Page 26 - AVN Intimate Winter 2013

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FEATURE
Plug and Play
New rechargeable technology has been rolling into the
marketplace. Plug-in toys and toys with replaceable
batteries are being replaced by modern battery-powered
toys that recharge through a wall socket or USB port.
“Through lithium-ion batteries, were able to integrate
rechargeable technology and microprocessor technology
into our products,” said Donna Faro, director of sales and
marketing at LELO. “We’re expanding on USB recharging:
It’s intuitive and user friendly, and it’s better for the
carbon footprint and the environment not to be using
wall chargers. It’s a greener power source. We are
integrating USB chargers into other products.”
“We’re seeing an increasing demand for that as people
realize the life of the unit and the cost of operating the
unit are impacted by the use of batteries,” said Stephanie
Kienzle, who handles sales and marketing at Vibratex.
“We’re doing more things in the rechargeable category as
we can. We have a Mini Magic Massager that comes with
a USB charger that plugs straight into your computer or
smart phone as a charging option. We still work with
batteries but we have new pieces in the works with a
rechargeable option.”
Garland commented on the trend as well. “You see
more and more of that. A lot of them were presented at
the eroFame show. It’s also making inroads in Europe.
Technology does bring the price up, but when LELO first
came out people were hesitant about selling stuff that
expensive in a retail store. They got over that pretty
quickly as it started to move really well.”
“Jopen products are all rechargeable,” said Robin
Stewart, brand manager for Jopen. “All of our double-
digit Vanity products—the VR 10 and up—have a
recharging base. And everything in the Ego line for
gentlemen comes with a USB charging cord.”
“The consumer has been trained to expect rechargeable
items, USB-powered items. It’s become more normalized,”
Strano said. “There’s a new rechargeable line, Leaf, which
is a nice pleasant green color, which branding-wise
translates really well, given that they’re pushing the
whole eco-conscious rechargeable eco-friendly motif.”
What to check out at ANE: NS Novelties’ Bliss Massager,
ABC-Feeling vibrators, Jopen’s Vanity line, Pipedream
Products’ Wanachi Rechargeable Massager.
26 INTIMATE SUPPLEMENT | WINTER 2013
Between word of mouth,
advertising campaigns
and trade shows, the
Bodywand line is seeing
“
exponential growth
— X gen VP Andy Green
Above: The venerable Hitachi, flanked by the Bodywand on
the left and LELO’s Smart Wand on the right. Below,
Vibratex’s Mini Magic Massager and Jopen’s Vanity Vr6.5.
The Wand Wave
The bowling-pin-shaped Hitachi Magic Wand, with its signature bulbous head, has often
been imitated by manufacturers who want to offer more stylish and sleek alternatives. But
do they measure up?
Eldorado’s Garland can understand why manufacturers are taking a crack at the wand
market. “Part of the reason for that is that Hitachi has chosen to work with only two peo-
ple in the U.S., Vibratex and Eldorado, because there was a lot of product leaving the U.S.
In countries outside America they use 240-volt technology, and 50 hz instead of the 120
and 60 hz here, and they were concerned with liability of the voltage adapters. A lot of
people all of a sudden don’t have Hitachi any more. … We are very happy with Hitachi
and their sales.”
“We were one of the first with the smaller, hand-held Mystic Wand,” Kienzle said. “That
was popular for being a little more manageable, not quite so weighty, and the length of
the electric cord on the Hitachi is prohibitive. But [the Hitachi] still the strongest thing
I’ve encountered out there, and I think for that reason people have put up with the
cumbersome aspects. The quality of the manufacturing and the quality of the vibration are
better. There is a resonance to the vibration that is better than some of those things out
there that buzz with a higher frequency but don’t penetrate like the vibration of the
Hitachi does. If [imitators] can make it with a good, resonant quality vibration, and have
the strength and duration and integrity in construction that the Hitachi does, more power
to them. I’ve yet to see it. The copies are getting better, but they don’t carry the
strength. The Hitachi outlasts, outperforms and out-satisfies the others.”
Faro says this of LELO’s take on the wand: “We refer to our wand as the Smart Wand, for
multiple reasons. You can’t deny that the Hitachi Wand is a great product: It’s very
effective, it has the power and it’s reliable. People have come to know and rely on it. At
LELO, we’re always trying to raise the bar, so we came up with a fully rechargeable, water-
proof wand in a silicone shell. We use the best quality silicone, so it’s body-safe, and it
feels good on the skin. We have also integrated sense touch technology, with a sensor
that knows when it’s touching your skin and will power up when it’s in contact. When
you’re using it in rechargeable mode, it preserves the power when you aren’t using it.
After 20 minutes it will completely power down. With all of these improvements on a very
good product, we’re taking it to another level.”
Duffie of CalExotics touts the Miracle Massager. “It’s one of our best-selling toys of all
time, and we have several variations of it. We came out with a My Mini Miracle Massager,
and the My Mini Miracle Massager Pleasure Kit, which has the different attachments you
can add to it. We also have the His Miracle Massager Stroker Kit. There’s something about
that design that makes people feel safe, because ‘It’s just a massager.’ We all know it’s not
just a massager. If they leave it out on the counter and Grandma sees it, she’s not going
to think twice. ‘It’s just for my back.’”
Whether you choose to use it for the back or any other parts of the body, the Bodywand
massagers from Xgen Products pack quite a punch. The line started with a handful of
models and has filled out to include a rechargeable version in black and lavender, as well
as G-spot and rabbit attachments. “Between word of mouth, advertising campaigns and
trade shows, the Bodywand line is seeing exponential growth,” explained Xgen VP Andy
Green. The company has continued to grow its distribution base, most recently adding
Calvista as a distributor in Australia and New Zealand.
What to check out at ANE: CalExotics’ Miracle Massager line, Pipedream Products’ Wanachi
Rechargeable Massager at distributors’ booths.
>>