Tulip owner Keely Newman wants people to make art with their bodies, but play with their palettes safely.
'In a lot of ways, sex is art,' Newman said. 'It's kind of like a palette. Whatever you make of it is kind of what it becomes. The more creative you are, the better your painting becomes. In a lot of ways, I feel like I'm selling tools to people to enhance their creativity and enhance their art.'
Andersonville's Tulip is 'a luxe toy gallery' with a cozy boutique-chic feel. Because of the store's success since it opened April 30, Newman will open another store in Boystown Feb. 7. To make her customers feel more comfortable, the store features original artwork in addition to its intimate toys, fetish, books, accessories and videos. But creator Newman doesn't sell just anything. She makes sure her products are safe for people's bodies.
The name 'Tulip' was chosen after many focus groups because of the softness of the word and its appeal to heterosexual women. 'It also is a double entendre to a lot of women, when you think about it,' Newman said. Although half of lesbians and many gay men weren't crazy about the name in the focus groups, that has changed. 'I have to tell you, most everybody has an incredible reception with the name now.'
The idea behind Tulip began as Newman's paper for a business strategy class about the manufacturing of products that were healthy for women. Eventually, Newman plans for Tulip to carry its own line of products that are 100 percent medical-grade silicone.
Carrying healthful products is the first priority. After all, there are a lot of 'bad' products out there because they are unregulated by the government. Newman says that leaves manufacturers open to make sex toys out of anything. Only a few companies have put research and development into creating safer silicone products that are designed by women. 'I probably owned all of them [ bad products ] and when I got home and looked in my own box one day and found out what these were made of,' Newman said, 'I looked in horror and said, 'Oh my God!' Now, a huge part of Tulip is to educate women about particular materials.'
According to Newman, individuals should try to buy silicone dildos and vibrators because they can be completely cleaned. Tulip only carries one jelly product—the rest is silicone. Jelly is porous, which allows it to become a hideout for bacteria and germs. And if people can't swing the average $50 for a silicone toy, they should buy the best designed jelly toy and use it with a condom, Newman advised.
Tulip also offers workshops, such as Sex 101, private home parties and private in-store parties to help educate people about the health aspects of the toys, what they are made out of, and what products to stay away from. In the fall, spanking, BDSM ( bondage, discipline and sadomasochism ) and anal workshops will be held by a local sexpert.
The motto of the store is 'Sex + Art = Tulip.' Art is a very important aspect of Tulip, where local artists' works are featured. 'That's what I'm doing for the community because it's very important to me that I promote the idea of art,' Newman said.
The gallery and boutique feel, Newman said, helps heterosexual women feel more comfortable. 'Lesbians have been using these stores forever,' Newman said. 'So we feel totally comfortable going into these stores. But heterosexual women—it's challenging for them to get up their kind of gumption to walk in.' She said many heterosexual women and straight men have come in to purchase products. 'I thought men would feel threatened, but that hasn't been the case at all,' she said. 'I'd say they're excited…more than threatened, which is great that society has gone that far!'
The store is located at 1480 W. Berwyn. A second location, which opens Feb. 7, is located at 3448 N. Halsted. Visit online at www.mytulip.com or call ( 877 ) -70-TULIP for more information.