LAS VEGAS—As studios and fans focus on the consumer-facing elements of the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE), companies that manufacture and sell some of the most popular adult novelty products were honored for excellence in product design, marketing, packaging, and more at the 2024 'O' Awards. In fact, history was made Friday night at Resorts World in Las Vegas.
The 2024 edition of the ‘O’ Awards was different from previous years.
By combining the adult pleasure products division that is held at the end of the AVN Awards Show traditionally, this year’s edition of the ‘O’ Awards features a range of product and retail awards spanning across the adjacent pleasure products space.
Kim Airs hosted the event as mistress of ceremonies.
Product reviewer for AVN and a prolific fixture in the pleasure product vertical, Airs opened the show with her renowned wit and unique style. She explained to the audience, mainly executives and marketing types across the pleasure products space, that this segment works in fantasy.
“You see things and hear things that aren't meant to be adult,” Airs said jokingly at the beginning of the presentation of awards. “Like at the holidays, there was a spinning dreidel at CVS—‘that's a butt plug!’” The crowd laughed at her comedy bits raucously throughout the show providing for a laid back and humorous atmosphere of friendly competition.
Inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame herself just this year, Airs told AVN after the awards show that she is beyond honored to continue to be involved in this work.
“It's been 30 years in the business,” she said, referring to her induction into the Hall of Fame. “And to be recognized is pretty amazing. I am really proud of it.”
Digressing, Airs made history as the first host of the ‘O’ Awards, combining the traditional award sections that are mainly associated with companies that operate in the B2B segment and the division for pleasure products awarded at the AVN Awards.
This was a first for the event organizers.
Airs explains, “We got the recognition we deserve in the pleasure products industry on the level of the AVN Awards.
"It is on the website and everything, as is the AVN Awards,” for the other categories and sections typically dealing with film, content creators, and web platforms.
“It makes more people aware of brands, companies, and retailers in this space. So, it's good,” Airs concluded.
Having a hand in developing new categories for the ‘O’ Awards, Airs introduced awards recognizing excellence in areas like eco-friendly packaging and product design.
The year of firsts didn't stop at the format or categories.
One brand that made its mark is Demon Kat.
Founded by legendary trans male porn star Buck Angel and his business partner Rob Reimer, Demon Kat focuses on the development of adult novelties catering to a wide range of consumers, especially the FTM community.
In fact, the ‘O’ Awards, for the first time, has recognized product excellence for FTM products by awarding Demon Kat for its 2-in-1 packer/stroker, the “Pack & Jack.”
Both Angel and Reimer were elated by the win.
“Wow, dude, there is an FTM product category at the ‘O’ Awards,” Angel told AVN. “That is honestly a lot of what I fought for in this industry: just to be recognized.”
The 2007 AVN Trans Performer of the Year winner added that this new category opens up an entirely new realm for ongoing innovation and development.
“It's not about my win,” Angel said. “It's the fact that we actually have a category recognizing that products matter to us, and our community is being seen.”
Reimer minced no words: “This show has been, by far, the best show we've ever done. The Adult Novelty Expo (ANE) is really where we began and we are back—we are back with a vengeance. We heard the responses.”
Other companies saw major success, too. XR Brands won big, taking home several awards for their products, including a fetish mouth-dildo face mask sold under the company's Master Series BDSM banner.
Our Erotic Journey won the award for Outstanding New Product for their marijuana-themed remote-controlled egg vibrator called “Sexy Pot.” Swiss Navy took home the award for best lubricant. Other brands won big, too. Sex-tech manufacturer Motor Bunny is one such brand.
Motorbunny was recognized for its app-controlled product and mobile phone gaming combo called “Rusty’s Pro Tromboner.”
A rhythm game, Motorbunny developed the app available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play to integrate with its selection of smart sex toys. Motorbunny also won the AVN Award for Best Pleasure Product Manufacturer - Medium.
“Honestly, it feels really great,” explained Brooks Butler, co-founder of Motorbunny, to AVN.
Motorbunny’s co-founder, Caleb Thompson, offered similar remarks: “It’s a huge honor. We work really, really hard to build product experiences for our customers. And to get this recognition is incredible. AVN is such a great platform, especially for companies like us, to get in front of more and more customers. This is such a great launchpad to get out in front of more sexually-minded and sexually-aware people who actually care about their sex lives.”
Butler proudly butt in, “People who want to have fun having sex—yeah, that is who we want to support.”
The ‘O’ Awards culminated the high point of the ANE flight of the Adult Entertainment Expo.
The adult novelty flight of the Adult Entertainment Expo has been compared to the annual CES trade show put on by the Consumer Technology Association in Las Vegas.
Unlike CES, ANE caters specifically to sex tech innovators, toy manufacturers, and wellness brands.
The types of products presented at ANE run the gamut from consumer-focused to B2B-focused.
For a full list of ‘O’ Award Winners, click here.
Photos by Chris Brody
