This article originally ran in the February 2016 issue of AVN magazine. Click here to see the digital edition.
The twice-annual ANME Founders show took over the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport hotel for a two-day run, January 14-15. Though there were many new products rolled out, AVN’s focus was on new couples-oriented items arriving in time for the Valentine’s season.
Two new remote-controlled panty vibes from CalExotics—Lock-N-Play Remote Panty Teaser and Lock-N-Play Remote Petite Panty Teaser—feature magnetic tabs to secure the vibrator. “It will stay in place while you’re wearing it,” said Nichole Grossmann, assistant director of marketing communications. “You’re out on the town, you’re having the foreplay, you don’t have to worry about it going anywhere.” The vibes also have built-in controls so they can be used without the remote.
CalExotics’ Couples Enhancers Collection has added a new Impulse Couples Arouser, a C-ring with a bullet aimed directly at the clit, with a wired hand-sized remote. MSRP is $21.99. “Everything in the Couples Enhancers Collection is very retail-friendly, and there is a variety of items,” Grossmann said. “All pretty powerful, in varying sizes, shapes and materials.”
Scandal, CalExotics’ BDSM-themed line, has added a PVC Super Sheet, and there are new Scandal-themed gift-with-purchase items. Retailers should ask their distributors for more details.
Over at the Doc Johnson booth, the manufacturer highlighted its Kink by Doc Johnson collection by staging a bedroom scene in the booth. The setup allowed buyers to visualize how the products could be merchandised in stores, including the waterproof sheets and pillowcases, and many items essential to BDSM play.
Kheper Games is offering a new Sex Fortunes deck of tarot-styled cards with sexually themed images. “The instructions tell you how to lay out the cards, and based on how the cards are laid out, they’ll let you know what foreplay action you’ll be acting out, what sex action.” Cards include the Knight of Clits and Two of Testicles. A new bedroom card game for couples is called “Let’s F*ck,” with game play card copy in English, French, German and Spanish. “We try to come out with one or two games every year in multiple languages,” International Sales Manager Carlos Becker said.
Wet International is offering a two-pack of Crème Brulee and Bananas Foster flavored lube called “Dessert for Two,” following last year’s “Sweet Kisses” two-pack of Frosted Cupcake and Salted Caramel, said sales rep Jason Peters.
“Traditionally, our flavors are fruit: strawberry, that kind of stuff. We’ve been doing these Valentine’s packages as kind of a niche, with dessert flavors. The base is our Wet Original water-based lube.” The MSRP for two 2-ounce bottles is $14.95.
“We’ve got two new things we’re really excited to show everybody,” said Bradley Taylor, senior sales executive at Creative Conceptions. “We have added the Kinky Nights dice. Following from the success of our Naughty Nights dice and Extra Naughty Nights dice, we decided to bring out a BDSM/bondage dare dice. These are different because it isn’t just spank-the-ass or whip-the-nipple or whatever. What we have is a set of three dice: The first one you Roll For Control. The second one is the Die To Tie: where the tying is going to take place. The third one is Throw To go, and that is what is being done to the person who is tied up. There is also a bonus option for-re-rolls. There are strategic options in place, this isn’t just a simple sex-dice game. We like to mix it up. We call it replay value. MSRP is the same as our other dice games, $5.99. Very affordable.
“The other is called ‘Oral Fun—The Game Of Eating Out Whilst Staying In.’ It is a great way to spice up oral sex for couples,” Taylor told AVN. “We have a game board with 69 squares—of course, the most typical number for any adult board game to have—and the winner is the one to get to 69 first and they receive the oral pleasure of their choosing. We’ve kept this very gender-neutral so we don’t just have blowjob suggestions, there are cunnilingus suggestions as well. Everybody gets pleasure out of the Oral Fun game. Some of my favorite aspects of the game are when the Joker cards come into play; they have little silly games, like breaks and breathers between the actual acts. Like an interval at the theater. It will be available late February, early March.” MSRP will be $19.99.
The next ANME Founders Show will take place July 16-18, 2017, at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport hotel. Admission to the ANME Founders show is restricted to professionals in the adult novelty field.
