profile

WIA Profile: Autumn O’Bryan

WIA Profile: Autumn O’Bryan

A year ago, industry vet Autumn O’Bryan returned to Topco Sales after almost a decade, to become the company’s new COO. Her goal was — and remains — to reinvigorate the historic brand and reinstate it as an industry leader. Since rejoining, O’Bryan has overseen the opening of Topco’s new FDA-compliant lab and the company’s renewed white labeling initiatives. She’s also expanded the Topco team to ensure that the brand is represented at events and in retail stores; and that customers are prioritized. In this month’s edition of Women in Adult, we profile O’Bryan as she recaps how Topco Sales has evolved under her direction.

XBIZ: How (and when) did you get into the business?

The most rewarding part of my role as COO has been watching the day-to-day accomplishments that Topco — both the company and the brand as a whole — make.

Autumn O'Bryan: I started in the 1990s when I ran a home party plan called Midnight Madness in New England. I sold that company in 2005 to another party plan and made my next move within the sex toy industry.

XBIZ: What challenges have you confronted in your career and how have you overcome them?

O'Bryan: My biggest challenges have always stemmed from people, specifically separating business from the personal and not internalizing too much. I have to remind myself regularly that none of this is personal, it’s not all directly related to something I may have (or may not have) done, and to never assume we know what’s going on with someone else. We are all fighting battles that the rest of us know nothing about, and it’s important to remember that the only thing I really have control over within business relationships is myself and keeping my side of the street clean.

XBIZ: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

O'Bryan: The most rewarding part of my role as COO has been watching the day-to-day accomplishments that Topco — both the company and the brand as a whole — make. Some accomplishments have been huge while others have been more modest or less obvious to those who aren’t directly impacted, but often the small “wins” are the most challenging to achieve and most rewarding to celebrate. In just a year, I’ve witnessed a noticeable shift in morale, reputation, and commitment, and the fact that we’ve maintained steady forward motion is something I feel quite proud of.

XBIZ: What is your personal motto or mantra that you live by?

O'Bryan: Make today ridiculously amazing! Live in the moment; it's all we have.

XBIZ: What career accomplishment are you most proud of?

O'Bryan: I’ve felt quite proud watching people I hired grow in their roles and move on to hold some of the top positions in the industry. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch others I care about succeed, especially knowing I played a role at their start.

XBIZ: What are your professional goals for the rest of 2017?

O'Bryan: My professional goals for 2017 are similar to ones I shared a year ago, when I first started my role as COO at Topco. My core focuses will continue to be on regaining market share for Topco and its best-performing brands, as well as reinvigorating Topco’s reputation for being a market leader in materials development. This last year, we’ve reminded the industry of Topco’s forte with cosmetics, white labeling, and brand licensing, and with the opening of our on-site FDA-compliant lab, I expect those parts of Topco’s business to grow even faster.

There are exciting projects within this realm that I’m really looking forward to debuting; product development and innovation is something I’ve always loved and I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of impact we can make this year. I also plan to continue leading and building a team that shares common goals and values — especially with regard to transparency, follow-through, and honesty – and further show the industry that Topco is well on its way back to the top ranks.

Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.

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

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

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 ·
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 ·
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 ·
profile

Friday Bae Founder Benoit Palix Discusses Brand's Gen Z Focus

French sexual wellness brand Friday Bae is aiming to disrupt the market with its genderfluid, inclusive pleasure products. With bright pops of color for Gen Z and millennials to swoon over, Friday Bae is merging creativity and education for fans, dubbed the “Bae Squad.”

Namma Karp ·
profile

Self Serve's Matie Fricker on Promoting Sex-Positivity in Albuquerque

For 18 years, Self Serve has been providing a sex-positive space for adult toys and resources to folks in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The story behind its success is all about making connections: connecting with your passion, with your business partner, with your customers, with your staff and with your community.

Justin Goodrum ·
opinion

Why Inclusivity in the Pleasure Industry Is More Important Than Ever

2025 has kicked off with a series of unsettling events. Tension and anxiety are high across North America as the unknown impact of tariffs, climate change and attacks on human rights loom ominously. In times of unrest, seeking pleasure is not frivolity but necessity.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
opinion

2025's Top Tech Trends That Adult Retailers Should Know About

I just got back from the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention & Expo, also known as “Retail’s Big Show,” where I walked the floor, sat in on key panels, talked with industry experts and influencers, and did my best to sift through the b.s. so I could report back to you all on the things you need to care about.

Sean Quinn ·
Show More