LAS VEGAS - The winter International Lingerie Show-said to be the largest lingerie show held in the United States-has brought nearly 1,000 buyers to the Rio Hotel Convention Center.
"The traffic has been amazing," Lady Calston sales rep Michael Cramp told AVN, adding that it was very busy during convention hours and during evening activities. "We've had enthusiastic response to our new products, including our new peanut- and chestnut-shaped, seven-speed, waterproof bullet vibrator. Everybody we show it to wants to carry it."
Frank Reich of Fukuoku said the company's new programmable dual-vibrator has been extremely well received by ILS attendees. Fukuoku also premiered its Mini Vibe, a water-resistant vibrator that comes with two sleeves that are phthalate-free and nontoxic, and unveiled the fuchsia version of its Five Finger Massage Glove.
In addition to adult-industry veterans, the show attracted newcomers such as Saint-n-Sinner, which brought sensual-but-edgy, stainless silver jewelry.
"The show is giving me a great first impression of the industry," said Matty Straus of Saint-n-Sinner. "For my first industry show, we've been very successful."
Monday morning's most notable event was a press conference announcing whether the U.S. Supreme Court would hear a case about the legality of selling sex toys.
For the past 10 years, MyPleasureStore.com owner Sherri Williams has fought for the right to sell sex toys in Alabama, taking her case through the Federal District Courts, then taking it twice to the U.S. Supreme Court. Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear her case, for the second and final time.
"I may well go to jail when I get home from this convention," Williams told ANB.
Under the Alabama law Williams has been fighting, the sale of "devices designed or marketed primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs" is punishable by one year of jail for each item sold. Retailers in the eight states with these laws can sell "personal massagers" (vibrators) or "educational materials" (phallic-shaped dildos), but not personal massagers that educate (phallic-shaped vibrators).
Williams' is asking for members of the adult industry to step forward as Plaintiffs in another effort to overturn the Alabama Obscenity Law by filing a First Amendment challenge. The law allows the sale of adult toys for several reasons but does not allow the advertisement of such toys for any reason. Details about the case and information about how to get involved are available on AVN.com and through the organization Williams created to help fight cases such as this, National Alliance of Adult and Trade Organizations.
Williams' last chance to fight such laws is to file a First Amendment Challenge. Details about the case and legal commentary from AVN Senior Editor Mark Kernes can be read here.
That evening, hundreds of buyers, manufacturers and distributors gathered for the always-popular fashion show. Led by Karisa from the Second City comedy club in Las Vegas, the hour-long show featured nearly 100 manufacturers' costumes, lingerie, shoes and novelties. The show featured contests and giveaways, including a "guess how many" contest with a sealed box of sexy educational videos from the Alexander Institute; Karla Santiago from My Secret Pleasures in Miami won the contest.
Tuesday afternoon, the Home Pleasure Party Plan Association showed its dedication to its mantra-"Education is the Key"-by giving a three-hour demonstration in a packed room. The demonstration was led by HPPPA President Tamara Payton Bell and Leslie Anderson of Holiday Products, who discussed a variety of popular home-party products and how to educate partygoers and sell to them at the same time. They also gave tips on how to warm up timid audiences and bring up topics such bondage for various types of audiences.
Many manufacturers that cater to home-party companies were on hand to describe their products, both as part of the presentation and afterwards one-on-one.
"Who is sick of having missionary sex?" Sportsheets Director of Sales and Marketing Todd Carter asked as he and a volunteer demonstrated sexual-positioning devices, drawing an enthusiastic response. "You, too, can get that kind of reaction every time you do demo these products."
At the end of Tuesday, Sportsheets hosted its first Sportsheets University meeting, displaying its plan-o-gram marketing plan and leading attendees through the new online university it created to help retailers sell Sportsheets items. "Our products are high-concept items," co-owner Tom Stewart said. "We've been doing a good job of making quality products for years; what we weren't doing was help stores sell it."
