BERLIN, Germany - Peter Buebel, the organizer of the Venus Trade Fair, has organized the show, which just concluded its 12th annual run, for the past decade and has seen it grow every year.
This year, more than 28,000 fans and 800 media representatives were treated to 383 exhibitors from more than 36 countries - not to mention the 6,000 industry professionals who attended.
In a recent interview with AVN Europe, it became clear why Venus is a prime event to conduct business at, for fans to see famous faces and to discover new pleasures. The concept of an emerging "erotic lifestyle" which encompasses mainstream elements, came up as well.
"People are a little more open-minded now as opposed to 10 years ago," he said. "This is reflected in our campaign. The girl in the poster is a very famous celebrity in Germany, but she does not do adult. So we noticed more media interest because of this mainstream appeal."
When asked about the other trends he witnessed during his tenure, he says: "In the past, DVD was the biggest, but with a lot of business moving to the Internet, now it's more toys; things people have to touch and feel. If the market is changing, the companies are changing."
He also feels that the "market always has the same amount of people consuming erotic things," so it's important to watch and listen to what people want, which is how he lays the groundwork for each show in the first place.
Because the show has grown so much, Buebel organized the show into sections to make it easier for visitors to navigate.
"We've been doing it for two years, and both exhibitors and consumers like it," he said. "It generates more business for everyone."
The show distinguishes itself from other shows in Europe because of its especially strong focus on business, and that focus has evolved.
"We're trying to open the show to more companies and businesses related to the adult industry, but not adult: like attorneys, plastic surgeons, and companies who create retail spaces," he said. Such companies are found in non-erotic areas of Venus. That is, they are not surrounded by stands with hardcore action. In the future, Buebel would like to see more "lifestyle" items.
"I would like to have Sony selling DVD players here," he mused. In the end, if the exhibitors and visitors are happy and good business is done, Buebel considers the show a success.
For more on Venus, visit Venus-Berlin.com and see AVN Europe's extended coverage in the November issue. For a free subscription, visit AVNEurope.eu.
