Erin Hamm closed her Long Beach store today for the usual reason-
Business has fallen.
But Hamm said the drop in sales did not worry her, but the reason behind it.
"There are a lot of people who don't use condoms," she said . ".
For four years, Hamm has run condom packaging, a safe sex boutique she opened when she was 16.
When she called the customer for the last shopping this weekend, she wondered if it would drop
Off said no one read the warning in the brochure she showed at the store.
She said she launched the boutique with the help of her mother and a friend, hoping to make protection fun.
She is determined to sexually spread the spread of disease and accidental pregnancy, providing the widest possible range of condoms.
At one point, there were 400 different styles of shelves in the store, from ribs to licorice.
Black History-
The theme is a German brand that she does not pronounce.
But she estimates that sales at the boutique have fallen by 50% over the past two years, and says that even if inventory expands to include a range of sex products, the boutique will not be able to maintain its operations, including lace and leather underwear and moderate selection for adultsonly toys.
* "I'm ready to move on," now 20-year-
In order to run the boutique, he postponed his university studies.
"But I feel bad.
There are a lot of people yelling at me, "where are we going now ? "?
Health officials in Long Beach are thinking about the same thing.
In the second city.
Highest incidence of AIDS in the state-
567 boxes per 100,000 people-
Officials say they want a place to reassure young people who are sexually active. A city-
Holding workshops designed to teach young people about the dangers of AIDS, including regular visits to shops, where hamm booked a side room so that students could watch videos from the city's health department, and look at different types of condoms.
"Good location.
"It has a wide variety of condoms and a good atmosphere," said Adama Dyoniziak, head of AIDS education at the department . ".
"It is a shame that prices and the market force it to close.
Jack newbie, executive director, said: "at the gay community service center in Long Beach where HIV testing is conducted, health care providers often recommend people to shops because the atmosphere is relaxed there.
"We will try to provide what we can here, otherwise people will be alone," he said . ".
Last week, during the period of closed sales, customers selected goods packaged through condoms and reduced prices using edible boxing shorts and bubble gum --
Seasoned latex gloves
"Without this store, I think it's back to 7-
A 26-year-old saidyear-
An elderly man who did not want to be named refused to be named while reading a bunch of relationship advice books.
Tonya, 25, says many other sex shops-
"People with bars on the door, they have to call you there "--
Slightly curious and nervous, but condom packaging provides a more open environment.
"It's very comfortable for me," she said . ".
But there was a man who was not happy with Hamm's father who did not care to talk about his motherand-
She said her daughter had surgery.
When asked about her career, Hamm herself often responded that she was "in the retail industry ".
"* Four years after observing her customers, she concluded that people who recently divorced were more cautious about sex.
Despite her efforts to educate them, her peers seem to be more at risk for a generation in her twenties, she said.
She said that even after closing the door, she would send a safe sex message among her friends.
But Hamms's experience could be more about the mother's dilemma --and-
According to one competitor, popular condoms are more popular than sexual habits.
Adam Glickman, president of Adam ania, said his 5-year-
The old company has just finished its best year.
He estimated that after opening its first store in New York in 1991, 100 cottage stores nationwide appeared, but 80% have since been closed.
He said many stores are trying to boost profits by selling a bunch of sex toys that are objectionable to customers.
While Glickman says his store in Los Angeles has recently been flat in profits, he insists more and more young people are doing safe behavior.
"If there is one, I see more and more signs that condoms are getting accepted and shame and taboos are disappearing," Glickman said . ".
Irene's mother Heather Hamm, who also worked in Long Beach stores, was not convinced.
"I found a lot of people coming in and they never wore condoms before," she said . ".
"I think people are taking risks.