Page 50 - AVN July 2015

FEATURE
Brand-tastic Opportunity
ANE offers myriad ways to build a name
Award winners on the second day of the show.
Exhibitors at the 2015 ANE have offered positive feedback on their experiences. Phill Richer of
HEH, Inc. said that his company decided to exhibit at the AVN Novelty Expo show to cultivate B2B
relationships for distribution and commercialization of its Party Harder Male Libido Strips. “We were
impressed not only with the quality of the people we met in the B2B hall but also the professional
approach to conducting business in the Adult Novelty Expo. The leads we received were very credible
and we landed a very good contact with the U.S. military. Overall, our experience was excellent and
we will continue to work with AVN in many capacities.”
Debbie Clark from Boobzie, a company that makes novelty can and bottle holders, concurred. “I
found the staff and organization to be very helpful, and enjoyed our first show immensely!”
Several improvements made to last year’s show for the benefit of trade attendees will be in effect
for 2016. Once again, rooms in the Paradise Tower will be available only to trade attendees. And the
entire Paradise Tower public space is given over to the AVN Novelty Expo, creating visually appealing
spaces for exhibitors to showcase their wares. Last year, for example, Eldorado Trading Company
took over the Fuel Café, a centrally located area that attendees passed through every day of the show.
The 2016 AEE will also see the return of VIBE, a program for “Very Important Buyers” designed
to bring the industry’s big guns—major retailers, distributors, wholesalers and e-tailers—to ANE,
where they participate in a full schedule of meetings with exhibitors. VIBE members receive free
hotel rooms as well as hosted meals and cocktail parties. For more, email timothy.ferencz@avn.com.
ANE runs concurrently with the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo, the largest adult fan convention
in the world. And the week is topped off by the AVN Awards Show, with its gala red carpet and
variety show complete with comedy and musical acts. Because “AVN Week” at the Hard Rock Hotel
is a multifaceted affair with both trade and consumer attendees, ANE offers many creative ways for
companies to build their brands.
The first decision for ANE exhibitors is how to position their booths. Exhibitors can set up shop
at the AVN Novelty Expo, with access strictly limited to trade attendees. But those who are seeking
to sell directly to fans or who want to increase brand awareness can get a booth in one of the AEE
exhibit halls or in The Lair. Last year some exhibitors had more than one exhibit space. Orchid and
Serpent, for one, had a space in the fan expo and a second one in the Lair, with different product
mixes. According to company co-founder Susan, sales were good at both locations.
(Continued on page 52)
Every January, AVN Media Network hosts the AVN Novelty
Expo (ANE), a B2B event that brings together the newest
products from a range of manufacturers and distributors. For
the fifth year in a row, ANE will take place at the Hard Rock
Hotel & Casino. This year the show runs January 20-23.
ANE also brings together the industry’s most diverse
group of attendees. In addition to the exhibitors—a mix of
distributors, pleasure product manufacturers and providers of
relevant business services—the show draws buyers from around
the world as well as company CEOs, retail staff from both
chains and individual stores, sales reps, wholesalers, internet
professionals and sexperts.
The rich mix of business professionals has made ANE the
trade event for companies to debut new products. In particular,
ANE draws many first-time exhibitors, meaning that buyers
at this show will be the first to see unique products ranging
across many categories. Toys, lingerie, lubricants, supplements,
gifts, games, sex furniture, cosmetics, condoms, aphrodisiacs,
accessories and more will be on display.
But the show doesn’t end with the exhibits. ANE has also
earned the respect of the industry for its robust seminar
program. Last year’s program included, to mention just a few,
discussions on crowd-funding for pleasure product startups,
changes in Google ads and SEO, a panel titled “No Strings
Attached” that explored new toys controlled remotely by apps
and another titled “Yelp 101: See Your Store Through Your
Customers’ Eyes.” The 2015 show also marked the first time
that AVN organized a “For Women Only” discussion, which
was offered to provide women who work in the industry with a
forum to talk honestly about the challenges they face at work.
In addition to the educational component, ANE also offers
networking events and parties. The night before the show
opens, trade attendees congregate at a hosted cocktail party at
the Hard Rock. The first day of the show culminates with the
ANE Bash, held in the lavish Real World Suite complete with
hot tub, pool table and bowling alley as well as a hosted bar and
sweet treats. And there is a gala brunch to announce the “O”
50 | AVN.com | 7.15
Top left, Fuel Cafe at the Hard Rock Hotel, repurposed into exhibit space for Eldorado Trading for the 2015 ANE (photo by Rick Garcia).
Above, having fun at the ANE Bash (photo by Chris King). On page 52, photo of the njoy booth at the 2015 ANE (photo by Rick Garcia).