BURBANK, Calif. — The ANME Show wrapped today following two days of product debuts and business networking that took place throughout the show’s expansive exhibition areas at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport hotel.
The first pleasure products expo of the year introduced retail and distribution buyers to many of the year’s upcoming releases — some of which feature unique functions such as Pipedream Products’ selection of Pipedream Extreme Toyz Dirty Talk products for a “sensory pleasure experience with erotic communication to increase the sexual arousal exponentially.”
The collection features penetrable masturbators that respond to spanking with dirty talking and moaning. The PDX Elite Talk-Back Super Stroker also offers dirty talk responses when asked various sexual questions.
Pipedream also unveiled two new life-size love PDX Ultimate Fantasy Dolls, Kitty and Carmen. The dolls feature solid steel skeletons that allow them to be posed in a variety of positions.
Pipedream sexologist Sunny Rodgers noted that the company’s latest releases for men are inspired by recent data that shows that 95 percent of men admit to masturbating, with 40 percent of them admitting to doing it daily.
Pipedream also introduced the Fantasy for Her line of pleasure products, featuring items designed for women. Each piece comes packaged in a box that tells an erotic story with how-to-use suggestions weaved in.
Jimmyjane introduced Pure Love Pods Tre UV Edition and Form 2 UV Edition, which come in a charging case that sanitizes while serving as a soothing nightlight.
“We did that on purpose so that people can hide it in plain sight,” Rodgers said.
Topco Sales also is targeting male consumers with its CyberSkin Elite Jackhammer Multi-Sensation Pussy & Ass that offers a realistic experience with a combination of realistic tugging, squeezing, and pulling motions that mimics the contractions of kegel muscles.
Topco’s new CyberSkin offerings also include a new self-lubricating stroker called CyberSkin H20 — just add water to enjoy the long-lasting sensation of the slippery inner texture. According to certified sex educator and sex toy marketing consultant Anne Hodder, the stroker is perfect for the shower, which is a popular place for men to masturbate whether it be because of the privacy or because of shame.
Other of Topco’s “penis-focused” offerings includes the Hombre collection of products for premium fitness for men that features a variety of cock rings.
CalExotics marked the release of its California Dreaming line by handing out beach towels and sunglasses to visitors at its booth. Featuring styles such as the Venice Vixen, Beverly Hills Bunny and San Francisco Sweetheart, the new collection comes in stylish packaging featuring California scenery. CalExotics’ Nichole Grossmann told XBIZ that the company predicts the line will sell well for retailers thanks to its fun theme and attractive point-of-sale displays and shelf talkers.
CalExotics also introduced new additions to its Mini Marvels collection, as well as the Dr. Laura Berman line. The company also added to its Cheap Thrills line with new strokers that are gender-neutral with names such as Steamy Affair and Good Time.
According to Grossmann, there is a growing demand for products for the transgender community and the company has released new packer gear as well as a female-to-male stroker and a prosthetic penile attachment.
Doc Johnson presented retailers with a new merchandising program for its Kink collection, which has been expanded to include new kits — such as the eight-piece stroker kit that can be used with the Power Banger sex machine. Other accessories for the Power Banger include extenders that give the machine a longer thrust. The Kink by Doc Johnson line now also includes the Bind & Tie Initiation Kit, an 18” Fuck Stock and Power Play Bullet.
In honor of its iVibe collection, Doc Johnson had a dazzling display that said “B*tch Don’t Kill My Vibe” with bright lights and reflective backgrounds to show off the new iVibe styles.
Doc Johnson also had its Pop Up Pleasure Machine on display, which will be making more appearances at mainstream events and venues. Doc Johnson transformed a traditional vending machine into a “technicolor touring pop-up,” which features a curated selection of Doc Johnson products, including the TRYST multi-erogenous Silicone Massager, the BUZZ Liquid Vibrator, and the multi-colored American POP! Mode plug, as well as select Doc Johnson swag
Braving the recent snowstorms on the East Coast, Nasstoys traveled to Burbank to showcased its newest items. The company released the Infinitt line of rechargeable, waterproof vibes. The line includes three suction massagers and two uniquely shaped massagers made of soft, high-quality silicone. Styles include the Infinitt Contoured Massager, Infinitt Suction Massager One, Infinitt Suction Massager Two, Infinitt Suction Massager Three and Infinitt Tongue Massager.
The company also added new Energize Her vibes that come as rechargeable and battery-operated versions. “People like both,” a company rep said.
Tamara Payton Bell, president of the Home Pleasure Party Plan Association, told XBIZ that she was impressed by the new product releases she saw at the show.
“I’ve seen a lot more innovative products and excellent packaging than I’ve seen in the past — and from lots of manufacturers,” she said. “Overall the feel of the show is really good. 2018 is going to be a really good year for business.”
Romance Brands unveiled the Cosmopolitan magazine branded line of pleasure products for the first time. According to Romance Brands’ Patricia Amore, the collection features 10 toys and 10 liquid SKUs that come in pink and purple colors. The first wave of Cosmopolitan products also includes books and games.
“There are more products coming within a second wave of releases this summer,” Amore said. “It will include body jewelry, body paint and more sleek toys — all rechargeable.”
The Cosmopolitan collection includes Luminous, a vibe that comes in an ultraviolet case that sanitizes. Other items include the Flirt bunny vibe and Magnificent Wand.
Screaming O’s Keli O’Hayer said that the company’s Charged line of rechargeable vibes is growing in popularity. New additions to the collection include the U-Turn Plus, Scoop and Toone. The company also introduced the Moove vibe with remote. Shaped for internal use, the latest remote-controlled version further allows it to be used for penetration.
“We expect the Toone to be a bestseller,” O’Hayer said. “It just begs to be touched.”
Fun Factory introduced its latest release, The Volta — “power to the clit,” said Luzoralia Corvera-Acosta, Fun Factory USA’s director of sales for North and South America. The vibe features a split fluttering tip that can be used to tickle and tease the clitoris or spread out against it to stimulate. It features a powerful G5 motior and retails for $139.
According to Corvera-Acosta, Fun Factory will introduce five more items this year. As for this week’s edition of the ANME Show, she said the company was “busy the whole time."
At the Rascal booth, Kim Airs promoted the Daisy douche nozzle attachment that works with regular water bottles.
“There’s nothing like this on the market,” she said. “With the big DIY movement that’s going on in mainstream, Daisy has great potential in drugstores and super markets. All that’s needed is to educate the consumers — because while a lot of women use douches, many of them don’t know that they shouldn’t overdo it or be cautious about the chemicals that are used in douching solutions.”
As a historically gay brand, Airs says she’s happy to offer a woman’s perspective on the company’s product line. “Rascal is a brand that can easily sell outside of the gay category,” she said.
FT Toys showcased its new release, the G-Plug BioSkin. According to April Vilgera, the plug features a pliable, realistic texture that makes it easier for beginners to explore anal play.
Sliquid showcased its collection of top-selling products from the Sliquid Naturals, Sliquid Organics and The Balance Collection along with specialty products Ride BodyWorx, Buck Angel's T-Lube and Pop Lube.
Erik Vasquez, Sliquid’s Ride BodyWorx Brand Ambassador, said that Buck Angel’s T-Lube is designed to be used as a daily moisturizer that was created for trans men who are experiencing regular or periodic dryness due to testosterone replacement therapy, or any other reason.
“It’s an emerging market,” he said. “There’s a growing demand.”
As Vasquez’s first time at ANME, he said the event was informative and allowed him to connect with colleagues.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Vasquez said. “It’s been a great learning experience to be able to talk to professionals and gain the knowledge that they shared with me. I’m looking forward to coming back in July.”
