SAN FRANCISCO—Direct Advantage Values Enterprise Inc. (D.A.V.E Inc.), parent company to manufacturer Synergy Erotic, is saying farewell to founder Dave Miller after more than 35 years, the past 25 spent working with current owner Bob Wolf to maintain the brand’s reputation and growth within the adult retail and distribution markets.
Miller founded D.A.V.E. after having built strong relationships with vendors in Asia and being the first to import some of the adult toy industry’s most popular, best-selling staple designs—including the world famous One-Touch vibrating bullet, and working with Wolf the two helped establish Synergy Erotic, expanding the company’s relevance into new areas of business.
Miller also played an integral role in modifying the design of the “multi-speed dildo” as it is known today to feature an electric speed controller at the base of each cylindrical battery-operated vibrator. This amendment has since been the model concept for many of the industry’s most common and popular sex toy designs.
“The idea of putting a round speed controller unit and changing the shape of ‘cap’ of a dildo seemed do-able to me, as I had been at the time buying transistor radio components inHong Kongfor other projects,” Miller said. “The idea transfer made sense—and it certainly did work and sell well!”
Miller has been an importer and developer of vibrators since 1972 and has seen the industry grow and develop into the marketing machine we see today. He will be involved in the business on a behind-the-scenes level, but says his primary attentions will be in other areas of his life.
“I wish to thank the many leaders of the industry with whom I have worked over the decades for their joint efforts with my activities,” Miller said. “Thanks for the cooperation and the competition that has led to the development of our industry. I am sure that with the new energies and leadership within the business, including that of Bob Wolf, our industry will continue to grow in acceptance and stature within the mainstream community.
“Bob and I have broken new ground in marketing, designs, packaging and display formats, and distribution plans. These new factors have propelled the business to new markets in growing segments. The opportunity for me to learn from him different and effective ways toward business growth and market penetration has been a joy.”
Wolf purchased D.A.V.E. Inc. from Miller several years ago with Miller staying on board as CFO and company “mentor.” The two men continued to build D.A.V.E. and expand into manufacturing Synergy Erotic while sharing similar beliefs in high product quality, maintaining ethical business standards with suppliers, distributors, and the public, all while offering stellar customer service.
“Dave will be sorely missed; his quirky sense of humor, his honesty, his wisdom,” Wolf said. “But all of us at Direct Advantage knew this time would come so we’ve been preparing over the past couple of years by having Dave hand over parts of his routine to Nycole Kerrigan, my friend and confidant for more than eight years.”
Kerrigan, whose 12 years of industry experience and adult retail knowledge has proved an invaluable asset, will help Wolf continue where he and Miller left off.
“Nycole was one of my second-level assistants eight years ago at the now defunct Adult SuperSource, where she learned firsthand how a wholesale operation functions, as well as the level of customer service and satisfaction I demand,” Wolf said. “Her intelligence, loyalty and devotion sets Nycole apart from virtually anyone else, making her an integral and invaluable part of what we do, so Dave’s shoes are being ably filled by someone I know and trust intimately.”
D.A.V.E. Inc. currently is holding a blow-out sale on select items so order now while supplies last. A full list of sale items can be yours by contacting D.A.V.E via phone at (800) 366-3283, fax at (650) 583-5298, or email at [email protected].
