Page 61 - AVN August 2016

FunnyCondoms.com Off and Running ... and Ready for the Election
It all started during the 2008 presidential campaign, when Say It With A
the cleanup efforts. Regardless, we’re able to turn around an idea in minutes
Condom founder Benjamin Sherman decided it would be cool to create
and have it ready to ship in a day or two, max.”
rubbers that would serve as modern-day campaign buttons. So he came up
Part of Benjamin Sherman’s goal with FunnyCondoms.com is to
with a couple of models—an Obama condom with the slogan “The Ultimate
expand the market share in retail outlets and to get more wholesale
Stimulus Package” and McCain rubbers that said “Old But Not Expired”—and
distribution. “We’ve worked with Paradise Marketing,” he said.
began racking up both sales and publicity.
“Eldorado Trading has worked with us in the past when we originally
“This all began with Barack Obama. If it wasn’t for that man and his use of
came to market eight years ago.
the word ‘judgment,’ this company wouldn’t
have gotten started,” Sherman said.
From there, Sherman expanded beyond
the political realm using condoms to help
his clients start conversations about their
brands, products, services and events.
Through SayItWithACondom.com, Sherman
has worked with a variety of clients, from
state and local health departments looking
to increase condom usage to college
organizations and nonprofits trying to
promote safe sex as well as a wide array of
clients in a variety of industries seeking a
unique way to promote their message.
Now Benjamin Sherman has launched a new
brand, Funny Condoms. “Our goal is to marry pop
culture and sex by designing condoms that poke
fun at today’s trends and other topical issues. We
aim to be the first place you think of to get a gift
for anyone that could use a laugh,” Sherman said.
“These condoms are perfect for a birthday, college
dorm room, bachelor/bachelorette party or health
clinic giveaway. Funny Condoms are practical and
hilarious. They can make someone’s day, help you
get laid, or just have a laugh.”
At FunnyCondoms.com, pretty much anyone
who’s got a few bucks to spare can purchase a pre-designed funny condom
that ships for free anywhere in the U.S. For as little as $85, a customer can
create his or her own custom message. Using a proprietary printer, Sherman
can produce an order as small as 50 custom printed foil condoms in a day or
two.
FunnyCondoms.com is now live and open for business. “We are
going out there to pound the pavement,” Sherman said. “Spreading the
word that a ‘message’ can be seen by millions with the help of
Funny Condoms.”
Sherman stated, “With this new packaging platform Funny Condoms can
be tuned into the news cycle, whether it’s making a Tiger Woods condom
like we did back in 2009 or doing an Oil Spill condom to help raise funds for
“We’re really good at creating something
that sells, but the distributors—Paradise,
Eldorado, Nalpac, Williams Trading—they’re
the ones who have the relationships in the
marketplace,” he added.
After learning from past experiments
Sherman has focused on a new point-of-
purchase display to make it easier for retail
and wholesale clients to display his product.
The new display is 13½ inches wide by 20
inches tall. It is mounted on a spinner so it
can rotate on a counter, allowing for more
impulse buys.
“There are 20 hooks on each side of the
display, so it can show 40 styles. Each hook can
hold up to 12 condoms,” Sherman said.
One can’t predict which of Sherman’s many
designs will end up on those hooks, but it’s safe
to say that at least most will be inspired by the
current presidential election, and pop culture.
During the primary race, Sherman noted, the
Bernie Sanders-inspired “Feel the Bern” condom
sold over 10,000 pieces. “It’s been a lot of fun
watching that condom sell,” he added. And
there’s also a model with the slogan “Trusted
More Than Hillary.”
Sherman admits he gets his best material from Donald Trump and his
non sequiturs. One condom shows a Trump caricature with the caption “I’m
HUUUUGE,” while another reads, “Make America Erect Again.”
“The puns about this guy can go on for days,” Sherman said wryly. “You
can tell people they’re built like a wall to keep pregnancy and STDs at bay.”
As the presidential campaign heats up and running mates are chosen,
there should be more fodder for FunnyCondoms.com. “Sarah Palin was a
lot of fun to parody eight years back,” Sherman said, recalling the “As Thin
As Her Resume” model from 2008. “And now the election is getting trickier,
allowing for more puns on pundits, candidates, and pop culture in general.”
To take stock of the latest topical twists from Benjamin Sherman and
company, go to FunnyCondoms.com.
CalExotics Reveals New Website, Products
At last month’s ANME Founders Show,
new website. The site, which will
CalExotics revealed not only new
officially launch later this year, will be a
product collections but also a new
resource for industry professionals and
website.
a way to better connect consumers to
“Our focus is on creating a brand
viable retail outlets.
that resonates with today’s savvy
CalExotics also showcased its
consumers,” Susan Colvin, founder
newest products, including several
and CEO of CalExotics, said. “This
new collections. The Mini Marvels
brings fun, quality sexual health and
are a collection of massagers that
wellness products together to create
are discreet, fun, easy to operate
a better user experience from start to
and affordable. CalExotics also
finish.”
showed some best-selling products
Attendees of ANME saw a clean
that sported an updated, more
and polished look from the novelty
streamlined look. These products
giant, which includes the company’s
have been grouped into various
collections—Couple’s Enhancers,
Anal, Water Systems, Rings—to ease in
merchandising and selling.
CalExotics also added augmented
some of its most popular collections,
including Embrace, Luxe and Inspire.
The company is adding new styles and
colors to extend their reach.
“Our focus is on creating the best
quality products, which provide an
exceptional experience every time.
With our branding efforts and new
product selection, our focus is set,”
said Jackie White, executive vice
president of CalExotics.
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