New “Cuddling Shop” Receives 10,000 Enquiries in One Week

Everyone appreciates a good cuddle... but would you pay for one from a stranger?  If Samantha Hess is to be believed, many people are more than happy to. Hess is the owner of Cuddle Up To Me, a professional cuddling shop in the hipster haven of Portland, Oregon. For the sum of $60 (€48) an hour you can have your hair stroked and your hand held, play big spoon or little spoon. According to Samantha, the service provides "the level of human contact that we want or need in order to be our optimal selves". Speaking to local station KPTV, Hess said she has received as many as 10,000 emails in one week. Stressing that the business is in no way adult-orientated and there are no sexual add-ons, Hess explained that her studio includes four themed rooms for clients to choose from and each session is recorded to ensure the safety of both parties. On her inspiration for the business, Hess said: "I was at a place where I thought paying someone to hug me and not have ulterior motives sounded like a great idea." "I decided, why can't this be a thing that we can easily and safely reach for?"