Page 36 - AVN Intimate Fall 2019

COVER
CRUSHIN’ IT WITH CANDIES
Treats that satisfy a shopper’s sweet tooth
≥ BY SHERRI L. SHAULIS
sweeten sales year-round in any
Candy is a popular treat that can
retail environment, and adult stores
are no exception. So in honor of
Halloween, we’re sampling some of the best
that manufacturers can offer, and adult-themed
candies can help retailers earn profits year-
round. Manufacturers are giving retailers
innovative ways to satisfy the sweet tooths of
customers, and the offerings have come a long
way from just a penis-shaped sucker. (Though
penis-shaped suckers are still all the rage.)
Pipedream Products was among the first
companies to offer candy items, particularly in
its Bachelorette line. Pecker Sprinkles, Candy
Pecker Pacifier ring suckers, Jolly Pecker Pops
and more are staples of the line and remain best
sellers. Other ranges from the manufacturer—
including BJ Blast and Comfortably Numb,
both of which are designed to enhance oral sex
play—continue to be hits as well.
“Pipedream is always evaluating SKUs to
ensure that it’s offering customers the most
sought-after edible items,” said Sunny Rodgers,
a certified sex educator and the resident sexual
health and wellness educator for Diamond
Products, parent company of Pipedream
Products. “The company has had popular lines
like BJ Blast and Comfortably Numb in its
product line for years and is actually looking for
expansions to the category versus cuts.”
Another longtime vendor of confectionary
goods, Hott Products, offers a wide selection.
With more than 100 types of edibles or candy-
based products, Hott Products has established
itself as a leading source of sexy sweets.
Among the Hott items: the ubiquitous candy
G-string and candy bra. Other edible sexy wear
includes a candy garter, candy nipples tassels
and candy cuffs. But it’s not limited to “sexy
candy” at Hot Products. The manufacturer also
creates items with a sense of fun and novelty:
Blow Job Gum, Bodylicious Edible Body Paint
Pens, Candy Condom Pops and Cum Shots
Marshmallow Candy.
When it comes to gifts and novelties, not
many do it better than Seattle-based Kheper
Games. Though the manufacturer is known
mostly for its adult party games and unique
barware items, Kheper has branded into the
world of edibles more lately, including the
release of GumBALLS and Edible Pasties.
“Suckers seem to be the most popular for
us but our edible pasties for the holidays are
really popular as stocking stuffers,” said Brian
Pellham, Kheper’s CEO.
36 | INTIMATE | FALL 2019
A newcomer to the edibles game is Rock
Candy Products. Though the company names
suggests otherwise, the manufacturer to this
point has only created sex toys inspired by the
bright colors and fun names of candy. Earlier
this year, however, Rock Candy debuted the
Poppin’ Rock Candy, an exploding oral sex
candy.
“We spent the majority of 2018 testing the
market to see what really resonated with
customers, and the product that received the
most attention was definitely our Gummy
Vibe (a mini bullet that has a realistic gummy
bear silhouette),” said Casey Murphy, head of
marketing, PR and product education for Rock
Candy Toys and its sister brands. “Just about
every time we attend a consumer-driven event,
customers will flash a huge grin and exclaim,
“Oh my gosh!!! Can you eat it?!’ That statement
is normally followed by, ‘Do you have any
products that are edible?’
“Based on that level of excitement and
intrigue (retailers and distributors included),
we decided to roll out Poppin’ Rock Candy,”
she continued. “It was a seamless addition to
Rock Candy’s brand identity—and given the
impulse-purchase strategy that coincides with
our marketing and merchandising, we knew
it was going to be a big hit (and an effortless
upsell for store staff).”
So far, Murphy said, Poppin’ Rock Candy is
a hit with retailers. With bright packaging—
much like other products offered by the
manufacturer—Poppin’ Rock Candy also comes
in unique flavors.
“The flavors are unique to Rock Candy.
Our team taste-tested a LOT of exploding
candy during the development process, and
we settled on a total of six original flavors
between the Fruit Stand (Atomic Apple, Sexy
Strawberry and Sparkling Grape) and Soda
Shoppe (Crackling Cola, Orange Creampop and
Vanilla Blast) countertop displays. Everyone on
the team has their favorite flavor, but Orange
Creampop is the one that seems to be the
biggest crowd pleaser thus far,” she said.
While manufactures offer their confections
year-round, there are times retails can expect
to see increases, Rodgers of Diamond Products
noted.
“Pipedream’s edible products do well
throughout the year, but there is a definite spike
in sales during holidays like Christmas and
Valentine’s Day,” she said.
“We do have edible pasties specific to
Christmas and Valentine’s Day, but the Beer,
Cherry and Strawberry styles sell year round,”
Kheper’s Pellham told AVN.
“The Rainbow Dick Suckers were hugely
popular for summer Pride celebrations.