At this point in time, we mainly sell packers (*Note: this link will load images of prosthetics), packing underwear, and apparel, but we also offer a selection of STPs, binders and even a handful of grooming supplies. That said, we have big dreams for the future of the company. We’d love to become a one-stop-shopping portal for trans gear, including subscriptions and health-related products like supplements and surgery recovery kits.
That may not sound like a lofty goal, but the truth of the matter is, a lot of sites out there when we started were not meeting these basic requirements. Simply put, I started Transguy Supply because I believe trans people deserve nice, cool things. We deserve to be treated like we matter.
From the first month we launched, we knew Transguy Supply needed to be a different kind of business. Right out of the gate we were getting weekly emails from people telling us that they were saving up to buy their first packer or binder. The items people were telling us they were saving up for were not particularly expensive items. An elastomer packer like the Mr. Limpy, for example, costs about $13.
What these messages really highlighted for us is that the financial reality of lots of trans people is pretty bleak. There are all sort of potential access barriers for trans folks, and some of the products that we are selling can make a huge difference in someone’s mental health and well-being. I knew it was going to be important to come up with a give-back program that was as robust as possible.
We currently operate a binder recycle program in partnership with the Greater Cincinnati Binder Collaborative. If you donate your gently used binder, we’ll pay to ship it to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and send you a $5 voucher that you can use to buy anything on our site. More recently, we launched a monthly Mr. Limpy giveaway. Every month we randomly select an applicant and ship them a packer in the color of their choice. We’ve also done monthly fundraisers for Southern Poverty Law Center and the Transgender Law Center. We aren’t always able to do so, but really do try to say yes to every donation request that comes our way.
My absolute favorite part of this business is when I get an email or DM from a customer telling me how much they love a product they bought on the site. How it made them feel more confident or comfortable in their bodies. As someone who has had these same experiences, I fully understand the weight of these feelings: the deep relief and elation. It’s so awesome to be a part of someone else’s gender euphoria.
I think it was the second month after launch when I placed a very large order for high-quality silicone packers. That week there was a rash of thefts in the building the items were shipped to, and someone made away with the package. I was pretty devastated, but did get some enjoyment thinking about some random cis person opening the package and seeing it full of limp dicks.
Tons! In fact, way too much to put here. If you are a trans person and are looking to start your own business, please feel free to send me an email at scout@transguysupply.com. I’d be super happy to help other trans folks in their entrepreneurial journeys.
As a white trans person, I don’t believe it’s my place to determine what trans people of color need to hear. What I will say to white folks in our communities is that examining the ways in which you are potentially maintaining the status quo – the one that rewards you just for being white – is some of the most powerful and important work you can do. Because we face so many challenges it can be difficult for any trans person to think of themselves as receiving privilege. But the truth of the matter is trans people of color are often living drastically different realities than white trans people. Realities that include the increased likelihood of street harassment, unemployment, homelessness, and violence.
If you’re looking for a good place to start, check out Paul Kivel’s book Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice.