UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.—AVN Novelty Expo 2009, the premier B2B event for the adult pleasure industry, officially kicked off Monday at the Sheraton and Hilton Universal City hotels with companies showing off their newest products, and many blowing off a little steam at events like the Sex Toy Prom.
“It’s a good turnout,” said Dean Elliot, president of Sliquid LLC, one of the more than 100 companies exhibiting at this year’s event. “I know that we have a lot of international guests, and that makes me happy.”
While Sliquid is a longtime supporter of the annual ANE show, several newer companies were also on hand exhibiting their wares, including newcomers like Lugez, which debuted their Icerack and Iceman ice molds.
Lugez officials said they attended the International Lingerie Show earlier this year in Las Vegas, but at that time only had a prototype to show.
“Since then we have had good reviews and feedback, so we pulled the trigger and had them made en masse and created a better retailing package,” said Greg Albright, owner and inventor.
Several companies saw some major successes on the first day of ANE, including Lover’s Choice, which displayed new items in its Ophoria line and its new Spray 'n' Play Sexy Body Graffiti Kissable Body Spray Paint & Stencil Kit, the world’s first edible spray paint and massage oil.
“It’s been going fabulously,” senior account executive Glenn Copper said of the launches. “They are being extremely well received.”
The new edible spray paint was two years in the making, and actually debuted at ANE two years ago, he said, but company officials wanted to make sure they had the best product they could before releasing it. Copper noted that several companies placed orders two years ago, and were willing to wait until the product was perfected.
“Some things are worth waiting for,” he said.
Lover’s Choice also unveiled its 3” Finger Vibe, a 100 percent platinum silicone vibrator that comes in five bright colors and boasts a powerful bullet. The new items in the Ophoria line are the natural progression of its best sellers, Copper said, including the Beyond No. 3, which has morphed into a vibrating G-spot pleasure item.
Je Joue company officials went so far as to bring out the bubbly, popping open a few champagne bottles when they unveiled the G-Ki.
After seeing tremendous success with the SaSi earlier this year, Je Joue is poised for another major hit with the G-Ki. Billed as the first exploring G-spot pleasure item, the G-Ki features an adjustable head that can be positioned to find the G-spot on most any woman, while a button on the side can fold the handle in half so it converts from a plaything for couples to an item a woman can use for solo play.
The G-Ki, which will be available this fall, is waterproof, made from 100 percent silicone and comes in four colors: purple, rose, black and pink.
Other powerhouse companies unveiling new products included Big Teaze Toys, which showed off its newest items from the I Rub My Duckie line. In addition to holiday ornaments that house Duckies, there is also a new Paris Gold version, scheduled for release this fall. Paris Gold still features her trademark Swarovski crystal in her beak and feather boa but now has green eyes, a floral tattoo and, most important, a new three-speed motor.
Big Teaze also launched the Kokeshi Dancer line of vibrators, which are designed to appeal to fans of vibrators and collectors of anime objects as well.
The Kokeshi (which means “love” in Japanese) Samurai and Geisha are three-speed vibrators that are ergonomically designed and waterproof. Cute enough to display anywhere, these vibes also offer plenty of power for playtime.
Classic Erotica debuted its new Simply Sexy pheromone spray, which features lighter and more feminine scents than some others, as well as their new spa-inspired soy-based and pheromone-enhanced massage candles.
Account executive Morty Diamond said the company also repackaged its popular Silky Sheets product, a longtime best seller for the company, and revamped its Cleopatra line of stimulating creams by introducing a new pump bottle.
Classic Erotica also introduced a new item for its Coochy line: the After Shave Protection Powder. While it does the same great job of protecting and softening the skin as the Coochy shave creams and mists, the new powder has no talc and leaves skin feeling silky smooth.
The AVN Novelty Expo continues today and Wednesday. For more information, visit AVNNoveltyExpo.com.
