PASADENA, Calif.—Natural ingredients and new technologies were trending topics at the AVN Novelty Expo, which took place July 7-9 at the Pasadena Convention Center.
Spartacus Enterprises, which has long been known for quality leather products, entered a new realm of the manufacturing world with Blown by Spartacus, a new glass line.
According to Sesha M. Brown from Spartacus, the line will launch in the fall with 11 pieces, some of which will come in clear, blue and pink. The line includes dildos and anal plugs.
“It’s high-quality glass that’s beautiful and functional too,” she said.
There is no lead in the glass, she said, and the pieces are solid construction, making them more durable. Each piece is designed to retail for $50 or less, which will make the Blown by Spartacus line competitive and easier for consumers to afford.
Nori Fields Co. also exhibited a new product with natural ingredients, Numagel. The gel is 98 percent natural, explained Cariel Cohen of Nori Fields Co., and includes aloe, grapefruit extract, seaweed, chamomile and more. The gel is mixed with water and allows for full body-to-body massages. Though the gel doesn’t stain, it can be contained to a special sheet or air mattress that can be purchased with the gel, Cohen said. The mattress is longer than mainstream versions, and has a head and footrest that allows users to push off for more of a slip-and-slide effect.
SxScience Labs showcased the natural formulas in the Ladies First and Heads Up supplements for women and men, respectively. Jeff Northup of SxScience Labs said the supplements have a scientific edge over others on the market, and that they are physician formulated and include a full 2 grams of ingredients, which come in a four-pill dose.
“We entered the business about eight months ago, and we are in all the Lion’s Den stores, where we are their No. 1 selling female sexual enhancement pill,” Northup said.
He noted that SxScience will team up with On by Sensuva and System Jo to creative a Date Night intimacy kit, which will include a single dose each of Heads Up and Ladies Night, as well as samples of ON and Jo’s water-based lubricant.
Also touting all-natural ingredients were representatives from other exhibitors with male enhancement products. Jim Hendo, executive vice president of Affirm XL, noted that his company's product is safe to take even for men who are taking blood pressure medication. A brand-new company, Affirm XL is planning a big marketing push in the near future and is looking for both mainstream and adult distribution. Hendo also noted that although the product is aimed at men, some women have experienced a positive effect on their libidos when taking the Affirm XL pill.
Also a new product, Sinrex made its adult trade show debut at ANE, distributing samples in the swag bags given out to attendees. Peter White, managing sales director with the Montreal-based company, noted that the herbal formula has no side effects and can be used when consuming alcohol. The formula is designed exclusively for men, and includes L-arginine HCL, Epimedium extract, Tribilus terrestris, ginkgo biloba and Siberian ginseng.
RealTouch by AEBN was one of the more high-tech companies to exhibit at ANE. Sales Director Scott Rinaldo noted that the male intimacy device that gives men the sensation of virtual sex with porn stars as they watch them perform offers more than 1,500 scenes to choose from right now, with more added every week.
During the show, Rinaldo talked about the ability of the third-party content producers and manufacturers to participate in the Content Development Kit, which teaches them how to encode their movies for use with the device.
“The white paper has all the details explaining the process and has links to the needed software,” he said.
Additionally, there is the SDK program, which is similar to the iPhone concept in that it allows third-party developers to create an app for the device, he said.
Pleasure Technologies was one of the many companies that chose ANE to debut, and launched with a number of products, including the Lovers Seat, a universal accessory for love swings that provides a seating area for added support, explained Russell Friedlander of the company. The seat can also hold in place any pleasure product with a flared base.
Other products introduced by Pleasure Technologies include the M5000, a rechargeable wand vibrator that is available in two colors, comes with a safety plug for travel or storage and interchangeable silicone heads with a flexible neck; the MV1, a bullet vibrator with a bulb at the base which serves as a handle and offers five functions; and the M9 Male Masturbator created from the company’s patented Pleasure Flesh.
Also notable was Pleasure Technologies’ C1-Curve, which has a patented grip at the base that makes it easy to hold the vibrator between two fingers.
Pleasure Technologies will roll out nine products in the next 60-90 days, Friendlander said.
And speaking of interesting handles, Fun Factory USA’s Joe Curtis and Emilie Rosan—both recent additions to the team—displayed the new G4 Loop of Love technology at the company's booth. The looped handles at the base are a stylish contrasting white and silver. In addition to being esy to use, the “Magic Touch” controls light up with a gentle glow when users run their fingers over the buttons, allowing for ease of operation in the dark. Some of the company’s older styles—including the ever-popular Patchy Paul—are being released with the new Loop of Love handles.
Another innovative handle interface is offered by Minna’s Ola. At last the high-tech vibrator is ready for market, and representatives were on hand to show how its air-filled handle changes the intensity of the vibrations by how firmly the user squeezes. And the Ola is programmable: When the user comes across a pattern that is particularly pleasing, it can be saved and replayed again and again—with the intensity varying according to the force of the user’s grip.
On the subject of innovation, the company that picked up an "O" Award for Outstanding Innovation was also on the scene at ANE. Pamela McKee and Chris Robbins were there to represent Papaya Toys, a line of brightly colored, richly textured vibrators. The line won the "O" Award for its reversible battery pack. Crafted from 100 percent medical-grade silicone from U.S. suppliers, the vibes are completely waterproof—as McKee emphasized by dunking the toys into a water-filled crystal vase at the Papaya Toys booth.
Fleshlight was also on hand at ANE, showcasing the new Pirates inspired Fleshlights, which they created after teaming up with Digital Playground. The companies partnered again at ANE to showcase the latest from Fleshlight and Digital Playground Novelties in a suite at the show.
