Alicia Deroussen — Founder of Adopt1toy

Sevran, 93 — where it all begins

My name is Alicia Deroussen. I was born and raised in Sevran, in Seine-Saint-Denis. A working-class town, a loving family — but one that was closed off when it came to intimate subjects. Sexuality, the body, desire: we didn’t talk about them. Or only indirectly, with an awkwardness that said it all. From a young age, I quickly understood that these subjects were taboo at home. That asking questions meant risking shock or embarrassment. So I learned to keep quiet, look elsewhere, and build my own understanding of things.

Today, when I create content for Adopt1toy, when I answer a customer who doesn’t dare ask their question out loud, I often think of that girl from the 93 who would have needed a kind, welcoming place to understand her body and her desire. It was partly for her — and for everyone like her — that I created this shop.

Beauty: learning about the body and self-care

After high school, I went into beauty. Training, qualifications, my first jobs in salons. I loved the contact, the care, the relationships with clients. That special moment when someone opens up during a massage, a waxing session, or a manicure — the bond of trust that forms within a few minutes, that way of being so close to people’s bodies without it ever becoming inappropriate. I found something deeply meaningful in it.

Quite quickly, the idea of working for someone else began to weigh on me. I wanted to create, make decisions, and build things my own way. I opened my own beauty salon in Le Raincy, in Seine-Saint-Denis. Manicures, waxing, massages, facials — I managed everything myself. It was my first experience as an entrepreneur. Demanding and sometimes exhausting, but deeply instructive. I learned how to build a clientele, retain customers, and give advice. How to be the person people could rely on.

Orcanta: lingerie, advice, and the desire for something different

Next, I was recruited by Orcanta, a major national chain specializing in women’s lingerie. I became a sales assistant. And there, I found what I loved — advising, listening, and supporting customers. Helping a woman find the bra that truly fits her, explaining why a particular cut flatters her figure, seeing her leave with a confidence she didn’t have when she walked in: it was a real pleasure.

But something bothered me. The lingerie was beautiful, refined, and well made — but too tame. Too classic. Too polished. It lacked desire, boldness, and unapologetic sensuality. I found myself selling practical lingerie to women who sometimes wanted to be told about something else. About the things they didn’t dare ask for.

And then Paris began to weigh on me. The pace, the subway, the endless winter. I needed sunshine, space, and something different. Steven and I decided to leave everything behind. He closed his construction business, and I packed up my things from Orcanta. We moved to the south of France — a real break, a true leap into the unknown. That’s when Darjeeling contacted me about working for them. The same lingerie world, the same restrained atmosphere. Paris wasn’t the problem. It was the industry. I needed to go somewhere else.

Paradise Boutik, Mandelieu: finally where I belonged

I applied to Paradise Boutik, one of the largest adult stores in the south of France, in Mandelieu-la-Napoule. I was hired. And everything changed.

From the very first weeks, I understood that this was where I should have been all along. The world of sex toys, sexy lingerie, BDSM, and adult accessories — everything I had brushed up against without ever naming it. I learned on the job, with passion. I discovered the products, brands, materials, and ways to use them. I learned to talk about them openly, accurately, and with kindness. To support customers of every kind — shy, curious, experienced — and find the right words for each of them.

In that role, I was also asked to dress models for parties at swingers’ clubs in the region. Private events, themed parties, and worlds I had never experienced from the inside. That’s how I entered this world — professionally at first, and then personally. Steven and I became occasional swingers. Without ever losing sight of what binds us together.

Those years at Paradise Boutik were among the richest of my professional life. I learned everything I know about pleasure, products, practices, and people there. I have no official training in sexology — but I had regular discussions with sexologists, spent hours reading, and held thousands of conversations with customers. Practical, concrete, lived experience.

The birth of my son — and everything comes to a halt

Then my son was born. And I had to stop. It wasn’t an easy choice — it was a necessity. It was a difficult period, full of upheaval, when my professional life went on hold while my personal life changed completely. I’m not going to idealize it: it wasn’t easy. But it was also during this period that the idea began to take shape.

Adopt1toy: our adventure, starting from nothing

Steven and I decided to take the plunge together. He had no technical skills either, no e-commerce experience, and no network in the digital world. We started from zero — truly zero. No social media presence, no IT knowledge, no advertising budget. Just the conviction that what we wanted to do was meaningful.

Adopt1toy launched in 2023. And the first year was brutal. We found ourselves up against industry giants — companies spending astronomical sums to occupy the top spots on Google and buy visibility everywhere. We had our hands, our minds, and our determination. We fought with what we had. We learned everything as we went — SEO, social media, logistics, customer service, and web writing.

What saved us? Personal advice. From the very first day, I decided to answer every customer myself. Not a robot, not a template. Me. With my own words, experience, and honesty. A man looking for his first sex toy for his wife who doesn’t know where to begin. A single woman who has never dared to order online. A couple who wants to explore BDSM but is afraid of getting it wrong. An adult content creator looking for reliable products. A porn actress who wants a trustworthy shop. I answer everyone with the same level of care.

Who shops at Adopt1toy?

My customer base is more diverse than you might imagine. Single men, single women, straight and gay couples, swingers, and curious people placing their first order who don’t quite dare to take the plunge. But also professionals — porn actresses, adult content creators, and sex educators. They all have one thing in common: they deserve good advice, without judgment, embarrassment, or innuendo.

That is exactly what I strive to offer here, every day.

What I know how to do

• Advise on women’s and men’s sex toys — vibrators, stimulators, dildos, masturbators
• Recommend sexy lingerie based on body shape and occasion
• Support beginners entering the world of BDSM with kindness and a focus on safety
• Talk about couples’ sexuality, intimate communication, and fading desire
• Address sexual health, the pelvic floor, menopause, and the postpartum period
• Guide people through the swinging lifestyle for those who want to understand it without jumping in too quickly

My training

I am qualified in beauty — massages, facials, waxing, and nails. Beyond that, I have no degree in sexology. What I know about sexuality, I learned in the field, in the shop, through contact with thousands of customers, and during discussions with sexologists who informally trained me over the years. My expertise is practical, lived, and concrete. Not academic — human.

My articles and guides

I personally write every article, guide, and advice page published on Adopt1toy. I use AI to help with the form, but the ideas, experience, and words are mine. No anonymous writer, no soulless generated content — it’s my experience and my way of seeing things, put into words. You can find all my content in The Adopt1toy Guide and Sexuality & Health.

Do you have a question, a hesitation, or a product you don’t know how to choose? Write to me directly or find me on social media. I answer everyone, without exception. I read every message and reply personally — as if you were in the shop with me.