Miami Distro

Miami Distro is Expanding the Shelf: Why Sexual Wellness Belongs in Smoke Shops

In an industry where shifting regulations can upend entire product categories overnight, smoke shop owners and purchasing managers have learned to think on their feet. Vape flavors are banned in one state, cannabinoids outlawed in another. Even payment processors and banks have grown fickle, shutting down accounts tied to products deemed “risky.” For many retailers, this constant uncertainty has led to an urgent question: What products can I put on my shelves that won’t be outlawed tomorrow?

Mike Savage, founder and owner of Miami Distro in Pompano Beach, Florida, believes he has the answer, and it might surprise some. Savage has spent nearly four decade s in the adult industry, beginning in 1986 selling videos to adult video stores before expanding into toys and wellness products in 1995. Now, he’s leading the charge to bring sexual health and wellness into the smoke shop industry. “Adult products are one of the safest bets a retailer can make,” Savage explains. “They’re consistent, legal, and they come with margins most shops dream about.”

Sexual Health as a Lifestyle Category

It’s no secret that today’s smoke shops already go far beyond pipes and papers. Walk into any well-merchandised store, and you’ll find a lifestyle on display; glass art, hookahs, grinders, apparel, kratom, CBD tinctures, novelty items, and more. The modern smoke shop is less a utility store and more a curated lifestyle hub. Within that framework, sexual wellness products fit naturally. Vibrators, stimulators, lubricants, lingerie, and wellness accessories are as much a part of a consumer’s self-care routine as a high-end rig or herbal supplement. “Think of it the same way you think about glass pieces or rolling trays,” Savage says. “Customers come into smoke shops for lifestyle products. Adult toys are an extension of that lifestyle. They’re about enjoyment, relaxation, and wellness.”

The numbers don’t lie. Sexual wellness is a multi-billion dollar industry with steady year-over-year growth. Consumers (particularly women) already buy vibrators and other wellness products online at high rates. The issue they face is that the products are non-returnable, and buyers often wish they could see or touch them before committing. This is where smoke shops have a distinct edge. Miami Distro supplies not just the products but the displays and demo units that allow customers to explore without stigma. With acrylic stands, countertop pieces, and wall-mounted planograms, the barrier to entry is lowered, and what might have felt intimidating at an adult store becomes approachable in a smoke shop environment.

For retailers, the appeal is undeniable:

Profit Margins Up to 3x – Far exceeding many traditional smoke shop categories.

Banking & Payment Security – Unlike hemp or nicotine products, adult product sales don’t trigger shutdowns from banks or credit card processors.

Impulse Buy Potential – Well-placed displays encourage quick, low-stakes purchases.

Regulatory Stability – Adult toys don’t fall under the shifting legal frameworks that plague consumables.

“Retailers are tired of buying cases of a hot new product one month, only to have it pulled from shelves the next,” Savage says. “Adult products don’t face those risks. They’re here to stay.”

Removing the Stigma

One of Miami Distro’s biggest challenges and successes has been helping smoke shop employees feel comfortable selling adult wellness products. To accomplish this, the company provides Zoom training sessions with every planogram purchase. Staff learn not only how to describe and demonstrate products but also how to normalize them in conversation with customers. “When employees are educated, they stop whispering about the products and start selling them,” Savage notes.

Miami Distro’s turnkey planograms, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 that are designed to take the guesswork out of setup. The premium $5,000 package even comes with 100 complimentary lingerie items, ensuring retailers have variety on day one. For shops looking to test the waters, Savage recommends beginning with proven bestsellers like the Magic Wand or Magic Bullet display.

The Retailer Advantage

The genius of this category lies in its accessibility. Customers already view smoke shops as spaces for open exploration, places where trying something new doesn’t carry judgment. That cultural positioning makes smoke shops an ideal entry point for sexual wellness. By merchandising vibrators and lingerie alongside glass art and lifestyle accessories, retailers can reshape how customers see their stores: not just as outlets for smoking culture, but as comprehensive lifestyle destinations. It also makes good business sense. In a climate where consumables can vanish from shelves overnight due to regulatory changes, smoke shop owners need stable categories to anchor their revenue. Adult products provide that stability while tapping into a growing cultural movement toward destigmatizing sexual health.

Miami Distro is taking this message on the road, with upcoming exhibits at major trade shows, including CHAMPS Ft. Lauderdale this October. Savage and his team aim to show retailers that the path to stability and growth doesn’t always come from chasing the latest consumable trend. It comes from thinking outside the box and expanding what belongs on the shelf. “Sexual wellness isn’t a side hustle,” Savage emphasizes. “It’s a proven category with decades of consumer demand. We’re selling products that are giving smoke shop owners a way to build consistent, long-term profit.”

As the smoke and vape industry braces for continued disruption, one truth has become clear: retailers who diversify smartly will see results. For shops willing to rethink what belongs in their cases and on their walls, adult products may prove to be the most reliable category yet.

For more information, visit miamidistro.com or contact sales@miamidistro.com.