Page 20 - AVN Intimate Winter 2016
P. 20

FEATURE
Salute to Three Pleasure Pioneers
Caplan, Shubin & Valan enter AVN Hall of Fame
The sixth class of inductees have been announced for the AVN Hall of
Fame Pleasure Products Branch: Ralph Caplan of Nalpac Distribution,
Rina Valan of Fantasia Home Parties and Steve Shubin of Interactive Life
Forms LLC, parent company of Fleshlight.
Ralph Caplan, founder of Nalpac Distribution in Ferndale, Mich.,
created the company almost 45 years ago.
“Times flies when you’re having fun!” he told AVN.
The company originally distributed paraphernalia, including pipes,
papers, clips and more. In 1979, however, the federal government
stepped in, charging Caplan with selling illegal items.
“Try explaining to someone who robbed 80 banks that you’re in for
selling a bong,” he said. As part of an agreement, Caplan agreed to
stop selling paraphernalia and instead started carrying adult novelties
and pleasure products. Nalpac—which is Caplan’s name backwards—
has since become one of the largest and most trusted names in adult
distribution.
“I’ve been very lucky my whole life,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to
be in such a good business with such good people. The best part of
this industry is the people. I’ve made a lot of good friends through the
years.”
Rina Valan, who refers to herself as a “Romance Specialist and
SexToyologist,” is the founder and president of Fantasia Home Parties.
Frustrated by the limits placed in women in the business world, Valan
created Fantasia Home Parties in the early 1980s with a $10,000 loan from
her mother and all the cash she could advance from her credit cards.
More than 30 years later, Fantasia Home Parties is considered a pioneer
and leader in romance home parties.
“What a great validation this is for me!” Valan told AVN. “It’s been
a quite a journey since I started back in 1981, and it’s good to see much
progress was made in the industry for women and our partners. Back
then, as women, we were the proverbial underdogs both sexually and
financially, and to this day that motivation to help level the playing
fields still keeps me fueled up and going! Thank you to all the pioneers
including our manufacturers who listened, and especially to all the
loyal women and leaders who helped build and make what we do an
invaluable service for both men and women.”
In the mid 1990s, when Steve Shubin’s wife was expecting twins, her
doctor recommended the couple abstain from intercourse until after the
delivery. Rather than rely on old-fashioned methods of self-satisfaction,
Shubin took matters into his own hands, so to speak, and created the
Fleshlight, which has become one of the world’s best-selling male sex
toys.
The key to the Fleshlight’s appeal is the feel: The combination of
Fleshlight’s proprietary life-like Real Feel Super Skin material formed
into different textures provides the stimulation. The easily cleaned,
patented material retains heat like real skin, is non-allergenic, works with
water-based lubes, and with proper cleaning and care can last a long
time.
Fleshlight’s product offerings have expanded through the years, and
more than 4 million units have been sold to date. The popular male
masturbator has been reviewed, written about and mentioned in various
mainstream media, including popular movies and TV shows.
The induction of Caplan, Valan and Shubin takes place at the AVN
Awards Show on January 23. For details, visit AVNAwards.com.
[continued from page 18]
OUTSTANDING MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Alastair Galpin’s 100th World Record Attempt—CB-X
Beyond The Wave Movie—LELO
CalExotics Rebranding—CalExotics
Double Your Earnings With AdultShopping.com—CNV.com
Introducing Mr. Envy—Envy Menswear
Library Girl Molding—Pipedream Products
Molecular Biologist Contracted for Independent Testing—
The Screaming O
Motörhead Official Pleasure Collection—Lovehoney
Perfect Stroke Challenge—Zero Tolerance
PETA-Approved, Cruelty-Free Certification—Doc Johnson
Pioneering Pleasure Installation—Jimmyjane and The
Pleasure Chest
Sending a Sperminator to the Terminator—Hot Octopuss
Toys for Speech Therapy—Big Teaze Toys
Twerking Butt—Topco Sales
We Rock Two-Gether Campaign—Rock On
20 | INTIMATE | WINTER 2016
OUTSTANDING PACKAGING
CandiLand Sensuals—Doc Johnson
Closet Collection—Impulse Novelties
Colours Collection—NS Novelties
Erosscia Original—Erosscia
Fetish Fantasy Limited Edition—Pipedream Products
iSex Collection—Pipedream Products
Mack Tuff Collection—Nasstoys
Maia for Men—Maia Toys
Manbound Collection—Sportsheets
Ooh by Je Joue—Je Joue
Pino—LELO
Rabbits—The Rabbit Company
Rooster Collection—Curve Novelties
Silhouette Collection—CalExotics
Tom of Finland—XR Brands
Show Features_P14-24.indd 20 1/6/16 6:40 PM





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