LAS VEGAS—When it comes to selling pleasure products, there are some stores that know how to do it right. From lighting to merchandising to product availability to educational seminars, they are the retailers who set the bar, and set it high.
And the efforts of these stores and their staffs does not go unnoticed. This year, for the first time, the AVN Awards recognized these outstanding retailers during the January ceremony.
"We are thrilled to be honored as the Best Retail Chain, especially having just opened our fifth store in downtown San Francisco near Union Square only a few weeks ago,” said Jackie Strano, chief operating officer for Good Vibrations, which took home the inaugural honor. “We have more retail expansion plans for 2011 and to be acknowledged in our industry for our hard work and for our brand is very gratifying.”
The AVN Awards, sponsored by AVN Media Network, are the most prestigious awards in the adult industry, and the annual ceremony is held each year in Las Vegas. Dubbed the "Oscars of Adult Entertainment" and designed to recognize companies and products as well as movies and performers, the AVN Awards mark the best and most notable in adult entertainment.
Good Vibrations was awarded the “O” Award for Outstanding Online Retailer in 2009 and 2010 by AVN as well, but the Best Retail Chain award represents the first time that AVN has acknowledged retailers at the movie awards ceremonies.
Also winning big at the awards were Fairvilla Megastore, a chain of stores based in Florida, and Castle Megastore. Single stores from each chain were named Best Retail Store in the East and West, respectively.
Fairvilla Megastores helped forever change the concept of adult retail to something approachable for all adults. They’ve also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity (most notably the HIV/AIDS program Hope and Help Centers of Central Florida and Aids Help in Key West) and were recognized in 2009 with an AVN "O" award for Outstanding Boutique, “recognizing exceptional design and service in a single store.”
Castle Megastore is a leading adult retailer with 18 stores operating in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. Castle Megastore’s mission is to lead the adult entertainment industry through exceptional service, revolutionary promotions and great product selection while redefining romance, intimacy and sex.
Winners of retail-based awards at the AVN Awards are, as follows:
Best Boutique (East)
Eve’s Garden, New York, NY
Best Boutique (West)
Babeland, Seattle, WA
Best Retail Chain
Good Vibrations
Best Retail Store (East)
Fairvilla Megastore, Orlando, FL
Best Retail Store (West)
Castle Megastore, Tempe, AZ
