CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Robert Pyne Sr., who founded the adult distribution company Williams Trading Co., will be honored at the 5th annual “O” Awards with the Lifetime Achievement award.
Each year, voters for the “O” Awards choose one person who has worked to advance the industry and made a major impact among colleagues and employees.
Pyne was working as a Philadelphia firefighter when he started looking for ways to make extra money. He began selling various products before he sold 8mm stag films.
“He saw the money and demand for the product,” son Robert Pyne Jr. told AVN. “He opened his first store in 1972 and opened Williams Trading in 1974.”
The younger Pyne said the family story is his father wasn’t sure he wanted his name involved in the business in those days, so rather than call the company Robert Trading, or Pyne Trading he chose Williams, after his second son.
Williams Trading Co. will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year. While the senior Pyne has stepped away from the company—he enjoys playing Texas Hold ‘Em at a local casino a few times a week and spends time with his wife Carole and dog Misty—his children are running the show these days.
Robert Pyne Jr. runs operations, while Bill Pyne is the warehouse and project manager, Bethann Smith is a buyer, Rich Pyne is the internet and special projects manager, Tim Pyne is the warehouse receiving manager and in-law John Anderson oversees inventory control.
The next generation sticks to the ideals their father set forth: Knowledge, service and fill rate.
“We learned to work hard, that nothing comes easy,” Pyne Jr. said of the lessons he and his siblings learned from their father. “Always take care of your customers and relationships with vendors.”
Those lessons have translated into four decades of success for a company that employs almost 60 people in Pennsauken, N.J.
Pyne will be given his Lifetime Achievement award during the 5th annual “O” Awards ceremonies, which take place Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, during the AVN Novelty Expo at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. The awards show and trade show are part of the AVN Show, which runs Jan. 15-18, 2014.
The “O” Awards recognize innovative and outstanding products that are raising the bar in the novelty and pleasure products industry. All trade attendees of the AVN Show are welcome to attend the “O” Awards.
For more information on Williams Trading, visit WilliamsTradingCo.com.
For more information on the AVN Show, visit AVNShow.com.
