In a world that often prioritises hustle over happiness, self-love can feel like a radical act. Justine, the founder of That’s The Spot, is on a mission to change that narrative – one gift box at a time. Combining self-care essentials like indulgent chocolates, soothing eye masks, and thoughtfully designed vibrators, That’s The Spot is celebrating self-love and empowerment. This Christmas, Justine’s unique approach to gifting offers a refreshing take on thoughtfulness, encouraging us to prioritise personal wellbeing and joy.
This Christmas, That’s The Spot is your go-to for thoughtful gifting, whether it’s for your best friend, sister, or even yourself. In this interview, Justine shares the inspiration behind her brand, how she’s breaking taboos around sexual wellness, and why giving the gift of self-love is the ultimate act of kindness this holiday season.
The holiday season is a time for thoughtful gifting. What inspired you to create That’s The Spot, and how did you envision self-pleasure gift boxes as the perfect gift?
When I started working on That’s The Spot, I had reached a stage in my career where I was hungry for a creative challenge. I wanted to work on something I was passionate about. My husband made a throwaway suggestion that I should start a sex shop and while he may have been joking, the comment stuck with me and ignited the exact creative passion I was searching for.
I knew there were already people doing exciting things in the sexual wellness space and I admired their work. I wanted to do something different and fill a void. As I chewed on the idea of starting something of my own and explored what “my sex shop” might look like, I realised that every sex toy I had ever been gifted felt off. From lovers, gifts were always more about their sexual fantasies and what they wanted to see me use. And presents from friends were more of a joke. I never wanted to use the toys because they felt shameful and ridiculous.
People talk about lightbulb moments and having this realisation really did feel like one. Reflecting on my own experience and then speaking with friends, I quickly realised there was real potential in packaging adult toys into self-care style gift hampers. Vibrators can be a lot of fun, and when gifted with the recipient in mind, and presented in an approachable, comfortable and zesty way – it’s hard to find a better gift to send a friend or partner.
That’s The Spot You’re A Vibe, $70. Shop here.
For those new to the concept of self-pleasure gift boxes, how do they make a unique and meaningful gift option during the holiday season?
Historically vibrators and other sex toys have been surrounded by so much stigma, the thought of putting one under the Christmas tree would have been unimaginable – but the world is changing. As a society we’re becoming better educated and more aware of the health benefits associated with masturbation and the naturalness of self-pleasure as a practice.
While still somewhat present, the stigma is lifting. I’d like to think That’s The Spot is playing a part in this.
Vibrators and self-pleasure gift boxes make for great holiday gifts because they are unique and meaningful. The concept of a sex toy gift box is still so new. Chances are that your recipient has never received a present quite like what That’s The Spot is offering. My gift boxes, while colourful and cute, are also empowering.
Gifting self-pleasure can provide permission to the recipient to prioritise themselves and explore their personal intimacy. Establishing healthy self-love practices has been proven to increase confidence, boost mood, assist with stress relief, improve sleep – I think people would be hard pressed to find a more meaningful gift.
Can you walk us through the process of curating the items in each That’s The Spot box? What goes into ensuring that each product provides both quality and enjoyment?
Lots and LOTS of product testing – it’s a tough job but someone must do it!
But on a serious note, when I’m curating a box or reviewing the Pleasure Pal collection, I identify first what my customers and the broader market is interested in. I often poll my social media following and email subscribers to hear what they would like to see more of.
Once I have a rough concept for a new gift or toy, I research, I source samples, and I personally try every new product, before then distributing samples to a group of product testers for feedback. Everything must get my sign off and approval from my testers to be stocked at That’s The Spot. The trial period for new products takes different amounts of time depending on the product. For example, feedback on chocolate or candy is almost immediate. Pleasure Pal curation takes much longer. My product testers can work with a vibe for 6-12 months before I will stock it. I find this is a good way to simulate what experiences my customers might have. It provides confidence I’m delivering something that will offer quality and provide an opportunity for LOTS of enjoyment.
How do you see That’s The Spot contributing to conversations around self-love and self-care, especially during a time like the Christmas holidays, which can be both joyful and stressful?
I see That’s The Spot contributing to conversations around self-love and self-care by continuing to promote positive messaging around prioritising yourself and encouraging people to make time for themselves. Women in particular will put on everyone’s lifejacket before their own. We need to remember to also take care of ourselves.
Self-care is important all year long, but during the festive season I believe it plays an extra important role. The end of year can be an exciting time, but for many it’s stressful, isolating and emotional. Showing yourself kindness and listening to your needs can help navigate the silly season.
(That’s The Spot offers premium vibrators from $60 – if you’re looking for a quick stress reliver, distraction, or excuse to enjoy some solo time, I have your back!)
That’s The Spot Duke, $60. Shop here.
Have you noticed any trends in holiday gifting when it comes to self-pleasure products? Are there specific products or themes that customers gravitate toward during this time?
As we enter the holidays, my gift box sales increase. During the year it’s a real mix of solo Pleasure Pal vibes and gifts, but November and December are more gift box heavy. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s Christmas surprise, but Six Months Of Pleasure, That’s The Spot’s subscription gift has been trending this week and so has “Knock Your Own Socks Off”.
That’s The Spot Knock Your Own Socks Off, $170. Shop here.
For someone looking to gift a That’s The Spot box but feeling a bit hesitant, what advice would you give to help them feel confident in choosing such a unique, empowering gift?
My advice for someone feeling hesitant about gifting with That’s The Spot is to trust your gut – if you think the person you’re shopping for is going to love a self-pleasure present, don’t hold back, they will love it.
I also like to remind people that That’s The Spot is so much more than just gifting a sex toy. My gift boxes offer a recipient centric self-love experience. I package premium (not to mention cute and approachable) silicone vibrators with locally sourced treats and self-care items such as eye masks, heat packs, bath salts, sweets and even spirits. The gift you purchase will be similar in its sentiment to receiving flowers or opening a traditional gift hamper – just way more fun!
Learn more about That’s The Spot below.
Read more of our Gift Guides and articles from our 12 Days of Christmas series here.
