LAS VEGAS—This year I once again had the honor and privilege to be part of the team that organized and presented the entire Adult Novelty Expo B2B show, running concurrently with the world famous Adult Entertainment Expo, put on by AVN.
I had the honor of hosting the “O” Awards on Jan. 21, ANE’s long running awards for the sexual health and wellness products that were released the previous year. And the winners did not disappoint! Multiple awards were given out not only for the lead glass “O” Award but also for industry-voted awards in five new categories. The golden statued AVN Awards were spread across twelve different categories, each well deserved! For the list of winners, click here.
Industry stalwart Sherri Shaulis presented the Person of the Year award to Greg Alves from Evolved, to honor his decades in the adult industry and specifically for growing the Evolved brand for so many years. His trusted leadership and guidance of his company sprang forth in 2005 and remains one of the outstanding manufacturers of pleasure products.
ANE kicked off Wednesday, Jan. 21 with a full exhibition hall at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, created especially for buyers in the sexual health and wellness world. International exhibitors included manufacturers and distributors with many of them launching their products at the show. Longtime exhibitor Aneros, which also scored three “O” Awards, including one for Brent Aldon in the “Road Warrior” industry-voted category, displayed their new Aneros Syn V to much acclaim.
The clever Merkin booth, based in Lithuania, returned to show their whimsical designs meant to tease and delight.
Miami Distro’s Mike Savage showed just a fraction of the hundreds of products his distribution company sells, including unique vibrators, dildos, and dolls, which filled the booth to the max!
Portland-based Plea-Sur Company enjoyed sharing its budget-minded collections which proved popular in these times. With many kits to service the kink buyers at the show, traffic was steady.
Boston-based Leather By Danny premiered his hand-crafted leather bondage gear to enthusiastic buyers who had never seen such high-quality products being sold at the wholesale level. “It was my first ANE and the reception was amazing! I sold to international buyers as well as domestic buyers who are all anxious to bring my unique products into their stores.” Danny continued, “I couldn’t be happier with the results from ANE!”
Gregg Gorski, founder of CockOil, wowed the buyers with his ubiquitous clever packaging for their popular lubricant, and was the first-time winner for an “O” Award. He shared, “It was truly an honor for CockOil to even be nominated alongside so many respected brands in the industry—but to win Best New Lubricant at the AVN "O" Awards is completely over the top for us, and we couldn’t be happier.” He proudly added, “AVN has been a cornerstone of the adult industry for more than 40 years, with an incredible legacy, global following, and a reputation that truly matters. To be recognized by an organization with such a long and influential history—and through the 'O' Awards, which celebrate innovation and fresh voices in the space—means a great deal to our entire team. We’re incredibly grateful for the support and recognition, and we’re just getting started. This award is a huge motivation for what’s ahead. We’re honored, humbled, and beyond excited.”
There were many other booths in this exciting trade-only room dedicated for pre-arranged, one-to-one business meetings with qualified buyers with this space open for the three days of ANE.
The other room that was part of ANE was a hybrid space for both B2B and direct-to-consumer sales. A little quieter than the main, "fan" area of the AVN show, this space allowed smaller companies to display and sell their products to eager wholesale and retail buyers.
Izzy Deadyet from (Rhine)Stone Cold Bitch handcrafted pasties had everyone humming with her original designs; Rob Christ from Dr. Tush’s Aftercare products impressed wholesale buyers and general consumers with the entire line; Maia Toys premiered an original cam model hybrid product; and Wood N Beaver’s whimsical supplements entertained everyone with their clever marketing designs. Canadian manufacturer, RubJoy, blew everyone away with their hands-free strokers; Loviss’ beautiful vibes were on display; and other exhibitors included Happy Pill for home-party distributors; popular brand Orgie; microdosing specialists Besties; and many other boutique manufacturers displaying their wares for the first time at ANE.
Perhaps the most impressive was the incredibly innovative line from industry stalwart, Paradise Marketing. Aptly named Paradise Pleasure Products, the four designs of pure white, silicone toys glow like a rave between your legs. Non-stop, ever-changing neon glows from the entire body of the toys which provide a captivating, sensory experience like nothing else before. I’m incredibly excited to see what they’ll be rolling out next!
During the three days of ANE, seminars that addressed everything from age verification in the novelty industry; basics for retailers; tariffs, aging, and many other topics were presented in the Boutique. The wide range of attendees learned incomparable information from industry pros during the seminars, all of which were moderated by yours truly.
I can honestly say this was one of the best ANE shows I have participated in! The energy, the buying, the new participants, the seminars, the incredible products… I could go on and on. Mark your calendars for ANE 2027 and join me for more fun at the show! See you there!
AVN Hall of Famer Kim Airs is a contributing editor who specializes in pleasure products.
Photos by Toby Acuna
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