Passionate Playground Renames Purple Joyboxx® in Honor of Adult Retail Pioneer Phyllis Heppenstall

Seattle, WA 2023 - Passionate Playground has renamed its most popular Joyboxx + Playtray color combination, Purple and Black, in honor of adult retail and pleasure product pioneer, Phyllis Heppenstall. 

 Passionate Playground’s Founder and Joyboxx inventor, Deborah Semer recently discovered that Heppenstall — one of the company’s angel investors — had passed away mid-2021 after a battle with cancer.

Heppenstall was an enthusiastic promoter of sexual health and wellness a rep said. For the 2014 Joyboxx industry launch, Heppenstall stated, “We must address the cleanliness of our adult ‘toys’ with the same passion that we use them. Finally here’s the product that all consumers need to address this void!”

Semer noted that purple was Phyllis’s favorite color and her Lovers chain logo color. 

“I was thrilled when she held the first Joyboxx in her hands in 2014 at Starbucks in Auburn, Washington. Phyllis was my business mentor and fairy Godmother,” Semer said, “I’m so grateful I got to honor her directly in her 80th birthday video message. That was April 2021, then we spoke in May, and that’s when she said she was fighting a battle with cancer, but felt positive about treatment. I’m gutted by this news, and finding out 1.5 years later and really sad the industry she founded, doesn’t know.” 

In 1981, Heppenstall, along with Kris Butt, founded the first relationship based retail boutiques to make sex toy shopping a pleasurable experience for couples. Peekay Boutiques Inc. grew to 45 retail stores in six states under the Lover’s Package, Condom Revolution, A Touch of Romance and Christal’s brands. They sold the empire in 2012. 

Ironically, Joyboxx has never been available for sale at her retail stores. After Heppenstall’s departure, the veteran buying staff followed, then bankruptcy, IPO and acquisitions and now the Auburn, WA Lovers chain has begun a new chapter as part of PLBY Group that owns other brands Playboy, Yandy & Honey Birdette.  

Joyboxx + Playtray is proudly made in Washington State and celebrates its 10th year in 2023.  “I’m happy that Phyllis’s legacy is still alive and hope that Joyboxx + Lover’s stores will finally come together” Semer stated.

‘The Phyllis' and other limited edition Joyboxx + Playtray color combinations are available for sale at select adult retail stores globally and directly at joyboxx.com. Wholesale inquires can be sent to: sales@joyboxx.com or wholesalers can apply directly at joyboxx.com/holesale. 

ABOUT PASSIONATE PLAYGROUND  Passionate Playground was founded in 2013 to advance the future of sexual health and wellness through its first products Joyboxx + Playtray and the new Joybuff™.  We are a diverse female founded and funded company based in Seattle, WA.