profile

Kings of Kink

Leading BDSM gear supplier Stockroom has established itself as a one-stop shop for kink with arms that extend into the online adult sector,video productions, book publishing and educational courses. With more than 20 years under its belt — and more than 4,000 high-quality, unique offerings, Stockroom fights tooth and nail to protect its brand while it lends a hand in the reinvigoration of the adult entertainment industry.

Stockroom President Mike Herman lives literally a few steps away from his office in an apartment within the 30,000 square foot, vertically integrated, three-story manufacturing facility on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

The first floor handles shipping, receiving and warehousing, as well as housing Stockroom’s retail store and a studio for photo shoots. The second floor is for leather production and the third floor is split between offices, latex production — andapartments all designed by and created for the creative minds within the company to use when production runs into the late night and for out-of-town partners.

By keeping operations inhouse, Herman said Stockroom is able to maintain its high-end aesthetic by overseeing production to ensure that only perfection makes it out the door. Onsite production also allows the company to create tailored items for clients that range from mainstream Hollywood films, magazine layouts, music videos and red carpet appearances totheir kinky adult counterparts.

“We have the opportunity to create high-quality, unique pieces for adult movies in limited amounts as opposed to having to order thousands from China,” Herman said. “We’re helping adult studios improve production quality and that in turn aids in the battle against tube sites.”

He added that adult studios and web content producers are offered discounted prices and rental options on its products. The incentive seems to be working as a Stockroom retail associate told XBIZ that content producers — especially those in mainstream — make up a notable fraction of the store’s shoppers. Stockroom also puts money in the pockets of adult content producers by offering crosspromotionalopportunities. “Consumers often see our products in movies or magazines and want one of their own,” Herman said. “If they can direct their customers to Stockroom’s product along with a code, the studio can make commission from that upsell through our affiliate program.”

With a ranking in the top five most-visited online adult toy stores, according to web traffic reporting and ranking service Alexa.com, Stockroom lends its web presence to affiliates through co-branded stores that offer the fetish retail giant’s copyright-protected product images. Herman said the Stockroom affiliate program and its expanded network is nearing a rebuild and will offer “never before seen features.”

The aesthetic of Stockroom’s brand and its products has made it necessary for the company to patent and copyright all of its offerings, and to hire legal firms to protect them in court.

“Stockroom is constantly innovating and still we see our designs being knocked off,” Herman said. “This year we will probably file at least six patents.”

Its marketing material consisting of high-quality images shot by renowned fetish photographers in elaborate settings at exotic locations also requires protection. Herman said he’s seen overseas manufacturers market Stockroom knockoffs with its catalog images.

Regardless of whether competitors are obvious with their cheap knockoff products, Herman said he sees plenty of them and the main key to combat them is through education.

“Duplicating products simply by looking at them is dangerous,” he said. “Fetish is a growing niche and something to be educated about before getting involved with. For example, I’ve seen some companies that market electrosex products with ads depicting users with the pads attached their nipples when in reality, placing them that close to someone’s cardiovascular system could be deadly. You have to know what you’re doing.” Herman added that Stockroom’s array of educational offerings is meant tohelp consumers recognize possible dangers and encourage physical awareness.

Daedalus Publishing is Stockroom’s line of educational books about sex and sexuality, with a particular focus on instructional books introducing readers to aspects of the BDSM, leather and fetish lifestyles. Written by top, respected authors in the field such as sex educator Midori; Daedalus’ books are a staple in many private libraries and university classrooms, and are carried by a wide range of both mainstream and adult retailers.

Last year, Stockroom introduced the Stockroom University series of sex education workshops offering healthy tips and tricks for BDSM players of all levels.

“There are so many people that are curious but don’t know where to start,” Herman said, adding that classes have covered blindfolds, whips and simply pleasuring a woman. Workshops are taught by trained and recognized professionals, including Ms. Nikki Nefarious and Midori — who has drawn more than 40 attendees at a time.

As Stockroom takes up DVD sales of movies covering various niches, it has also acquired exclusive distribution rights to fetish lines Gwen Media and Ivy Manor. Herman said future plans include possibly producing its own line of educational titles.

Stockroom and its two other major brands represent three of fetish’s oldest brands. Syren, which offers hand-tailored garments created from European sheet latex fabric and has existed for more than 20 years; and Stormy Leather, which was established more than 25 years ago, offers handmade-style corsetry in satiny silk and soft garment leather.

The growing popularity of fetish fashion has allowed Stockroom to provide costumes and wardrobe for films and television shows like “The Matrix,” “Watchmen,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Men in Black,” “CSI: Miami,” “True Blood” and “Ugly Betty” as well as for music videos for artists like Britney Spears and the Pussycat Dolls.

“We are the most wellknown brand in fetish,” Herman said. “It’s gone outside of adult. We do spend extra time and money in our product — it’s paid off."

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

The SCREEN Test: How to Prepare for Federal Age Verification

For those who are counting, there are now 20 enacted state laws in the United States requiring age verification for viewing online adult content, plus numerous proposed laws in the works. This ongoing barrage has been exhausting for many in the adult industry — and it may be about to escalate in the form of a potential new AV law, this time at the federal level.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Mitigating Retail Shrink Through Intelligent Video Solutions

Retail shrink isn’t just a cost of doing business — it’s an existential threat. Theft, fraud, operational inefficiencies and employee mismanagement chip away at profits in ways that many business owners don’t even realize.

Sean Quinn ·
opinion

How to Master Team Dynamics for Business Success

Having the right team in place is everything. Whether getting a startup off the ground and thriving, or safeguarding an established company, the right — or wrong — people can mean the difference between a successful venture and a failed dream.

Juicy Jay ·
opinion

The Power of Authenticity in Selling Pleasure Products

I’ve been working in the pleasure industry for more than two decades. For a significant chunk of that time, I thought that to be successful in sales, I had to fit a mold. I assumed that selling meant following a formula: say the right things, use the right voice and present myself in a way that was guaranteed to convert.

Kimberly Scott Faubel ·
opinion

Eight Steps to Fast-Track AI Site Approval for Processing

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic these days. AI technology is speeding up the way we do business across all industries and offers numerous benefits, from automating processes to increasing efficiency and scalability.

Cathy Beardsley ·
profile

Dennis DeSantis on Building a Blockbuster Career in Adult Retail

The adult industry and the mainstream Hollywood scene often intersect, and few executives are more familiar with that crossover than Dennis DeSantis.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
opinion

How to Secure High-Risk Transactions With Network Tokenization

Ensuring the security of data as it moves through digital channels is the foundation of safe transactions, and crucial for your success. If your business can’t secure transactions, you’re exposed to myriad processing traumas.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

'Pleasure Professionals Place' Facebook Group Marks 5 Years of Fostering Connections

Where can you find the pleasure industry’s most tantalizing, trending and relevant conversational banter? For once, we’re not talking about a trade show after-party!

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

How Cannabis Culture Is Reshaping Sexual Wellness, Pleasure

April is a month of celebration: Lovers Day, Earth Day… and 4/20. Once a subculture symbol, “420” has evolved into a movement that bridges cannabis advocacy, wellness and an increasingly vital discussion around sexual health and pleasure.

Ian Kulp ·
profile

WIA Profile: Holly Corbella

Even during last year’s retail slump, the adult home party business continued to rock and roll — at least in New Jersey. Just ask Holly Corbella. Based in the Garden State, Corbella is the founder, CEO and lead party planner for Parties by Bellas, an intimate, in-home sex toy event company focusing on creating budget-friendly home parties for women on the East Coast.

Women In Adult ·
Show More