Adelaide sex shop Adult Bliss wins Best Adult Retailer at Australian Adult Industry Awards

It’s a cosy shop hiding on a busy road in the eastern suburbs. But it turns out this sexy secret is a X-rated game-changer – and winning huge gongs.

Adult Bliss is run by co-owners and partners Monique Turmine and Simon Mawson. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

What do you get when a chef, a retail wiz, and some “water based lubricant” walk into a shop?

Apparently, the best adult retailer in Australia.

Partners in business and life, Monique Turmine and Simon Mawson, have turned their Glen Osmond Rd store, Adult Bliss, into an award-winning, community-backed hub of sex positivity and inclusivity – and now, it’s been crowned Best Adult Retailer at the Australian Adult Industry Awards.

“We were just a small fry from Adelaide,” Ms Turmine said.

“It honestly was very humbling.”

Monique Turmine and Simon Mawson’s store has just won the Best Adult Retailer award at the Australian Adult Industry awards. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The couple, who met at university in 2014 and took over the store in 2018, have spent the past seven years on a mission to rebrand what it means to walk into a sex shop – quite literally.

“When we first took over, we doubled the lighting, cleaned everything up and made it as welcoming as possible,” Mr Mawson said.

“There’s a stereotype that adult stores are creepy, dodgy or shameful. We wanted to flip that.”

And flip it they did.

The duo’s no-shame, judgment-free philosophy has built a loyal customer base and a social media following that flooded their Instagram with praise after the big win.

Their store is proudly “sex-positive, gender-affirming, and inclusive,” Ms Turmine said.

“We believe everyone deserves the chance to explore their sexuality in a safe, supportive environment.”

That ethos is clearly striking a chord – not just with curious newcomers but seasoned customers too.

Mr Mawson said he’s noticed a cultural shift toward education and healthy choices.

“I used to always say, ‘make sure you use water based lubricant with that’ – now customers finish my sentence.”

While the pandemic hit the industry hard, their community stuck by them.

“When we went to nominate ourselves, we found the public had already done it,” Mr Mawson said.

When their name was called out at the awards, the couple jumped out of their seats in disbelief.

“We work really hard, and we’re so grateful,” Ms Turmine said.

“This win is very validating – not just for us, but for a more positive and respectful view of the adult industry.”