Page 42 - AVN Intimate Spring 2019

VIBE
Buyers and exhibitors alike were
singing the praises of AVN’s VIBE
Program after the 2019 AVN Show,
held January 23-26 in Hard Rock
Hotel & Casino Las Vegas.
Short for Very Important Buying Executive,
the VIBE Program is an invitation-only
meeting program placing the best adult
manufacturers with the top adult retail
buyers, e-tailers and distributors.
“AVN has proved time and time again
to be a beneficial show for maintaining and
generating new business,” said Michelle Liss,
national sales manger for Paradise Marketing.
“Even with two other shows preceding AVN,
they manage to bring in quality customers
that have helped me grow my business. The
great thing about AVN is not only bringing
in new business, but also the events planned
allow us to really get to know our customers
on another level.”
VIBE started as a DVD sales program
in 2009 and was expanded to include
novelties in 2015. Program director Timothy
Ferencz asserted, “For anyone who sells
adult products who hasn’t tried it, the VIBE
Program should be at the top of your to-do
list. AVN attracts many buyers from around
the world who do not attend any other
shows. And because the AVN Novelty Expo
draws in so many unique and first-time
exhibitors, it’s also considered a don’t-miss
event by those buyers who do attend other
shows.”
Ferencz added, “AVN has really focused
its attention on adding domestic and
international buyers who do not attend
any show but ANE. We attend several
international trade shows, recruiting buyers
for ANE. AVN also qualifies its VIBE buyers
through manufacturer recommendations,
number of locations and total buying volume.
The buyers participating in the VIBE Program
can place quantity orders which affect a
manufacturer’s bottom line.”
According to Michael Guilfolye, director
of international marketing and business
development, “The 2019 ANE show in
general (and the VIBE Program specifically)
were huge successes for XR Brands. Not only
were we able to see and meet with many
of our current customers, but we also met
a number of new leads which are already
beginning to pay off. We’re looking forward
to 2020.”
Rebecca Weinberg, president of XR
Brands, added, “The VIBE Program through
42 | INTIMATE | SPRING 2019
FEEL THE VIBE
AVN’s Very Important Buying Executive Program draws praise
By Sherri L. Shaulis
ANE really is fantastic. Dedicated meetings with
prequalified buyers who are there to do real business
enabled us to focus our energy during the show
effectively. In turn, the show resulted amazing sales
and great new relationships. VIBE is a must for all
exhibitors that want to see a real ROI on the show.”
Scheduling and organization are arranged by
VIBE personnel. Participants get 20-minute meetings,
which are organized so buyers go from room to
room, often on the same floor.
“The AVN Show has always been a big part of
the industry,” said Lisa Hanna, president of sales
for Maia Toys. “With it being the most important
weekend for some people, our team came in to
the event extremely excited, and we were not
disappointed. We quickly realized the reason behind
AVN being so popular. This is the first AVN Maia
Toys has done as a team, and the turnout couldn’t
have been better. We signed up for the VIBE
Program, which gave us an opportunity to showcase
our products to buyers from around the world, while
setting up meetings that wouldn’t have been possible
if it wasn’t for AVN. The venue was great for the
event, and the after parties and social events were
organized and well thought out. Overall, we took a
lot away from this show, and hopefully it will be a
growing point for us as a company.”
In addition to meetings, there are breaks for
breakfast and lunch in the VIBE lounge, which are
designed to be relaxing and productive.
“This is the second time we were a part of the
ANE VIBE Program,” said Rob Reimer, CMO of
Rascal Toys and Boneyard Toys. “We had a pretty
good show last year, but you never really know
what to expect with so many shows this time of year.
This year, we had the best show we ever had in our
20-year history, and that is no joke. We ended up
writing the most show orders we ever have from our
50 scheduled appointments. The most amazing thing
was that we took another dozen or so orders from
non-VIBE attendees. Some of these buyers
were from chains we have been trying to sell
to for years and for some reason everything
sort of just came together. I think part of it
is that Boneyard is a new brand and people
were waiting to see how the brand has grown.
That combined with the excellent show and
staff at AVN was a winning combination.”
VIBE continues to grow by leaps and
bounds every year. This past January, VIBE
participants were each scheduled 50 meetings
over a three-day period. Ferencz said the
number of participating exhibitors and
buyers is expected to increase for the 2020
AVN Show.
Longtime exhibitor Gabor of Impulse
Novelties noticed the growth. “This year was
exceptionally good show for my company,”
he said.
“The 2019 AVN Show was a strong success
for Shibari, our best to date,” said Danielle
Seerley of Shibari Wands. “We were promised
30 meetings for the VIBE Program and had
closer to 50, which was an awesome bonus for
us. The format of the VIBE Program makes
it manageable to have both solid customer
meetings but also work with any customers
that are walking the show. The customer
assortment AVN brought to the meetings was
a perfect fit, and there was great energy on
the show floor. People were there to buy, and
I think the manufacturers that were attending
were a great fit for the buyers. Customers
were really able to fill all of their business
needs at the show, and they were super
happy about it.”
Ryan Fraga, director of sales and operations
at OxBalls and Hünkyjunk, said the AVN
Novelty Show overall was a good investment
of time and money, praising the “great buyers
list of companies there to do business. And
the event space was beautiful, well planned
and efficient.
“Oxballs and Hünkyjunk will certainly
attend next season,” Fraga vowed.
“The 2019 ANE VIBE Program was an
excellent opportunity to network with
potential customers from all over the world
and grow existing partnerships,” said
Taylor Means, vice president of marketing
and adult sales for Trigg Laboratories. “The
quick one-on-one meeting schedule was
organized and efficient and customers were
excited to buy, making the show a success for
us at Wet!”
For more information on VIBE, email
Ferencz at timothy.ferencz@avn.com.