Page 64 - AVN September 2016

by SHERRI L. SHAULIS
Abuzz in Burbank
ANME Founders Show marks 20 years by looking to the future
FEATURE
at the summer ANME Founders Show, which
There were a couple of big milestones marked
took place July 17-19 at the Marriott Burbank
Airport. This year the B2B trade show turned
20—but that was only half the landmark reached by
Doc Johnson, which celebrated its 40th anniversary.
But looking back is not what the ANME show
was about. Instead, the companies gathered to show
off their newest products, including such exciting
developments as new lines of BDSM gear, men’s
pleasure toys from a veteran condom manufacturer,
and the first sex toy designed for female-to-male
(FTM) transsexuals.
The show was created by the Big Five—Topco
Sales, Doc Johnson, CalExotics, Nasstoys and
Pipedream Products—and all were on the scene to
debut new products and ranges, and in some cases
even a new booth.
Topco Sales—a manufacturer that made headlines
recently following the appointment of industry vet
Autumn O’Bryan as the new COO—had pledged to
hold candid conversations with customers about the
new direction of the company, and kept that promise
at all levels, from the new booth to the shirts staffers
wore to said staffers talking about the recent history
of the company and its future.
A new, more open booth greeted visitors and
reinforced the message that Topco is “Invigorated.”
“We are really fired up and ready to re-establish
ourselves,” O’Bryan told AVN.
Staffers in the booth wore shirts that echoed
the messages written on the top of the booth:
“Commitment To Quality,” “Consistent Delivery”
and “Building Trust.”
Inside the booth were some of the new product
offerings as well as popular existing lines sporting
new packaging. Among the new items were the
Climax Spinners, a collection of rabbit-style silicone
massagers that boast six speeds and a shaft that
rotates. Also new were the Climax Elite products:
Clio and Diana. The pieces are powerful massagers
that feature a finger loop to make them easier to
position and control. The Clio is a lay-on vibe with
“ears” that can hug a clitoris, while the Diana is a
C-shaped vibrator that can be used in a variety of
ways.
“It can be used externally, or inserted into the
vagina or even used around a penis,” said sales rep
Nancy Cosimini.
Also creating a buzz in the booth were the
CyberSkin Stealth line of male masturbators. The
strokers come with adjustable suction cup bases so
they can be used hands-free or in the tub or shower.
It also allows them to be used solo or with a partner.
In some of the pieces, the sleeves are not only
removable, but also reversible with a vaginal opening
on one end and a mouth opening on the other.
“These give customers more bang for the buck …
literally,” Cosimini said.
Doc Johnson came out with guns blazing for its
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40th year, releasing more new products than in recent memory. Among the biggest launches was the debut of
the Kink by Doc Johnson line, with several dozen new SKUs.
“Every toy in this collection was done in collaboration with the people at Kink.com, who are arguably the
leaders in BDSM content,” said Erica Braverman, marketing coordinator for Doc Johnson. “They were really
involved in every step of every product.”
More of the products in the collection are made of silicone, but some—particularly the strokers—are crafted
from Doc’s UR3 material.
Highlights of the collection include waterproof sheets—a fitted sheet, a flat sheet and pillowcases, all sold
separately—as well as a Master Apron; a Power Wand with various silicone attachment that feature everything
from anal beads to a Vac-U-Lock attachment for use with any number of dongs; and the Fucking Machine Power
Banger, which has strong suction cups on each of the four legs that allow the machine to be used on a flat floor,
surface or wall, and offers variable speeds and the ability to change the positions of the thruster.
Also new were the Panty Harnesses, which are cotton and machine washable with elastic waistbands and the
ability to accommodate dongs, vibrators or packers.
In the Vac-U-Lock collection, Doc introduced kits, including an Experienced Set Silicone Pegging Set, a Crystal
Jellies Set and more.
“Each of the hits features a number of themed products, and one product not available anywhere else,” said
Ryan Brooks, marketing coordinator.
Braverman noted the kits cost 10 to 20 percent less than buying each of the included items separately.
Among other debuts was the new American Pop! line, which features plugs, dongs and dildos in bright colors
and made from Doc’s Platinum Premium Silicone. Brooks said the collection marks the first time the material
has been used outside the Platinum Premium Silicone line.
CalExotics made a splash with bright colors similar to those in its popular Shane’s World collection in its new
Mini Marvels line. The items—the Marvelous Massager, Marvelous EggCiter, Marvelous Bunny and Marvelous
Flicker—are perfect as entry-level pieces, as well as additions to a more seasoned player’s toy box. They come
with comic book-inspired marketing materials.
The manufacturer also revamped several collections with sleek new packaging, including the Dr. Joel
collection, a Rings collection and the Emperor collection.
Several existing collections also received new additions, including the Gyrating Wand and Tulip Wand in the
Inspire Collection; the Executive Vacuum Pump and Executive Big Man’s Pump in the Pump collection; and new
styles with the rolling ball technology in the Embrace collection.
At Jopen, the manufacturer announced a new option for retailers interested in informational brochures.
Retailers will be able to select the number of brochures they need and have them printed for free; they need only
pay for the shipping.
According to Robin Stewart of Jopen, that isn’t the only nicety Jopen is offering retailers. At the January
ANME, Jopen brought out the new Callie line of bejeweled vibrators, new items in the Vanity line and the Opal