{{Short description|Adult store in the UK}} {{Orphan|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox company | name = Bondara | logo = Bondara-logo.png | logo_size = 218px | logo_alt = Bondara-logo.png | type = Private | industry = Retail | founder = Chris Simms | hq_location = Saffron Walden | hq_location_city = Essex, United Kingdom | products = Lingerie, sex toys, sex aids and bondage gear | website = {{URL|http://bondara.com/}} }}
'''Bondara''' is one of the UK's largest adult retailers, specialising in the sale of sex toys, lingerie, bondage and erotic gifts.
==History== The E-commerce website was launched in 2006 by ex-investment banker Chris Simms, with just a £60,000 investment.<ref name="Burn-Callander" /> Bondara now has an annual turnover of over £10 million with more than 1.5 million orders shipped every year from its 20,000 sq ft warehouse in Saffron Walden, Essex.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Sex-toy-distribution-firm-buys-warehouse-town/story-22379472-detail/story.html|title=Sex toy distribution firm buys warehouse in town|date=4 October 2011|accessdate=25 November 2015|publisher=Cambridge News|archive-date=27 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127054214/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Sex-toy-distribution-firm-buys-warehouse-town/story-22379472-detail/story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
==Retail== It stocks a wide range of international brands, such as Durex and Fleshlight, as well as its own designs.
Bondara sub-brands include Glacier glass sex toys, Bondara Babes realistic Sex Dolls, Bondara Essentials sex aids and Bondara Flirt lingerie, amongst others. ==Timeline== * 2006 – Bondara is launched by ex-investment banker Chris Simms with just a £60,000 investment.<ref name="Burn-Callander">{{cite news|last1=Burn-Callander|first1=Rebecca|url=http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/news/1326590/sex-toys-sell-business-ball-gags/|title=Sex toys sell: The business of ball gags|accessdate=10 December 2015|publisher=Management Today}}</ref> * 2011 – Bondara relocates to a new 20,000 sq ft warehouse in Saffron Walden, Essex, to keep up with growing demand and popularity<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=The Joy of Essex |url=https://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/property-and-construction/12881-joy-essex |website=Business Weekly |accessdate=8 April 2020}}</ref> * 2012 – Bondara starts stocking packers for transgender inclusivity, with the range later expanding to include breast forms and packer pants. * 2014 – Bondara features in an episode of ITV2's 'The Office Xmas Party'<ref>{{cite web |title=The Office Xmas Party |url=https://www.chalkboardtv.com/production/6901/the-office-xmas-party |website=chalkboardtv.com/ |accessdate=8 April 2020}}</ref> *2014 – Bondara releases information about plans for the 'SexFit'; a wearable cock ring that tracks stamina and sexual performance<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bondara SexFit Is A Fitness Tracker For Your Penis' |url=https://www.xxxessentials.co.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241031144352/https://www.xxxessentials.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 31, 2024 |access-date=2020-04-08 |website=xxx essentials}}</ref> * 2015 – In time for the UK's general election, Bondara runs a "General Erection" and creates inflatable sex doll replicas of party leaders David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg, Nigel Farage and Natalie Bennett<ref>{{cite web |title=Nigel Phwoorage and friends: Now you can get a sex doll of your favourite politician – and it's the worst thing ever' |url=https://metro.co.uk/2015/04/23/now-you-can-get-intimate-with-your-favourite-politician-with-a-political-sex-doll-5163314/ |website=Metro (British newspaper) |date=23 April 2015 |accessdate=8 April 2020}}</ref> *2015 – Bondara stars in Channel 4's 'Sex Toy Secrets', a six-part miniseries<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/sex-toy-secrets|title=Sex Toy Secrets: Sex Toy Secrets|website=Channel 4|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> *2015 – Bondara builds the "Rubber Throne", a parody of ''Game of Thrones'' Iron Throne made from dildos, to celebrate the release of their new 'Game of Bones' range.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://attitude.co.uk/article/sex-toy-retailer-recreates-the-iron-throne-from-game-of-thrones-using-dildos/5912/|title=Sex toy retailer recreates the Iron Throne from 'Game of Thrones' using dildos|date=2015-03-26|website=Attitude.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> *2015 – Bondara releases a report entitled the 'Future of Sex', in partnership with FuturistDr Ian Pearson<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/sex-more-popular-robots-humans-6545349|title=Sex Will Be More Popular with ROBOTS than with Humans by 2050, Claims Shocking Report|last=Parsons|first=Jeff|date=2015-09-30|website=mirror|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004033750/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/sex-more-popular-robots-humans-6545349|archive-date=2015-10-04|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> *2017 – Bondara sponsors the FemDom Ball; an annual, UK-based BDSM event. Bondara continues to sponsor the FemDom Ball in 2018 and 2019. *2017 – Bondara becomes one of the first UK retailers to stock its own range of life-size, realistic sex dolls, named the 'Bondara Babes'. *2017 – Bondara is the first in the industry to release a Sex Toy Advent Calendar. *2018 – Bondara releases a limited-edition rainbow rabbit vibrator<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/09/22/national-rabbit-day-we-tested-seven-different-vibrators-so-you-dont-have-to-7949528/|title=We test seven different vibrators for National Rabbit Day|date=2018-09-22|website=Metro|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> for Pride, with 10% of proceeds donated to the LGBT Foundation. *2018 – Bondara launches a national survey looking into the UK's sexual fantasies and fetishes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fuelrefuel.com/fuel-pr-bondara-present-britains-sexual-fantasies/|title=Fuel PR and Bondara present Britain's sexual fantasies|date=2018-10-05|website=Fuel PR|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> *2019 – BBC Radio 1 visits Bondara as one of its 'Approved Workplaces'. Presenter Arielle Free interviews staff and Bondara features on Scott Mills' and Chris Stark's afternoon show. *2019 – Bondara and LGBT Foundation collaborate again as Bondara releases a limited-edition rainbow dildo alongside a 'Pride Shop', with 10% of all proceeds donated to charity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.t3.com/features/best-dildo|title=Best dildos 2020: choosing the right dildo for you|last=Nicholls |first=Katie |date=2019-11-28 |website=T3|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> *2019 – Bondara features in Channel 5's 'The Lesbian Guide to Straight Sex'<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channel5.com/show/the-lesbian-guide-to-straight-sex|title=The Lesbian Guide to Straight Sex|website=Channel 5|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> *2020 – Bondara are to sponsor the UK's first Fetish Awards, held in London<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ukfetishawards.com/about-us/|title=UK Fetish Award Sponsors|last=|first=|date=|website=UK Fetish Awards|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311210828/https://ukfetishawards.com/about-us/ |archive-date=2020-03-11 |access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref>
==Awards== * 2012 Winner– 'Erotic Trade Only' Magazine Best Online Retailer.<ref name=erotictrade>{{cite web|title=Bondara's year of evolution|date=10 June 2013 |url=http://www.erotictradeonly.com/bondaras-year-of-evolution/|publisher=www.erotictradeonly.com|accessdate=10 December 2015}}</ref> * 2015 Winner– 'Erotic Trade Only' Magazine Best Online Retailer.<ref name=erotictrade /> * 2016 Nominated – 'Erotic Trade Only' Magazine Best Online Retailer.<ref name=erotictrade /> * 2017 Nominated – 'Erotic Trade Only' Magazine Best Online Retailer.<ref name=erotictrade /> * 2018 Nominated – 'Erotic Trade Only' Magazine Best Online Retailer.<ref name=erotictrade /> * 2019 Nominated – 'Erotic Trade Only' Magazine Best Online Retailer.<ref name=erotictrade /> * 2020 Nominated – 'Erotic Trade Only' Magazine Best Online Retailer.<ref name=erotictrade />
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Companies based in Essex Category:Lingerie retailers Category:Sex toy manufacturers