CHATSWORTH, Calif.—For the first time in the illustrious history of the AVN Awards, distributors and retailers will vie for honors in a set of five new categories created to recognize the best distributors, adult retail chains and individual boutiques across the country.
The new categories, under the Retail & Distribution header, include awards for Best Retail Chain, Best Adult Distributor and Best Retail Boutique, with the latter two categories awarding winners in both the East and West regions.
While AVN has recognized online retailers at the AVN Awards with the Best Retail Site category and at its novelty-oriented ‘O’ Awards, AVN founder Paul Fishbein thought it was time to expand that and honor the full scope of the retail sector—the backbone of the industry.
"We have been rewarding distributors and retailers at the ‘O’ Awards for the past two years and we've had an award for Best Online Retailer at the AVN Awards for years,” Fishbein said. “And it's time that we reward all retailers, big and small, as well as the wholesale distributors who service them. It will add some extra excitement to the AVN Awards show. I'm sure there are some retailers who would like to come up on stage at the Pearl Theatre and pick up their award."
AVN Publisher and ‘O’ Awards creator Tony Lovett agrees. “There’s nothing that can rival the glitz and glamour of the AVN Awards. The ‘O” Awards are a private, comparatively subdued soiree that focuses specifically on the pleasure product industry. The AVN Awards are an over-the-top extravaganza that reflects the very industry they honor—and the inclusion of these new commerce categories is both brilliant and overdue.”
Broadcast on cable giant Showtime, The AVN Awards are recognized worldwide as the de facto premier adult industry event. For the first time, millions of viewers will be able to share in the recognition of the outstanding companies and professionals who bring a variety of adult products—from DVDs to pleasure products to lingerie—into their lives.
The 2011 AVN Awards takes place Jan. 8, at the Pearl Theater inside the Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Details regarding the pre-nomination process for the Retail & Distribution categories will be announced soon.
Listed alphabetically, the new Retail & Distribution categories are as follows:
Best Adult Distributor (East)—As voted on by industry professionals, a full service distributor (either video, sex toys, accessories or any combination). East of the Mississippi River.
Best Adult Distributor (West)—As voted on by industry professionals, a full service distributor (either video, sex toys, accessories or any combination). West of the Mississippi River.
Best Retail Chain—As voted on by industry professionals, a chain of two or more adult retail outlets that has served clientele well through appearance, design, product mix and service.
Best Retail Boutique (East)—As voted on by industry professionals, a single brick and mortar adult oriented boutique that has served clientele well through appearance, design, product mix and service. Located east of the Mississippi River.
Best Retail Boutique (West)—As voted on by industry professionals, a single brick and mortar adult oriented boutique that has served clientele well through appearance, design, product mix and service. Located west of the Mississippi River.
