Fifty Shades of Grey Now Boosting Sales at Hardware Stores

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50 Shades of Grey mania doesn't look like it's going to be letting up anytime soon, particularly since there's still a chance to make lots of money out of it for New York City retailers. Sex shops like Babeland are in their glory right now, and Brooks Brothers has been busy promoting its Eight Shades of Grey tie range.

But they're not the only ones turning a profit. The article also says that New York City hardware stores have seen a steady increase in rope sales, mostly from purchases by women. The owner of Lexington Avenue Harware told the Post, "Oh, we've been selling rope to women. I'd say tenfold more rope than usual in the last six months. The women are definitely buying, and it's still continuing."

But maybe they're just buying rope for, you know, things that don't involve being tied up with it? Like setting up a laundry line or bundling up magazines. Or whatever else people do with rope. An owner of Garber Hardware in the West Village says the telltale sign is that they're requesting softer material. He recommends a 12-gauge non-braided nylon (in case you're too shy to ask), and warns, "Anything skinnier is too small. You might hurt yourself."

So, why all the retail fervor for a book that, according to one of its readers, "makes Twilight read like Shakespeare"? Claire Cavanah, Babeland's co-founder, argues that the trilogy has helped the stigma of wanting to dabble in S&M disappear. "It's safety in numbers," she says. Just make sure you stay safe with the comfy rope.
· 'Fifty Shades of Grey' spurs sales of sex accessories, bondage material [NYP]
· Get a Lesson in Fifty Shades of Grey at Babeland Tomorrow [Racked NY]