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Articles by Zoe Tamara
Tantus Owners Discuss Passion for Kink, Sexual Wellness
While Tantus as a brand doesn’t scream “kinky” in the same way many other strictly-fetish brands do, when prompted, Mike Blacksmith, CEO, affirmed, “We’ve been a kink company pretty much from day one.” He’s joined by Tantus founder and owner, Metis Black, and as the duo chat over the phone with XBIZ from their Nevada home base, the story of the now highly-lauded company begins to unfold.
International Lube Powerhouse Pjur Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Since its establishment a quarter of a century ago, pjur has been a pillar of the sexual health and wellness community, expanding from its original formula to the empire that it is today. Under the leadership of founder Alexander Giebel, from the inkling of an idea, pjur has blossomed to be a mainstay of the pleasure industry, spreading its wings across the globe and captivating the market. Looking at the facts, pjur operates at an impressive scale.
Adopting New Online Strategies for Brick-And-Mortar Retail
It’s easy to lose focus, hope and ambition during these trying times of uncertainty. Let’s face it; we’re all facing uncharted territories. It’s now crucial to adapt, adopt new strategies, and then evolve in order to not only survive but also hopefully thrive in the near future. It won't be easy and we’ll have to learn new things, take on more challenges, and work together to pull through this.
A Look at the Parallels Between Intimate Care and Skincare
Lubricant seems to be one of the categories that evokes the most passion from retail associates. Everyone has a favorite brand, formula, flavor, bottle, consistency, sales rep or packaging style. It is a long list, but that list is the reason we see so much diversity on retail shelves and in online stores. There also seems to be a clear division over certain ingredients such as glycerin or parabens, and FDA approval.
Are Sex Toy Companies Copying Each Other?
The earliest sex toy discovered was an estimated 28,000-year-old phallus-shaped dildo in a cave in Germany. The find was a rare one since examples of masculinity from that period are unusual to stumble upon, although female-inspired works of art are rather common. Some shapes have proven effective over the years, considering the human anatomy has not changed much in a few hundred thousand millenniums.
A Look at the Power of Virtual Trainings
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic saw millions confined to their homes, we saw a marked upswing in webinars, virtual conferences, and online trainings, which made sense given the way that online teaching makes information accessible to so many more people than in-person events ever could.
Is ‘Jelqing’ the Cost-Free Penis Enhances for the COVID Era?
It’s fair to say, a lot of people are trying do something to better themselves during this current COVID-19 pandemic. Whether that’s actually being able to master baking a cake without burning it, or purely managing to spend infinite amounts of time with their loved ones without losing their temper, more commonly people have decided to improve themselves. When did we last have this extra time confined within our own four walls to do that online workout class or meditation session?
How to Master Adult Retail From Home
Ever fancy waking up when you wanted to, having time to make a light breakfast, sip on that steaming cup of coffee while gazing out of the windows at the calm skies or the high-rise buildings ... on a Monday morning? Well, yeah, that ain’t gonna happen. Pandemic or not — everyday is a hustle. However, you can master the art of working from home. The line between work life and personal life disappears quicker when WFH, so establish your hours and try your best to stick to them.
Embracing Virtual Communication in an Era of Social Distancing
A few months ago I’m not even sure if I knew what a “Zoom call” was. Microsoft Teams wasn’t in my wheelhouse either. Okay, maybe I wasn’t completely ignorant of the platforms, but I wasn’t using them either. I was working alongside my co-workers, doing the day-to-day tasks our stores require, communicating as we normally do and trying to plan accordingly.
WIA Profile: Fanny Chen
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. Though China leads the way in affordable pleasure product manufacturing, the country's acceptance of sex toys seems to end at the assembly line — though hopefully not for long with Chinese businesswomen like Fanny Chen in charge.
Eye of Love VP Jacqui Rubinoff Counsels on the Game of Love
When the lights go out at Eye of Love headquarters in San Diego, California, the company VP heads somewhere you'd never expect: out to her second job. Jacqui Rubinoff, the business brains and beauty behind Eye of Love pheromone products, isn't, however, desperate for side income. As it turns out, Rubinoff is dedicated to the cause of healthy sexuality for all as a certified loveologist and love coach, courtesy of sex and relationship expert Dr. Ava Cadell's Loveology University.
NYTC Founder Chelsea Downs Talks Growing Gender Affirmation Products Sector
At the glitzy 2020 XBIZ Awards, held this year at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Los Angeles this past January, winners were announced on stage with several titles scrolling through towards the end of the evening. It was then that Chelsea Downs, co-founder of New York Toy Collective, saw the company’s name flash on screen, right underneath the title of LGBT Pleasure Product of the Year. They’d won; a prestigious award for any company to pick up, the honor marked the first for Downs and NYTC.
O.school’s Andrea Barrica Talks Sextech Revolution
Andrea Barrica is on a roll. The CEO and founder of the online, stigma-free sex-ed platform, O.school, and former venture partner at 500 Startups recently released her first-ever book, “Sextech Revolution: The Future of Sexual Wellness,” providing a comprehensive look at the past, present and future of sextech and sexual wellness.
Funkit Toys' Founder Kenton Talks Design, Activism in Sex Toy Manufacturing
“Hang on, let me move out of the warehouse and go somewhere quieter — someone is running a table saw.” Kenton, the founder, lead designer and, well, entirety of indie sex toy company Funkit Toys maneuvers away from the rumbling buzz. “May take a moment,” he interjects, “this place is very large.” In a long-distance chat from Washington D.C., Kenton explains that he only just recently moved from his work-home studio to a shared facility.
TheNextWeb.com Hosts Sextech Panel With Lora DiCarlo, Dame Products Founders
LOS ANGELES — Lora Haddock DiCarlo, CEO and founder of Lora DiCarlo, and Alexandra Fine, CEO and co-founder of Dame Products, were recently featured on an online panel highlighting developments in the world of sextech, hosted on The Next Web.
Zoe Ligon Offers Sexpert Advice in New 'Carnal Knowledge' Book
LOS ANGELES — Zoë Ligon, sex educator and owner of Spectrum Boutique, announced yesterday via social media the forthcoming release of her new book, "Carnal Knowledge," set to hit stores in the U.S. on September 22. Touted as a sex-positive guide, the book features a collection of tips mined from Ligon's experience as an educator and store owner, accompanied by photos from The New Yorker photo editor and longtime friend Elizabeth Renstrom.
MedFetUK Donates Stock of PPE to U.K. Hospitals
MANCHESTER, England — Following calls from the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS), MedFetUK, a Manchester-based online medical fetish retailer, has donated its entire remaining stock of disposable scrubs to an NHS hospital in southern England. The company says that it was contacted by the hospital with an urgent request for the personal protective equipment (PPE) that has been dwindling in stock worldwide in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Lioness Founder Liz Klinger Launches 'Mask-Match' Initiative to Aid Healthcare Workers
LOS ANGELES — Liz Klinger, CEO and co-founder of sexual wellness brand Lioness, has joined forces with Medinas CEO Chloe Alpert to launch Mask-Match, a new initiative designed to reallocate spare medical masks to healthcare workers on the front lines battling the coronavirus. Following a global shortage of respirator masks, such as the N95 models, healthcare workers have been left with dwindling supplies.
How to Deal With ‘Friction’ on the Sales Floor
Sales friction is any obstacle that may stand between the customer buying something or not. Think of the ease of shopping, checkout process, payment options, etc. Anything that may give a customer who is contemplating their purchase, the reason they needed to walk away. Sometimes this type of friction is out of your control. Just the other day, I couldn’t find parking, left my original destination, and completed my purchase at their main competitor.
Bringing ‘Tech’ Into Sex Helps Us Break Out of the ‘Adult’ Silo
Sex toy companies may be forgiven for being on the fence about the tech show CES. After initially seeming like a welcoming environment for adult innovations, last year CES was embroiled in scandal after it gave an innovation award to sex toy company Lora DiCarlo, and then swiftly took the award away. This squeamishness about pleasure products has meant that sextech companies are rightly a little nervous about the reception they may get at “mainstream” events.
A Look at the Evolution of the Bullet Vibrator
In today’s adult retail landscape, vibrators consistently get more unique with bells, whistles and everything in between added to enhance their power. When faced with choices that are as high-tech as they are sexy, some shoppers might suspect that the more elaborate or multi-function products are automatically the best picks.
Canadian Judge Rules in Landmark Decision on Sexual Services Laws
LONDON, Ontario — Charges against a London, Ontario couple, Tiffany Harvey and Hamad Anwar, who were arrested in 2015 following a raid on their business, Fantasy World Escorts, have been stayed following a landmark decision by Judge Thomas McKay that the charges are unconstitutional.
How Will You Elevate Your Retail Business in 2020?
2020 has a futuristic ring to it. With technology advancing like never before, why aren’t our retail customer experiences advancing as well? Customers are becoming savvier when it comes to their purchases, especially if these purchases relate to intimacy and personal pleasure. Consumers not only research products and their intended end results, they also conduct price comparisons and scour online reviews.
How to Connect With Retail Customers on Social Media
Perhaps the biggest difference between running a business 10 years ago and running a business today is the role social media can play in your success. As of 2019, 79 percent of the United States population and 91 percent of businesses had social networking profiles, making the medium extremely effective for connecting not only businesses with potential customers but also businesses with other businesses.
Industry Therapist Dr. Amie Harwick Killed, Ex-Boyfriend Implicated
LOS ANGELES — Dr. Amie Harwick, a noted sex therapist, was killed over the weekend after falling from the third story balcony of her Hollywood Hills residence. Her ex-boyfriend, Gareth Pursehouse, an industry photographer, was arrested Saturday afternoon on suspicion of murder in connection to her death. Harwick had previously obtained a restraining order against Pursehouse, which had since expired.
How to Make a Connection With the Valentine’s Day Once-a-Year Customer
Ah, Valentine’s Day. That week where everyone needs to profess their love through gift. The week where you need a revolving door, double the staff and an on-site therapist for both employees and customers. We love it and it exhausts us. We look forward to it and we cheer its denouement. What if 20% of those once-a-year customers could become regulars? What if half of them came back just one more time during the year?
Brands to Watch: Meet the 2020 Class of Incoming Pleasure Purveyors
No matter how many vibrators, lubes and other miscellaneous pleasure-enhancing sexcessories make their way into the marketplace, adult retailers and consumers alike are always eagerly awaiting the latest innovations. The ever-growing sexual wellness landscape is constantly evolving with modern tools that speak to today’s consumers with a fresh approach to addressing their many sexual needs and desires.
Bean Flicks Erotic Film Festival Set to Examine Ethics, Desire This Weekend
BIRMINGHAM, U.K. — The inaugural "Bean Flicks" erotic film festival is set to take place in Birmingham, England, this coming Friday and Saturday. Organized by Dr. Annalise Weckesser, Dr. Keeley Abbott and Dr. Gemma Commane, researchers in health, psychology and media at Birmingham City University, the debut event will feature screenings of indie filmmakers' works of "feminist, queer and kink-positive porn shorts," that champion inclusivity and bridge the gap between ethics and desire.
How to Execute a Successful Retail Store Event
When you have made the decision to have an in-store event, proper planning and execution is vital. In-store events, specifically where product is given away, need to make sense monetarily for your business and anyone partnering with you. Your long-term goal for having an event should include seeing a financial return. Even if the event is completely free, you have to find ways to capitalize on the added traffic.
Innovation, Customer Service Buck Motorbunny Into the Forefront
I love my job. I really do. With 26 years of experience in the sex toy industry under my belt and in my panties, I think I’ve done it all and seen it all — up until now. Imagine my utter thrill in getting the latest incarnation of the innovative Motorbunny to straddle and review. And imagine my continued thrill to be able to enjoy every pulse and thrust with my every cell while riding this amazing power pack of pleasure. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Innovation, Customer Service Motorbunny Buck Into the Forefront
I love my job. I really do. With 26 years of experience in the sex toy industry under my belt and in my panties, I think I’ve done it all and seen it all — up until now. Imagine my utter thrill in getting the latest incarnation of the innovative Motorbunny to straddle and review. And imagine my continued thrill to be able to enjoy every pulse and thrust with my every cell while riding this amazing power pack of pleasure. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Williams Trading Offers 'Sweetheart Deal' on Wet Lubricants Display
PENNSAUKEN, N.J. — Williams Trading has announced the arrival of an all-new Wet Lubricants display, now available at a promo sale price. Packed with 18 display bowls of their most popular lubricants in 1oz and 10mL foil pouch trial sizes, the Wet floor display, originally priced at $2458.34 wholesale, is now available for only $1229.17, plus a $200 shipping cost.
Passion Project: Lorals CEO Melanie Cristol Details Career Journey
“Dental dams are sort of the nerdy kid at school, which is exactly what I was,” mused Melanie Cristol from a plush office chair at XBIZ headquarters in early October. Exactly five years ago to the day, the now founder and CEO had quit her lucrative job at a law firm to pursue an immediate passion project: latex oral sex panties. Cristol had begun her journey in the sexual wellness field at Columbia University, where she worked as a peer sex educator while completing her undergraduate degree.
STUD 100 Hits Half-Century Milestone in 2020
The year was 1970, England: “It was the era of Free Love,” recalled Jo Racklin, STUD 100 director and heiress to the STUD 100 throne. “Mr. Racklin,” as his daughter relates in a phone interview with XBIZ, was holed up with his business partner at the time, fueled by endless pots of coffee on a 36-hour long bender, frantically racking their collective hive mind for the idea of the era.
Pornhub Launches Mirror Site in Effort to Bolster Security, Privacy
NEW YORK — Pornhub announced last week that it has launched a mirror site, available now on the Tor network via an Onion URL. Tor describes itself as an "effective censorship circumvention tool," one which allows users to access "otherwise blocked destinations or content" via a decentralized network that establishes an indirect connection for users, making it virtually impossible to trace a user's identity and location.
Sultry Boutique Brings Stigma-Free Sex-Ed to Huntsville, Ala.
Huntsville, Alabama … it’s the deep, Deep South. Neighbors include the Redstone Arsenal, a U.S. Army base,which also encompasses NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. It’s a town of engineers and military personnel with high-level security clearances but also, one unique store that’s reshaping the face of the industry in the conservative south. Sultry Boutique has been in owner Tiara Trudeau-Gullotta’s charge for the past four years now.
Lioness Issues Call to Vote for Last Gadget Standing at CES
LAS VEGAS — Lioness has already made history to have been named a Top 10 finalist at the Consumer Electronics Show's (CES) "Last Gadget Standing" competition, which relies on fan votes to select its winner. Now, Lioness is putting out a call for votes in an effort to push their second generation smart vibrator to the front of the pack.
Talent: Your XBIZ 2020 Hot Sheet
LOS ANGELES — The 2020 XBIZ Show is set to kick off next week, welcoming all talent to the Andaz Hotel in West Hollywood for four days of action-packed networking and business-building opportunities. Presented by ManyVids, the annual XBIZ Show will take place this year from Jan. 13-17. Boasting one of the most robust show schedules to date, this year will feature an unprecedented number of seminars and panels, billed as the all-new “Voices of Adult” program.
Fleshlight Plays Unconventional Role in 'Dracula' Premiere
LOS ANGELES — Just when we all thought that vampires were passé, a period piece detailing the legend of Dracula, arguably the most famous vampire of them all, is set to hit Netflix and features a peculiar prop in its debut episode.
Lioness Smart Vibe Makes CES 'Last Gadget Standing' Top 10
LOS ANGELES — The California-based sextech startup, Lioness, has landed a coveted spot as one of the Top 10 finalists for the crowd-voted Last Gadget Standing competition at the upcoming 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), set for January 9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
We-Connect App Restored to Google Play Store
LOS ANGELES — We-Vibe has announced today that its We-Connect app has been restored on the Google Play Store and is once again available for download on all Android devices. Following Wednesday's news of the app's removal, company representatives released a statement citing a promotional image as the potential culprit and sharing that they anticipated the app to be restored within 48 hours.
On the Set: Erika Lust's 'Estate Sale' Brings Vintage Vibes to XConfessions
LOS ANGELES — As I pull up to one of the many nondescript bungalows on a quiet street in South Los Angeles, a vintage pink-and-red couch sits lonely, abandoned on the front porch. It’s the only marker on a sleepy stretch of road — which is just waking up on a tranquil Saturday morning — hinting that this is the shoot location for “Estate Sale,” the latest creation for Erika Lust’s venerable XConfessions site.
Google Removes We-Vibe App From Google Play Store
LOS ANGELES — WOW Tech Group has announced that its We-Connect app, which allows its We-Vibe couples vibrators to be used wirelessly from anywhere in the world, has been removed from the Google Play Store.
CAM4 Brings 'Cam Life' Exhibit to Museum of Sex
NEW YORK — New York's Museum of Sex and CAM4 have partnered to present "Cam Life: An Introduction to Webcam Culture," a new exhibition chronicling the rise of webcam culture, opening to the public next Thursday.
Chana Boteach Discusses Opening of ‘Kosher Sex’ Store
More than two decades ago, “Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy” hit bookstands, sparking both controversy and simultaneously a movement. In his famed (or infamous, depending on who you ask) book, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach offers his own unique takes on relationships, sex and marriage in teachings derived from Judaism and the Torah. Flash forward 20 years and the first-ever Kosher Sex store is up and running, helmed by none other than his daughter, Chana Boteach.
24 Days of Pleasure: Sexy Advent Calendars Heat Up the Holidays
LOS ANGELES — As it cools down outside and the holiday season is heralded with kitschy decor and Christmas jingles around the clock, the 24 days leading up to Christmas have traditionally been filled with many things; sex toys are not the first to come to mind. As retailers hope to cash in on big holiday spending, one dark horse product has received a truly magnificent rebrand in recent years, and has since emerged as a top player in the space.
Gizmodo Examines Pitfalls of 'Watchmen' Dr. Manhattan Vibe
LOS ANGELES — All right. The exorbitantly large Dr. Manhattan vibrator that appeared on the third episode of the HBO series "Watchmen" has generated heated buzz, with fans, critics and everyone in-between taking to social media to share in their collective shock over Laurie Blake's apparent pleasure product of choice.
Lioness' Anna Lee Named to Forbes '30 Under 30' List
LOS ANGELES — Anna Lee, co-founder of the sexual wellness company Lioness, has landed one of the coveted spots on Forbes' famed "30 Under 30" list. Placing in its Consumer Technology sector for 2020, Lee's contribution as the engineering lead on Lioness' flagship smart vibrator earned her the prestigious ranking as one of this year's honorees.
Mic Magazine Highlights the Evolution of Sex Toys
LOS ANGELES — In a recent article for Mic online magazine, author Tracey Anne Duncan highlights the evolution of sex toys, predominantly over the past century, and looks ahead at the trends coming out of the ever-growing industry as we move into a new decade.
Wild Flower Co-Founders Amy and Nick Boyajian on Designing Flagship Toy, Enby
A whirlwind romance set amidst the buzz of New York City brings together a tech guru and a dominatrix who subsequently launched their own business, capturing the hearts of the queer, sex-positive community in the process. No, it’s not the plot of the next big kinky-spy-romcom but rather, the story of Amy and Nick Boyajian, founders of the pleasure-positive online retail shop, Wild Flower Sex.
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