Things were quiet on the third and final day of the 2003 Adult Novelties Manufacturers Expo at the Sheraton Universal Hotel, with exhibitors outnumbering customers as the show wound down.
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While there were tiny toys and monstrous dongs, lollipops and clothes for tops, it was a show highlighted by the latest technology, with many companies taking orders for products not yet available on retail shelves.
Lady Calston premiered the Televibe, the first-ever telephone-operated and computer-activated vibrators for him and her.
“It’s been two years in the making,” creator Larry Gayne, who was on hand for ANME, told AVN.com. “Many have attempted, but none have been successful.”
With the Televibe, users can phone each other and through the use of the buttons on their telephone control the vibrator of a lover on the other end. It also works via a computer. It took two years of trial and error before being deemed ready for public consumption.
“We pride ourselves in bringing out innovative, meaningful products rather than repackaging old ones,” Gayne said. “The response has been incredible. We were already back ordered sight unseen. There’s nothing like it out there and this industry is hungry for new products.”
At the Doc Johnson booth, Derek Bacon, chief financial officer of Highjoy Products, showed off the capabilities of Doc Johnson’s irabbit when combined with his own company’s technology. Highjoy has made it possible for users to control a friend’s vibrator from anywhere in the world via the World Wide Web. He envisions groups of users stimulating each other over the internet, taking keyboard sex to a new level.
“The internet is moving toward live entertainment,” Bacon said. “This is where the future of toys is going.”
Another advantage: The software that is necessary to use the products, which will allow tracking of customer’s use.
“We can track how the toys are used in real time,” Bacon said. “It’s the first time that’s ever been possible.”
Bacon said the products should be on shelves in 90 days. He said Highjoy hopes to work with other companies to create an industry standard, keeping it simple for wannabe Web arousers.
California Exotic Novelties previewed Solar Sensations, a sun-run vibrator that last two hours on a full charge or can be used for fun in the sun as long as the skies are clear. The Solar Sensations line will debut in December.
There were also plenty of stars on parade, with Ron Jeremy, Max Hardcore, Skeeter Kerkove and others wandering the halls.
As the show wound down, with the sounds of packing tape dispensers ripping through the three exhibit halls, Geoff Arin, president of Kammo Productions, which produces ANME, reflected on a successful show.
“All the exhibitors have said this is the best show they’ve ever had, volume-wise and order-wise,” Arin said.
While there were no final numbers available, Arin said that there were 85 exhibitors, 20 percent more than the 2002 show. He estimated that attendance was up “at least” 25 percent, with approximately 750 badges being issued for around 300 companies.
He added that many companies now seem to plan their budgets around ANME
Arin said that ANME had become the place for manufacturers to debut their latest and greatest creations.
“This is where they do it. It’s what they expect.”
