BURBANK, Calif.—While new products are always the highlight of every pleasure product trade show, a few specific items and collections really had people buzzing at the most recent ANME Founders Show, which continues today in Burbank, Calif.
One of the most talked-about items was the Buck-Off, a new stroker designed specifically for FTM transsexuals created by AVN Hall of Fame adult performer Buck Angel and Florida-based men’s sexual health products company Perfect Fit Brand.
“I had the idea for this product years ago,” Angel told AVN. “I have heard from so many FTM people about how they have a hard time connecting sexually with their bodies while transitioning. I never had bottom surgery, and when I learned to connect with my vagina and learned how to love it, it changed my life for the better in so many ways. I have so many men like me tell me they can’t connect sexually with their bodies, or they don’t even want to touch their vaginas, and that makes me so sad.”
The Buck-Off is a soft silicone stroker that is shorter in length and narrower in girth so it can be more easily used by FTM, a group of people who often see their clitorises grow in size while they take testosterone. The flat, flared base creates a suction cup-like effect and the inside is textured with soft ridges that mimic the feel of a tongue, Angel said.
“The way Perfect Fit made this is incredible,” he said. “It really feels like you are getting a blowjob.”
The Buck-Off can be stroked or just squeezed tightly, whichever the user prefers. The base also helps to stimulate the pubis, which can also lead to orgasm.
“I know this is a small market to target, and I am not in this for the money,” Angel said. “I am, though, all about education. And if I can help someone else connect with their bodies and have a wonderful sexual experience, then it’s all worth it.”
Company founder Steven Callow pointed out other new items from Perfect Fit. “We have the new Zoro lineup—we’ve expanded it and built on the success of the original,” Callow said about the strap-on product. “The main difference is that it uses leg straps instead of the thong-style butt strap, so it gives a little more support to the product as well.” The Zoro comes in two sizes, 5.5 inch and 6.5 inch. And there are two styles: black, which is made of silicone, and clear, which is Perfect Fit’s silicone and TPR blend.
Callow also is pumped about Perfect Fit’s new Collections. “We took the best sellers of all our series,” he said. The SiliSkin kit, for instance, features the Bull Bag, which Callow says “is really insanely popular right now. ... And this is our Anal Fetish Collection. We call it fetish because all our anal products are a little more extreme, not really for the beginner.”
Callow added, ‘It’s some really fun products and really great value price” that represents about a 30 percent savings over buying each item individually. The Collections are brand-new, and Perfect Fit is “just prototyping the boxes to see what sort of feedback we got. We’ve received some very, very large orders for them, so it’s a done deal. These are going to fly off the shelves.”
Sportsheets also had crowds gathering at their booth in the main room as reps showed off the new Midnight by Sportsheets collection. Each item in the collection falls in line with Sportsheets’ commitment to quality for BDSM items, but these versions are just as beautiful as they are functional.
“This line is very blinged out,” said Joanne Queenin, executive administrator. “Some of the items are to be treated like jewelry just as much as a BDSM item.”
A subset of the collection features nipple clamps, some adorned with double rows of pearls and others with clear sparkling gems.
Several pieces in the line—the Lace Paddle, Lace Crop, Lace Cuffs, Lace Blindfold and more—feature a fabric that has the look of lace, but the pattern is printed directly on it, so there is no fear of snagging or ripping, Queenin noted.
Every item also features extra details Sportsheets is known for: double elastic straps on the Lace Blindfold, finished edges on the paddle and crop, a 30-inch heavy chain on the Lace Collar and Leash and more. The new collection is expected to start shipping by fall.
In the Jimmyjane booth, visitors were treated to a first look at the new Ascend line under the manufacturer’s Live Sexy banner. Another range of mid-tier vibrators, the Ascend collection debuts with four SKUs: The Ascend 1, a lay-on style massager that has a notch at the tip that can hug the clitoris; Ascend 2, which looks like the popular Form 2 vibrator with longer “ears”; Ascend 4, a massager that resembles a hand-held dumbbell that makes it suitable for external stimulation; and Ascend 8, which features two egg-shaped massagers at either end of a flexible silicone strand.
Sir Richard’s Condoms—which falls under the Diamond Products family of manufacturers with Jimmyjane and Pipedream Products—debuted the Element line.The collection marks the move by the condom company into creating pleasure devices and more for men. The first products in the line are the Element MS (masturbation sleeve), the Element PM (prostate massager) and the Element CR (cock ring).
There were new condoms showcased at ANME as well. Paradise Marketing owner Dennis Paradise was inflating models of the Okamoto Mega Big Boy extra-large condoms to show just how big these condoms are. Made from Sheerlon, a material thinner than regular latex, the condoms are 5mm larger than regular sizes, offering a comfortable fit with no chemical latex odor.
Over at the PicoBong booth, sales reps had models of the Lelo Hex condom on display. LELO Hex integrates 350 individual hexagons through its ultra-thin latex surface to help it perform differently from other condoms today. The LELO Hex design combines a hexagonal web with ultra-thin 0.45mm latex panels for thinness and strength combined. This allows Hex to adapt to the unique shape of the wearer.
With the new E.L. James movie, Fifty Shades Darker, due to come out in February 2017, there was no shortage of BDSM gear on display at the show. Of particular note was the new Vondage line of vegan bondage gear from Stockroom, which was on display alongside other popular items from the venerable kink manufacturer, including Joanna Angel’s branded Stockroom line. And Lovehoney featured two new Fifty Shades Darker collections the new Motorhead line, which features four classic torpedo-shaped and bullet vibes.
Speaking of bullet vibrators, the tried-and-true favorite could be found everywhere at ANME. VeDO offered the Bam rechargeable silicone bullet, available in three colors with ten vibration molds. Nu Sensuelle offered new takes on its famously powerful bullets. Screaming O expanded its range of Vooom! Vibes, which included Soft-Touch Voom! Bullets.
Guz B. of Femme Funn was particularly fired up about his company’s new bullet: the all-silicone Ultra Bullet, which runs on a lithium polymer battery. “Not a single piece of this toy has plastic in it,” he said. “Click away to your favorite mode—there’s 20 modes of vibration to this. It’s waterproof and submersible. And rechargeable. To top it all off, it is super powerful and very quiet. ... It’s our first day of shipping these items, and we are shipping them like mad.”
Also showcasing a new bullet was Nobü Toys, among many other new items, including the Soso rabbit-style vibrator and prostate stimulators for men. Sharing booth space with Nobü was Bonnie Rotten Toys, which featured new items molded from the popular adult star.
The lubricant product category was also hopping. Among the new items, Sliquid introduced a glass bottle with a pump for Sliquid’s Silver lubricant; the packaging will begin shipping in October. Wicked Sensual Care displayed its newest formula: a hybrid water-based and silicone lubricant. Pjur showed the water-based lubricant and cleaner that it has co-branded with We-Vibe; the products will ship to retailers in the fall. System JO brought out its flavored Gelato line, available in five flavors: Hazelnut Espresso, Creme Brûlée, Salted Caramel, Tiramisu and Mint Chocolate.
Other standouts at the B2B trade show included Impulse Novelties’ release of the Sofia Duo G, a massager that can bend to stimulate the G-spot and clitoris at the same time, and the debut of the Rhythm by Kama Sutra: the lotions and potions manufacturer’s foray into sex toys that features five SKUs of pleasure products made from silicone and boasting powerful motors.
The ANME Founders Show continues through today.
Pictured, Buck Angel and the Buck-Off, new from Perfect Fit Brands; nipple clamps from Sportsheets' new Midnight collection; Jimmyjane's Ascend 4. Photos by Chris King/ReelSeduction.com.
