Page 80 - AVN March 2017

FEATURE
ANE 2017 | By Kim Airs
Chinese manufacturers were also represented, including Funny
Steel and its metal butt plugs, cock rings, sounds and enema
products. Other Chinese companies included Kingsonic Trading,
with toys and lifelike dolls, and New Sign, with silicone toys,
vibrators, strokers and butt toys.
“We didn’t know what to expect and the show has been really
good,” shared Jimmy Vaid, COO from Toronto-based Big Life
Living, the makers of SexCereal and shakes. “The feedback has
been great, and both retailers and distributors are interested in it.
With the secret magic Maca ingredient, we feel confident that it
will be a good seller here in the U.S.”
England’s Hot Octopuss debuted several new products
and owner/designer Adam Lewis was happy to show them to
everyone. “The pacing of the show has been perfect. Not too
pressured and enough meetings to stay busy all day.”
Shots and sister company Shots America together represent one
of the largest manufacturers of adult novelties in the world, and
visitors to the AVN Novelty Expo got the chance to see firsthand
the new and collections Shots has to offer. Shots America reps
showcased five new lines coming in 2017 from the manufacturer:
HIKY, JIL, Retro, Mjuze and Ouch Reversible.
SexToyDistributing.com was at the show for the first time and
was pleased with the interest in this distribution arm of larger
company XR LLC. There was a representative from Tenga in the
booth, which led many retailers from large chains to smaller stores
to patronize the booth. “We are definitely returning to the show!”
exclaimed Morgan, from Tenga. “It was a great experience to meet
customers and put the faces to their email addresses!”
Shippers Advocate, a logistics and transportation company,
is adult friendly and caters to any business that ships products.
It was the company’s second AVN show, and reps enticed new
customers with a complimentary bar situated right next to their
booth. CEO Douglas Carnes said, “Last year was good and it’s
even better this year. We’ve supported the VIBE program, which
has helped us gain space in this industry. It’s been a great show!”
New company Tantriss, based in Naperville, Illinois, presented
the pink, app-controlled Umie vibrator for the first time at ANE.
“It just landed and we are now shipping it,” stated Yogi, the
international sales manager for Tantriss. “There has been a lot of
interest in Umie and we are excited to have it here at the show.”
DNS Distributing, based in Riverside, California, showed off
an assortment of make enhancement pills and liquids, including
ManFuel, the caffeinated sexual supplement that will keep him up
in more ways than one. Andrew Sawley encouraged attendees to
take some home to try to check out the high-quality ingredients.
MD Science Labs, the makers of Swiss Navy lubricants and
enhancers, found that the show brought in many new buyers who
were opening accounts and placing orders. “We got many video
producers from foreign countries to carry our product with theirs,”
added Ellen Friedman. “We were able to set up appointments and
have a very successful show.”
Lucy from Evolved shared the same information, “Usually we
are up in the suites, but this is more interactive. There are more
people walking by, including new chain stores, and we have been
asked by more companies for private labeling. Plus, since we have
our own DVD line, all in all it’s been a great show and I’m happy!”
Even the game industry was represented by Vice Games,
mainstream board game industry pros entering the world of
adult games. “Our games are great because they have proven
‘replayability’ and we’re here to gain more information and ideas
about the adult industry in general. We want to create better
games for the adult market and this is the perfect place to learn
what they want,” shared Eloise Van Patton of Vice Games.
Impulse Novelties’ Closet Collection and Black Door lines were
presented in a large booth that accommodated new and current
buyers. “We’ve met new buyers here, which is always a good
thing,” confided Sara Hentcy, director of sales. “This was a strong
show for us last year and has been this year, too.”
PRODUCT PLACEMENT Above, Topco’s display included its private-label options; below,
Evolved Novelties displayed Adam & Eve branded items as well as Evolved and ZT Toys ranges.
80 | AVN.com | 3.17
‘THIS WAS A GREAT SHOW WITH A
GREAT VIBE. IT’S TOTALLY
DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER
SHOWS AND VEGAS CONTRIBUTES
TO THAT. THERE ARE A LOT OF
INTERNATIONAL BUYERS HERE AS
WELL AS NEW BUYERS.’
—AUTUMN O’BRYAN, TOPCO
According to Josh, from longstanding intimate enhancement company Kama Sutra, “The show
has been very good with a nice atmosphere. It’s full but open and there’s enough space to walk
without feeling like a sardine. The spacing for the VIBE program was perfect and I particularly liked
that I could shore up details with orders that I couldn’t do at the other shows. All of my gaps have
been filled here at the show.”
Tom from Atlanta-based Wicked Hammer debuted his pill and energy drink company at
the show. He felt the show was “exceptional,” providing connections with local and national
distributors.
A unique product presented was FrogLipz, a lip and skin cream developed by dentists in the
Central California area. Jeff from FrogLipz said, “This has been the best learning experience because
people are so open since they are in the sex industry. We’re here not so much to sell but to get
feedback on our product, which miraculously works on cold sores, canker sores, cuts and other
skin ailments. FrogLipz is made with ozone-infused olive oil so it’s all natural, and ozone has been
proven to kill viral, parasitic and fungal germs.” Guess that covers them all!