We were lucky to catch up with Tiffany Yelverton recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
When I originally was thinking about starting a business, I looked at industries I was passionate about, that were profitable, and void of market fluxuation. The choice was between wine and pleasure. Both are pretty much recession proof, as both are categories where sales increase in stressful times. Ultimately, it came down to profit margin, making a difference, and a change in the world. It was kind of a perfect storm.
I say that because, during the same time period, I attended a “Passion Party” with one of my employees. I consider myself pretty open-minded but the questions that were asked and felt pressured to answer made me feel very uncomfortable. It was not things I needed my team knowing about their boss. The presentation was crass and cheesy. The subject was already one people have issues discussing, To me, this was making it worse. It was at that moment, I decided this type of “party” could be done so much better. It is important to have a space to have open conversations about sex and pleasure, just in a more mature, classy way. That is when Entice Me, The Little Black Dress of Pleasure was born. I envisioned educated women in little black dresses, heels and pearls holding court and inviting open conversations about subjects that are shrouded in shame. For example, in my twenties, I thought I was the only woman in the world who was not having mind-blowing O’s from intercourse. I now know that about 80% of women need clitoral stimulation to climax and many feel the same was as I did. These are the topics the Sexinistas® would facilitate.
At that party I purchased some product that I was really excited about trying. Unfortunately, shortly after they began to change color on each other when stored together and they stopped functioning. This led me to begin to look into product quality because if they were doing that in a box, what were they doing in my body? I began to look at products and ingredients from the websites that I admired. I found out some alarming things. First, the sheer number of products available is overwhelming. Also, chemicals that had been outlawed in children’s toys in both the US and Europe were still prominent in adult toys. These chemicals called Phthalates, among others, that make plastic pliable were used in cheap jelly toys as well as very high end skin identical toys. I also found that many common ingredients in commercial lubricants could wreak havoc on a woman’s body and even cause infertility issues in men. Chemicals like Parabens which aren’t allowed in Europe and that are now found in 99% of breast cancer tumors. Chemicals in products that we put in the most absorbent, tender parts of our bodies. I also found that products that I ordered to test and vet were not as they were labelled. Meaning the package said one thing and the material was another. This is because there are no regulations on pleasure products and they are labeled “novelty.”
After finding the products I wanted to carry and deciding on a name that wasn’t taken in the marketplace, I hired a graphic designer, who was a friend of a friend to create a logo and website. I knew the feeling and style I wanted to portray so it only took a couple of incarnations for her to create the perfect logo and imaging. Then I filed my DBA, secured my sales permit, trademarks, business license and had a website within two months. It went very quickly once I put my mind to it. I utilized the SBDC to guide me through the processes that I knew nothing about.
That first year, as I was still working 60+ hours a week in my corporate restaurant career as a General Manager, I created and implemented systems and built a base of business. I created my customer base by inviting friends over on Sunday afternoons to introduce them to my new venture. After 1 year, I was able to leave my job and focus on Entice Me full-time.
For my newest business segment, Sexy Survivors, I had been coaching cancer survivors for a decade individually. In 2024, when I went through the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses program, we were taught to think bigger. Our project was to create a “Blue Sky” idea that we could implement to grow our businesses. This is when I developed Sexy Survivors into a platform for cancer treatment sites. I used my existing digital course software and developed a 7-week program that can be delivered live or digitally to cancer survivors everywhere. Our program isn’t tied to any specific institution or facility so it is available to all. We partner and contract with treatment facilities and survivorship groups and our team delivers the programming so that the sites do not have to use their staffing resources for a new program. I am especially excited to implement our platform in underserved and marginalized communities that may not currently have much support. We are currently crowdfunding to raise money for staffing and marketing in order to secure these contracts. You can learn more at https://bit.ly/SexySurvivorsIFW.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello! I’m Tiffany, the founder of Entice Me Soirees, Inc. With decades of experience in retail and restaurant management, I transitioned into creating a space dedicated to enhancing sexual wellness and empowerment for women to close the pleasure gap. At Entice Me, we are passionate about fostering inner confidence and self-love, essential ingredients for a fulfilling sex life, whether alone or with a partner.
Entice Me was born from a desire to build more than just a company—I envisioned a community. A safe, discreet place to openly discuss pleasure, sexuality, relationships and to access the finest, body-safe products. We offer a curated selection of non-toxic, elegantly designed items, but our mission extends far beyond products. Through workshops, coaching, and retreats, we guide people to prioritize their well-being, explore their desires, and embrace pleasure in transformative ways.
I am particularly proud of the feedback from my clients who, through our programs, have experienced life-changing orgasms for the first time. These breakthroughs lead to greater confidence and a more profound presence in the world, unlocking their true potential. This transformation is at the heart of our work—helping women release their life-force energy stifled by sexual repression, enabling them to live fully and authentically.
Our latest initiative, Sexy Survivors, targets a critical area of need—beginning with supporting female breast and gynecologic cancer survivors. We aim to revolutionize support at treatment sites with programs that focus on body-love, intimacy, and comprehensive well-being, addressing the significant sexual and relational challenges these survivors face. With ongoing crowdfunding efforts, we hope to expand our reach and impact.
Something I am looking forward to in the near future is that I will be introducing the outcomes of our Sexy Survivor program case studies at the upcoming International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health/International Society of Sexual Medicine annual conference.
Everything I do is tied into my commitment to closing the ‘pleasure gap’—the disparity in sexual satisfaction between genders. This gap not only affects personal lives but also impacts broader societal issues, including the gender wage gap. Women who feel empowered and confident sexually are more assertive and impactful in all areas of their lives, including their careers. By addressing this gap, we empower women to claim their worth in every aspect of life.
Entice Me is more than a brand; it’s a movement towards a more liberated and satisfying future for all!
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Building a trusted reputation in the sexual wellness industry hasn’t been easy, but it comes down to a few key actions. First off, working closely with medical offices has been a game-changer. It adds a layer of credibility and meets our customers right where they are—where they are already seeking health and wellness solutions.
Being active in organizations focused on pelvic health and sexual medicine has also been vital. By attending their meetings and workshops, I stay on top of the latest developments and build meaningful connections within the professional community. This isn’t just about showing up; it’s about becoming a recognized, trusted figure in these circles, and always learning. Networking plays a huge part here and with the general public—I make sure to show up professionally and polished, which really helps in building and maintaining a strong reputation.
Education and relatability are at the heart of what we do. Whether I’m leading workshops or sharing insights at our events and online, I make sure our content is straightforward, honest, and speaks directly to our audience. On social media, I create videos that are like chatting with a trusted confidant who gets it, talking about the real stuff that many of us experience but few discuss. I aim to remove the shame, guilt, and taboo around sex and pleasure. This includes changes in our bodies, aging, menopause, pleasure, etc.
Our voice extends through our contributions to top-notch magazines like Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and appearances on a wide variety of podcasts. This visibility helps us spread our empowering message even further. Plus, our commitment to safety, high standards, and a personal touch in everything we offer ensures our clients trust us with their most intimate concerns. Something I am really proud of is that we offer complimentary product consultations to discover the perfect products for each person.
All these efforts are crucial, not just for growing our business, but for keeping our reputation solid and respected in the industry, especially as we grow into the cancer survivor market.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Absolutely, there have been a few significant turning points in my life, but one of the most impactful was during my long stint at Macaroni Grill. I had been there over a decade, eventually becoming a General Manager, when I hit a wall. It all started ironically enough with an HR session at work called “Discover Your Strengths.” Around the same time, I was dealing with some serious health issues and a profound unhappiness in my job and personal life. I realized I didn’t even recognize myself at work anymore.
The exercise from that HR session really opened my eyes. It asked us to jot down what we enjoyed and disliked about our jobs. That’s when it hit me—the parts of my job that I loved, like teaching, training, and building a community in the restaurant, were slipping away. I was left with parts that just drained me.
It took some love and guidance from my doctors during a short medical leave to push me to the edge. One of them didn’t mince words, telling me flat out that my job was killing me. That was the push I needed. I decided then to start my own business, something I had always envisioned for myself. The shift felt natural, almost like it was meant to be. And as I mentioned earlier in this piece, things moved fast once I made up my mind.
This pivot wasn’t just professional. It spilled over into my personal life too. I ended a toxic relationship with someone I once thought was my soulmate. I also came to some personal decisions about not having children because I needed to stay on my medication for clinical depression. I embraced a life where my friends are my soulmates, my nieces are the children in my life, and where I am 100% authentically me in my work and at home.
Now, I can truly say I love my life and the work I do. Everything feels like an extension of who I am—fully integrated and authentic. I’ve never been happier or more fulfilled.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.enticeme.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/enticemesoirees
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffany.yelverton
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyayelverton
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/EnticeMe/
- Other: https://bit.ly/SexySurvivorsIFW
https://www.tiffanyyelverton/pc
Image Credits
Aruba Photo and Films
Ambition Photography