PORN AGAIN SHOPPING

Every gay man has had, at the very least, an occasional fling with adult films. But in South Africa, the quality and range of available DVD titles has been rather sad. Now, a new South African online store for South Africans – www.thetoolbox.co.za – is aiming to offer the best-of-the-best new gay titles – such as BelAmi’s Lukas In Love starring Lukas Ridgeston. All original, and at reasonable prices.

Many of us have had the frustrating experience of walking into an adult shop and finding a paltry selection of trashy years-old gay DVDs, often starring mangy looking actors who’d really rather be doing the dishes. And chances are that the DVDs are most likely pirated copies that might not even work in your player.

That’s what drove PJ Henning to start The Toolbox online store: “The gay stuff is always stuck at the back. The selection’s also very poor – and you just can’t find a good range of titles from the main studios”, he says.

The Toolbox offers a selection of original DVD titles from the top gay studios including COLT, BelAmi, Cazzo, and Raging Stallion. And, by early 2006, Studio 2000, Big City Video, SEVP and Falcon Studios will be added to the extensive range on offer, which starts at R250 excluding shipping (usually about R20 cheaper than stores).

Right: PJ Henning: Owner of The Toolbox

After just two months, the site is already doing brisk business. Not only does it offer great titles, but it also allows guys who might not feel comfortable shopping at a bricks-and-mortar adult store a discreet option. “And of course there are those people that live outside of the cities in places that have no adult shops. The Internet is the only option for them to buy adult goods,” adds PJ. In the New Year, he’s looking at offering free shipping, making his pricing even more competitive.

“The biggest challenge is piracy. The laws are not well enforced in the adult film market in South Africa”, says PJ, who’s committed to only selling one hundred percent original DVDs. Piracy threatens the adult film industry, and reduces the big studios’ interest in selling their product in the country.

All the titles on offer at the Toolbox are sourced from the distributors holding the exclusive South African rights and all have been approved by the Film and Publications Board so it’s all legal. And, what you see on the website is what is in stock. So there are no delays: buyers can have their items the next day! (The website accepts VISA and Mastercard.)

PJ admits that his family doesn’t know that he’s running an adult goods website (at least not yet). But that issue aside, he sees nothing untoward about his business: “I approach it in a straightforward manner – not from a seedy or sleazy perspective – and I’m very open and honest about it.” He adds, “It’s been fun and a great learning curve”.

Check out the range on offer at www.thetoolbox.co.za. If you have any suggestions or comments for PJ, e-mail him at sales@thetoolbox.co.za.