HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Close to 300 of the adult retail industry’s top execs and representatives from leading companies gathered last Wednesday evening at the W Hollywood hotel to celebrate each other’s successes at the inaugural retail edition of the XBIZ Honors ceremony.
Dressed to the nines, guests lined up for photos on the red carpet, before snapping a selfie at the Pipedream-sponsored photo booth and grabbing a drink at one of the open bars at the swanky event. Once guests made their entry, they were met by a glittering elevated stage and several tables where attendees would later be enjoying a three-course dinner along with the awards show.
The show got underway with XBIZ Associate Publisher Sara Ramirez welcoming attendees and thanking XBIZ Honors Presenting Sponsor Satisfyer, along with the event’s other sponsors, CalExotics, Pipedream and Doc Johnson. With “Jump” by Van Halen playing in the background, Ramirez invited Alec Helmy — XBIZ publisher and known ‘80s rock fan — to take to the stage and kick off the ceremony with a few words on the inaugural event.
“I know what you were thinking — ‘for crying out loud, not another award show,’” Helmy said. “But I swear, it’s not another show. This evening we’re presenting our yearly Exec Awards and for the first time ever, categories from our flagship XBIZ Awards show. We think it’s a win-win and we think you’ll agree. So, without further ado, please welcome to the stage, the dynamic duo, the hostesses with the mostesses — Amy Baldwin and April Lampert from the ‘Shameless Sex’ podcast.”
The beloved industry vets sauntered onto the stage as Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” played in the background.
Baldwin began the show by introducing herself as a sex educator, sexual relationship coach and the lead educator for Uberlube, in addition to co-hosting the Shameless Sex podcast.
Lampert, who’s also VP of Hot Octopuss, joked that she has a Ph.D. in “fun.”
“We’re all here tonight — why? Because XBIZ put this together to recognize all of you,” Lampert said. “You are the most influential people, brands, humans — I guess there’s no dogs in here — beings of our industry and I want to personally thank you all for the work you’re doing because it is so valuable and so important. You are giving the world better orgasms and that is going to give you better karma, not going to lie. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. The Exec Awards that we’ve all attended before is now known as XBIZ Honors, so we’re also going to be talking about companies, not just humans. We’ve got some pretty amazing presenters coming at you tonight.”
The hostesses then roasted some of the nominees, referring to Aneros’ Brent Aldon as “one of the Phillippines most-coveted boy band members.”
“But what about Vin Diesel’s hottest, hottest stunt double — John Marinello,” Lampert joked.
Baldwin added that if there were a Dream Couple of the Year category, the winners would be Pipedream’s Briana Honz-Watkins and her husband Scott Watkins of Doc Johnson.
Entrenue’s Kim Maty and XR Brands President Rebecca Weinberg then took to the stage to start the show off with a bang, presenting the Pleasure Products Company of the Year nominees. WOW Tech was named the winner.
“It’s an honor to be nominated along with the other great companies in this category and to win it — truly honored,” WOW Tech VP of business development Simon Smith said. “Thank you so much for your votes and support. Thank you for the amazing team behind me, none of this is possible without them. The team in Berlin, Ottawa and Hong Kong … but most of all, thank you to our dedicated distributors and retailers — you’re the ones who make this happen, you’re the ones who support us, so this award is shared with all of us, thank you so much.”
Before the winner of the award for Online Retailer of the Year Award — Full Range was announced, Lampert joked that the winner was adult retail’s biggest competitor, Amazon. The crowd booed, chuckled and then broke out in applause when the actual winner was announced, AdamEve.com.
“I just want to thank everyone who voted for us for this award,” Adam & Eve’s Chad Jenny said. “There’s over 300 people back in North Carolina who put in work everyday to make this happen, and keep all of our customers happy. Thank you very much, we appreciate it.”
To present the nominees for Account Executive of the Year — Retail, was CalExotics’ Lupe Martinez, whom Baldwin referred as “one of the industry’s most beloved account executives.”
“To me this is one of the most important categories of the night because without our buyers, none of us would be in this room so we just want to thank you for all the hard work you do in supporting all of us,” Martinez said, announcing this year’s winner as Excitement Adult Stores' Loretta Goodling.
“Oh my fucking God,” Goodling exclaimed, visibly shaking with excitement. “I have worked at Excitement for 11 years and I can’t even believe this, I’m so excited. Congrats to everyone nominated in this category. Thank you XBIZ, thank you Sara, I want to cry; I can’t even believe anyone knows who I am. I thank my close friends and all the people I work with — thank you all so much.”
Introduced as Baldwin’s “favorite Southern charmer,” Jenny returned to the stage to announce the nominees for Account Executive of Year — Pleasure Products. But first, he took a moment to read a poem written in honor of the category.
“It is truly an honor to stand here before you all tonight and to present the award for Pleasure Product Account Executive of the Year,” he said. “There may be no bigger asset to a pleasure product manufacturer than an excellent road rep. They truly are the backbone of the industry because they travel the world to and fro, where oh where do they go?
“They deal with all the hustle and bustle and teach you how to bump your love muscle. Many, many stops within the day; these pleasure purveyors — they don’t play. Racing back to get on a plane … How do they not go insane? As they pass through the security line TSA says: ‘Your bag’s not fine.’ The agent asks: ‘Do you have a bomb?’ ’No officer, just a kick-ass wand.’ ’Are you smuggling contraband and vice?’ ’Wrong again, those are just my sexy dice.' Once they turn an eye on that big ole vibrator, all is well because they too are an avid masturbator.”
Jenny paused as the crowd erupted in cheers.
“Then you hurry off without even a shrug to debut that massive butt plug,” he continued. ”You’re off again, time for your next class — gotta teach the world how to wax that ass. Now all the reps have been put to the test. And these 10 have emerged as the best. So if you would, please erupt with glee, as I announce the nominees…”
Doc Johnson’s Steven Guarino was named the winner.
“I appreciate this,” he said. “Chad’s a really tough act to follow after all of that so, thank you.”
Ryan Fraga from Oxballs and Justin Vickers from ABS Holdings presented the nominees for Luxury Pleasure Product Line of the Year, calling to the stage COTR’s Kim Faubel to accept the trophy for the company’s Chrome by Le Wand collection.
“My dream has also come true by working with this company with our amazing retailers and distribution partners to produce this amazing line and present it to the world,” Faubel said. “Thank you so much for your help.”
The title of Luxury Brand of the Year was handed to Fun Factory.
“Excuse me for my German accent,” joked Fun Factory’s CEO Frederic Walme, referring to his French background, accepting the award on behalf of the German brand. “Thank you everyone, thank you XBIZ and thank you to all of our wonderful retail partners for promoting us for now 23 years in the business. It’s a true honor. We can’t wait to bring you some new technology and new stuff this year.”
Aldon, a past two-time nominee for Business Development Executive of the Year, went onstage to present this year’s nominees and announce Paradise Marketing’s Michelle Liss as this year’s winner.
“Thank you,” she said. “You have literally popped my cherry and I didn’t think that was possible to happen again. Wow, all these great nominees — I almost started to take a bite of my food because I was like, ‘I’m not going to win.’ Thank you so much, thank you — I don’t even know what to say.”
Before bringing the presenter on stage, Lampert shared her theory on the departments that make adult retail companies thrive.
“So every business has lots of different departments, right? They’ve got the sales department, they’ve got the CEO and CFO,” she said. “Now I like to compare each of these departments to different body parts. It makes a lot of sense. So sales is like the blood right … it flows through everything — no company can exist without the sales. Then you’ve got the CEO who is kind of like the brain or the mouth, depending.
“You have the CFO who is like the hands, hopefully not handsy. Let’s talk about the warehouses and logistics that are like the feet. I always think that marketing is like the heart of every company — everything flows through the heart. Now with the asshole, I don’t know what department that is, that’s for you to decide. But you need an asshole; a body can’t exist without one! But let’s come back to the heart: Marketing Executive of the Year. And our presenter is someone who has so much heart and is just an all-around badass boss queen, Megan Swartz from Deja Vu.”
Noting that Jenny’s poem was a tough act to follow as a presenter, Swartz called her fellow retail warriors “mentors.”
“While some might assume that you’re lucky to travel so much, your customers are aware of the effort it takes to go from city to city, living out of a suitcase for the majority of the month,” she said. “Beyond the first-class seats and beautiful destinations, there are mental and physical tolls associated with travel. I know what you do can often seem like a thankless job so I wanted to take a moment to thank you for what you do for your customers. It doesn’t go unnoticed. Tonight I’ll be presenting the award for Marketing Executive of the Year.”
Swartz went the extra mile to obtain a quote from each of the nominees’ bosses in advance, to read should their name appear in the envelope as the winner. In this case, it was a quote from Susan Colvin.
“The person receiving this award has worked at our company for 14 years,” Colvin said. “She began as the marketing coordinator and earned her masters degree during this time. She is now in charge of our creative department, web department, social media, PR and all marketing. She’s a team player and well-liked by all of our customers. She’s always willing to go the extra mile and is very creative. She multi-tasks wherever she is, including our anniversary party — she’s a hard working, incredible person who juggles her work, husband and five-year-old. Your Marketing Executive of the Year is Nicole Grossman.”
Recalling how she was at first hesitant to enter the adult retail biz, Grossman said that nine years later, she’s glad she did.
“Thank you Susan for all of your kind words and encouragement, thank you CalExotics and thank you XBIZ,” she said.
Following the presentation of Sex Toy of the Year — Powered, Non-Vibrating, which was handed to Pipedream Products for Her Ultimate Pleasure, Kheper Games’ Cathy Ziegler and Excitement Adult Store’s Loretta Goodling presented the Couples Sex Toy of the Year award to Clandestine Devices for its Mimic Plus.
“I want to thank all of you guys — this is a really big deal,” Clandestine Devices’ Jade Leon said. “Every single one of you: the retailers, online, brick-and-mortar, you are the ones who actually sell it, and you know what your customers want and that makes me happy."
Sliquid’s Michelle Marcus presented the Progressive Leadership Award, which was bestowed upon Screaming O’s Hui Newnham.
This is not the first award I’ve won but I have to say that it’s the most precious since it’s been awarded to me by my peers and I’d like to thank you all very much,” he said. “A very special thank you to Alec and everyone at XBIZ for putting on a fabulous event, and a particular shout-out to Justin Ross — my boss and my mentor. Thank you everyone: I really appreciate it, I value it, and I feel very honored.”
A celebration that’s for the community, by the community, it’s no wonder that the Community Figure of the Year is one of the highly coveted titles. This year, the honor went to Lulu Schwartzer of Mystim.
“I did not expect this at all,” she said. “I am so proud to be a part of this community and I’m so grateful to this industry for everything it’s given me and I just want to thank everybody because I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”
Following Oxballs’ win for Gay Pleasure Product of the Year for its 360 cock ring, Eldorado was named the Pleasure Products Distributor of the Year.
“Thank you everyone,” Eldorado’s Patrick Lyons said. “I can’t tell you how much this means to everyone at Eldorado. We definitely can’t do it without our customers, our amazing vendors that allow us to touch your product and market your product, sell your product. You guys are absolutely amazing to us. Thank you so, so much.”
Evolved’s Steve Sav was on-hand to present the award for Brand Ambassador of the Year to Vibratex’s Eddie Romero.
“I did not prepare a single thing,” he said. “So, nine years ago I joined this industry and every single one of you opened your arms. I thank you because you taught me how to do what it is that I do.”
To present the Senior Leadership Award, Screaming O’s Conde Aumann noted that she’d made an extra effort to get the nominees’ names right.
“Now, when I was asked to announce an award, one of the toughest things is making sure to announce the name properly,” she said. “Everyone from my office can agree that I’ve been practicing them to make sure that I nailed every single one…”
Aumann then proceeded to butcher each nominee’s name, exaggeratedly over-pronouncing each one before calling Lynda Mort from ECN to the stage as the winner.
“You guys, I just won $5 from Chad Braverman on myself,” Mort said, as her brother Peter La Mantia cheered her on. “Should I even be impressed that my brother just stood up for me and clapped? I would be lying if I said that I thought I deserved this because I really don’t. My team really deserves this and they can’t be here because they’re working because it’s first quarter and it’s Valentines Day, so I just want to thank my team because they’ve been absolutely amazing. They work really hard and a leader is no good without the people that work for them, so this award is for them.”
Following the presentation of Soft Bondage Line of the Year, which went to Shots America’s Ouch! Kit, and BDSM Pleasure Product Company of the Year, which was given to Sportsheets, Faubel returned to the stage to present the award for Chief Executive of the Year to Kheper Games’ Brian Pellham.
“Wow, I’m just so amazed,” he said. “I came out in this industry 10 years into being a CEO and I just love how LGBT and now Q+ products. As a gay business owner I’m so amazed and proud of what we’ve become. I love this industry so much.”
Taking a short break from the awards categories, Baldwin and Lampert initiated a game of Marry, Fuck, Kill in which they picked a very reluctant Chad Braverman to pick amongst the hostesses and XBIZ’s Sara Ramirez.
“You’re all beautiful women; I love and respect all three of you. Final answer,” he quickly answered as the audience exploded in laughter.
Praising the growth of the sexual wellness category, Pipedream’s Kristian Broms presented the Sexual Health and Wellness Brand of the Year award to Aneros. The Sexual Enhancement Product of the Year category was to follow, with presenter Jade Leon from Clandestine Devices calling sexual enhancement products “the peanut butter to the jelly of our other products.” The winner in that category was Overtime by Wicked Sensual Care.
Industry vet and sex educator Sunny Rodgers was on-hand to present the Businesswoman of the Year Award to Rebecca Weinberg.
“Oh my God, this is so unexpected I can’t even,” she said. “Thank you to my team, I’m so honored to be nominated amongst all these great women. I look up to all of you, thank you so much.”
In accepting the award for Sex Lubricant of the Year, Sliquid’s Dean Elliott dedicated the win to Daphne, the beloved pet of Michelle Marcus, Sliquid’s VP of sales and marketing.
“We truly love every person in this room, our friends, our family,” Elliott said. “You guys have been [with us] since day one. You know I love you. This never goes unappreciated, I dream of this every fucking night. I can’t thank you enough. It is an honor to be a part of your family and a part of this industry. There is nothing we would rather do.”
Following the award for Lubricant Company of the Year that was given to System Jo, Pipedream’s Briana Honz-Watkins made her way to the stage to present Businessman of the Year.
“It is such an honor to present this award,” she said. “Many of the men in this category are my dear friends and I respect and admire them so much. They exude charisma, drive, passion and strength for what they do. You all have done something truly remarkable, and that’s an achievement in and of itself. I’m proud of each and every one of you and wish you all the best.”
Pinkcherry’s Daniel Freedman was crowned the winner, and dedicated his award to the industry’s pioneers.
“Thank you XBIZ,” he said. “I’m shocked. I have to thank my staff — best staff ever. And I really want to thank the founders that paved the pathway to make my job easier and to make it possible.”
Progressive Pleasure Products Company of the Year was awarded to none other than Satisfyer.
“We are proudly representing for a very large community and we’re very honored to be here tonight and represent our German and N.Y. offices,” Satisfyer’s Megwyn White said. “We’re also so proud for all of our partners and consumers, and we’re super excited for the horizon of the next generation of sexual wellness products.”
Industry vet and High On Love founder and president Angela Mustone appeared ecstatic to have her new company be named this year’s New Pleasure Products Company of the Year.
“I’m speechless — I did not expect this,” Mustone said. “I want to thank everyone in here tonight — when I left CalExotics two years ago to go out on my own, it was very tough and a very arduous journey. I want to thank Susan Colvin who has been my mentor in this business; I couldn’t be here without her.”
To pass the torch as the WIA Woman of the Year, Alicia Sinclair credited women with making the largest impact in the industry and creating change to empower other women to feel good about their sexuality. Kitty Gondek from WOW Tech was named this year’s winner.
“I really did not expect this,” Gondek said. “I don’t think a lot of people know who I am so I’m shocked. I do agree with Alicia — this is an amazing time for us. We’ve had some amazing women pave the way so thank you so much for current generations and future generations to come — you’ve really broken down the barriers. I’m really proud of that. Looking around at all the women here tonight: you’re the reason why I stayed in the industry when I first came in. Thank you so much to my team and company.”
The inaugural XBIZ Honors wrapped with the presentation of the Legacy Award, which was presented by Ron Braverman.
“It’s my pleasure to be allowed to give this award to a very dear friend and special person: Susan Colvin,” he said. “Susan started out in her adult life as an educator. When she decided to go into the private sector, she had the fortune of meeting up with the Warner and Kaplan family: Michael and Vicky, and it’s been a lifelong friendship. She started in the business with them and them graduated into CPLC. Then she decided in her own wisdom that she was going to start a woman-centered company in a whole sea of men. And that’s where the education came in: she taught all of us a lesson, every one of us.
"She went on to grow CalExotics into the company it is today — numerous awards for Susan and CalExotics and for the people that work with her. It’s been a wonderful, wonderful trip. That’s the bio but the person is more important. She’s admired, respected and adored by the people she works with. As busy as she is, she’s never turned her back on anything that’s needed help or needed to be done in this industry. The real proof is in the pudding: she’s celebrating her 25th anniversary and has people that have been with her from the beginning. You hear about people coming to CalExotics, but never leaving. Susan, come on up….”
Colvin was presented with a trophy and a bouquet of flowers.
“Thank you everyone,” she said. “Nobody told me this was happening tonight so it’s quite a surprise. The only problem that I have is if you’re a legacy, does that mean you’re old? I hope that’s not the case.”
Someone in the audience responded with a loud “Classic!”
“Classic. That’s good,” she said. “This is an amazing industry. It has grown so that we have all of these fantastic people from around the world. I love my team, I love the people I work with, I enjoy people in this industry — I like the people I’ve known for 35 years and the people I’ve met recently. What’s amazing is that we’ve watched the entire adult industry change so dramatically and it’s because of everybody in this room. It’s never one person; it’s an entire group of people. Just like a company, it’s never one person — it’s the team. Thank you to everyone here and I hope that this is an incredible decade for all of us.”
Following the two-hour ceremony, several attendees made their way to the lobby bar of the W Hollywood hotel to celebrate each other’s wins and pose for photos cradling their well-deserved trophies. The party continued into the wee hours back at the Andaz hotel in West Hollywood, as guests arrived just in time for the Winter Wonderland party.
For a full list of the winners of the retail edition of XBIZ Honors, click here.
