Texas- www.dailytexanonline.com – In this rough economy, the story of a business struggling to make ends meet or having to compromise in order to survive is not unheard of.

In spite of Austin’s outspoken attitude toward supporting local business, residents are not exempt. One such mom-and-pop (or rather just mom) owned store that has to grapple with the economy and Austin’s growing property taxes is Sinsations, a sex shop located just south of downtown.

Five years ago, Morgan Satterfield [pictured] decided to open her own sex shop after working in numerous sex stores and hosting adult toy parties (much like the Tupperware parties our mothers have) to get through college. After two years of intense work, Satterfield managed to establish a stable customer base and keep her business afloat.

Recently, though, her property lease came to a close, with word that rent for her spot is going to increase dramatically. Rather than let her business suffer, Satterfield has decided to move out at the end of the month to a new, less expensive location.

Sinsations fills a special niche within the collection of sex shops in the Austin area, serving primarily women and couples. When I was driving up to Sinsations, I almost missed it; a small gray brick building with a wooden-looking purple sign was all that was visible from the street. Upon entering the building, I was greeted by bright green walls, a chaise lounge and high heel-shaped chair framing a densely filled bookcase. The store looks like an expensive boutique, but the displays and clothing racks are full of shiny, black or lacy lingerie and candy-colored vibrators line the walls.

Behind the counter I saw Satterfield, a heavily tattooed and pierced young woman with brightly colored hair, helping an equally young couple by offering information about their latest purchase. At the beginning of the conversation, the customers looked a little confused, but by the end they left the store looking happy and excited.

“I wanted a place that made women more comfortable,” Satterfield said. “We don’t sell magazines and we only have a small selection of videos, which weeds out all of the men. This is a place for women and couples.”

Sinsations also provides the toys and accessories to satisfy the needs of specialized clientele, such as vegans (vegan lube), the eco-conscious (green rechargeable vibrators) and the BDSM community. The combination of specialization and an open, comfortable atmosphere makes Sinsations different from the larger chain stores in the area, which tend to muscle out smaller stores but carry more pornography and fewer specific-interest toys.

“Moving a business is an expensive process,” Satterfield said. “Something as simple as moving our sign can cost around $1,000.”

And in order to cover these expenses, Sinsations has had to cut its number of employees and get creative in raising additional funds.

Sinsations annually hosts the Erotic Carnival, which raises funds for AIDS Services of Austin. This year, Satterfield held a similar event called “Give in to Sin,” complete with burlesque dancers, sideshow performances and date auctions. One of the carnival performers offered his band, Dead in the West, because his motorcycle shop faced the same fate six months ago.

“Austin’s got some of the best local businesses,” Satterfield said. “People come out to help.”

Other local businesses had an outpouring of support for Sinsations as well. Alamo Drafthouse owner Tim League contributed a theater for a benefit show where “Swinging Co-eds,” a 1970s sexploitation film, was screened for donations. Zack Carlson, host of the Drafthouse’s Terror Tuesday, hosted a sale of his personal DVD and VHS collection to Drafthouse patrons. I Luv Video bought the unsold movies and donated all profits to Sinsations.

In spite of the fundraising, Satterfield is having a hard time finding a new location. In her quest to find a new home for the shop, she’s been met with opposition due to Texas zoning laws and negative responses from property owners who are unwilling to house a sex shop.

“It’s easier for other businesses to move,” she said. “Unfortunately, people are still closed-minded and [say] this has to do with sex.”

Still, Satterfield hasn’t lost her humor.

“The people that are so opposed to this stuff? Those are our best customers,” she said.
Whatever its future, Sinsations has made its mark on Austin in the past five years, and Satterfield has a lot to be proud of.

“If we’re going to go out of business, I would want to go out of business knowing that the only reason I went out was that I couldn’t find another place to move,” she said. “Not because the business wasn’t good.”