 – Platinum Award for Customer Service, Shopzilla Circle of Excellence Awards.

2009 – Best Online Retailer, ETO Adult Industry Awards.

2008 – Platinum Award for Customer Service, Shopzilla Circle of Excellence Awards.

2008 – Best Online Retailer, ETO Adult Industry Awards.

2004 – Startup Regional Winner (South West) E-commerce Awards.