Page 58 - AVN February 2018

FEATURE | By Sherri L. Shaulis and Sharan Street
FEATURE
BEYOND THE BUZZ
New for 2018: thrusters, suction, sonic waves, talking strokers and more
Surfboards, beach towels and
sunglasses abounded in the CalExotics
booth at the winter ANME Founders
Show, which took place amid the
first real rain California has seen this
winter. Nichole Grossman, marketing manager
at the pleasure product giant, laughed as she
handed over a white beach towel and confessed
that she and the rest of the team had envisioned
attendees lying around on the towels by the pool
at the Marriott Burbank Airport. But not today.
The pool was deserted as rain cascaded down
most of the day. “We jinxed it,” she said wryly.
The winter show took place January 8-9,
with ANME founders CalExotics, Doc Johnson,
Pipedream Products, Nasstoys and Topco Sales
joined by dozens of other exhibitors showcasing
products that will hit shelves in the coming
months.
CalExotics’ beach paraphernalia—including
full-size custom boards made by Anderson
Surfboards—was a promotion for California
Dreaming, its newest vibrator collection. “It’s a
set of three styles, all dual stims but each one is
a little bit different. We have the Venice Vixen,
the San Francisco Sweetheart and the Beverly
Hills Bunny,” Grossman said.
The rabbit-style vibes are operated by
three buttons: one to control ten vibrations
in the stimulator, another to operate speeds
on specialized functions in the shaft, and one
simple “panic button” in case the user wants to
shut it all down at once. The Venice version has
a vibrating shaft; San Francisco features a “come
hither” motion at the tip to hit the G-spot;
Beverly Hills is equipped with rotating beads—
and all three come with a one-year warranty.
Retailers will be interested to note the point-of-
purchase display, and there are branded shelves
as well.
California Dreaming won’t ship until later
in 2018, but several items are available this
month. First are new styles in the Mini Marvels
collection, which feature the bright colors
and saucy illustrations that made the line a
winner for Outstanding Packaging at the 2017
“O” Awards. “It’s been such a success for us,”
Grossman said. “We added two styles. The
Lover is a bendable massager. We also have
the Teaser—a handheld massager.” In addition,
there is a new point-of-purchase display
featuring the same illustrations. “Our artist did
a really great job,” Grossman said.
Also shipping this month are two products
for men that are additions to the Cheap Thrills
stroker line. Called the Good Time and the
Steamy Affair, these are gender-neutral styles
made out of the same lifelike PureSkin material
that feature a non-anatomical opening.
Continuing to create a unified presentation
for its product categories, CalExotics debuted
new packaging for its Kegel exercisers. And
there are also two new models that offer a
welcome twist. Both are rechargeable, and
Top, rain came down at the winter ANME show. Bottom, from left, Buck Angel at the Perfect Fit Brand booth; Sean Brown and Rob Novinger showing Rascal Toys items;
CalExotics’ brand-new California Dreaming vibrator collection. Photos by Chris King/@ReelSeduction
available in two weights: starter and advanced. One is
Grossman enthused.
hot fuschia, the other deep purple. “But what’s great
The Personality Vibes—easy to operate and attractively
about these is that the on-off button is on the retrieval
priced—have three new versions with different
cord,” Grossman said, noting that this means users don’t
stimulators. “What’s also unique about these is the
have to turn the balls on before inserting them. The cord
placement of the beads. It’s lower down on the shaft
is reinforced at the base of the ball with an ABS ring, and
to really stimulate the entrance of the vaginal canal,”
the on-off button lights up.
Grossman noted. “And then you obviously have the
Kegel balls and other items have also been added to
G-spot at the tip and the clitoral stimulator. It’s really
the Dr. Laura Berman line. “She’s always done really
going to be a party down there.”
well for us in the sexual wellness space because of her
Other vibes with special function include the Extreme
name and her credibility,” Grossman said. The additions
Thruster, “which expands to double the length of all of
include two dilator kits: one silicone set with three sizes
our thrusting vibes,” she added. “It’s got all the bells
and one vibrating set with two sizes.
and whistles. The long thrust is what’s going to sell this
In addition to the new California Dreaming collection,
product.”
there are also several additions to other vibrator
Speaking of long, the new Silicone Panty Pleaser
collections. One—the Rechargeable Miracle Massager—
offers an extended range of up to 33 feet with its remote
is shipping this month. A discreetly designed wand-style
controller. “You can give it to the neighbor,” Grossman
vibe, it offers 10 functions and is “so powerful it’s crazy,”
joked.
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