World Cup-themed sex toys hot sellers in China

As World Cup fever continues to intensify in Brazil, women in China are buying more soccer-themed goods. [Photo/Nandu.com]

As World Cup fever continues to intensify in Brazil, women in China are seeking for more soccer-themed goods, especially sex toys, according to a report by Southern Metropolis Daily.

According to statistics released by Ali Research, a research institution affiliated to China‘s e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, more than 5 million goods relating to the ongoing World Cup were sold from June 2 to June 22. Many of them are goods for women, including sexy football jerseys, manicures that resemble the national flags of World Cup teams, and soccer-themed love eggs or vibrators. A total of 17,000 sexy jerseys were sold during three weeks in June, and a majority of buyers were housewives aging 25 to 35 years old or photography enthusiasts.

Soccer ball-shaped love eggs ranked fifth on the hot sale list, with 4,500 sold in the three weeks.

Besides goods for women, some online shops are also offering World Cup-themed vests for pets. Star player Lionel Messi’s jersey was the most popular, selling 8,000 in three weeks.

The sellers and buyers also responded immediately to events during the World Cup. When Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during a match on June 25, a “Suarez bottle opener” was put on online shopping site Taobao the same day.

Shenzhen in south China made the most money during the knockout phase, with a sales volume of 35 million yuan (US$5.6 million) in three weeks.