Page 76 - AVN September 2017

FEATURE
FEATURE | By Sherri L. Shaulis
PRODUCT PLACEMENT Top row, from left: The Oxballs team; Paradise Marketing owner Dennis Paradise; Hayley Gerda
and Colin Roy of Sliquid; Sham Galoria and Jane Levy of Rocks-Off; second row, a holiday POP display for Wicked’s Peppermint
Cocoa lube; the Aneros team; third row; new packaging for Sportsheets’ Sex in the Shower; the LELO booth; bottom, the new
steampunk-inspired Tantus toys; a We-Vibe display. Photos by Chris King/@ReelSeduction
In addition to a wide range of lubes, Paradise Marketing also specializes in
condoms, and many were featured at the booth, including Trustex Flavored Condoms
and Kimono Condoms (which now offers an XL size). But Paradise was even more
pleased with a gadget so new it did not yet have a name. A clear cylinder, it serves
as a base for displaying fully inflated condoms, giving consumers the opportunity to
fully examine the product. Paradise noted that the display lets consumers experience
the thickness of the condom as well as surface textures and lubrication.
Evolved Novelties’ newest item is the Love Spun, a rabbit-style massager that has a
rotating wheel with soft silicone flaps atop the clitoral stimulator.
Several new items are coming to the Zero Tolerance Toys brand as well, explained
Lucy Vonne, sex toy expert for the company. Included in the upcoming releases are
the Twisted Rimmer, one of the products that will move Zero Tolerance Toys into the
market of rechargeables. The Twisted Rimmer is an anal toy with rows of rotating
beads in the neck and a rotating head. Also new is The Bomb range of single-use
masturbators that are packaged to look like cartoon bombs. With various textures and
names, each of The Bomb masturbators comes with a free DVD download.
Sportsheets not only showcased its new crops and riders in silicone, but also its
newly revamped and repackaged Sex in the Shower collection. With new packaging
that features a pale blue and pink color scheme and images of couples on the boxes,
the range has brought back favorite products—including the Suction Handle Bar and
Vibrating Mesh Sponge—and added some new pieces such as the Silicone Slapper.
Reps in the Tantus Inc. booth presented the newest Super Soft silicone items,
including new pieces that come in a unique copper coloring and feature steampunk
detailing. There are also three new silicone paddles that are modeled after a Scottish
tawse and an English cane.
But it wasn’t all business all the time. The ANME Founders Show also featured
a number of networking and party opportunities. AVN Media Network sponsored a
cocktail party that capped off the first full day of the show, serving up complimentary
drinks and food as well as “Pleasure Pro” T-shirts and tank tops.
The second full day featured the StorErotica Awards ceremony in the evening,
hosted by certified sexologist Sunny Rodgers, brand ambassador for Pipedream
Products, Jimmyjane and Sir Richard’s. Following in the tradition of past StorErotica
awards shows, Rodgers kept things loose and informal, commanding the guests to
have a good time. “Every time I swear, you have to take a drink,” she said.
A total of 21 awards were given out to a range of manufacturers, distributors
and retailers. And a special tribute was given to the late Larry Garland, founder of
Eldorado Trading Company, who passed away in January. His widow and son—Wanda
and Preston Garland, who now run Eldorado—addressed the crowd. Wanda gave
thanks for “the outpouring of support shown to the Garland family.” And Preston
described Larry as “a role model and mentor to many people in this room.”
The final party was sponsored later that evening by Wicked Sensual Care, marking
its fifth anniversary by serving guests delectable desserts and custom cocktails
designed to taste like some of its most popular lube flavors. The guests also enjoyed
playing with props in the photo booth and schmoozing with fellow pleasure pros and
members of the Wicked team.
76 | AVN.com | 9.17