LOS ANGELES—What does it take to grow a well-known, international company and make it the largest pleasure product brand in the world? It takes strength, strategy, and skill to take on the challenges in this front-facing global economy and attitudes about pleasure products.
It takes Sven Pelka, who was named CEO of Satisfyer in 2020, the Germany-based company with global reach. Bringing his skills in strategy, commercial marketing and procurement with leading companies like Adveo and Office Depot, his career includes overseeing operations that generated over 2 billion euros (over $2.25 billion US), in annual revenue. His was hired specifically to manage Satisfyer’s next phase: expanding into premium offline retail and redefining the in-store experience. The preparation for this rollout took five years internally, and now his role is to execute it globally.
With Satisfyer having already achieved strong international success, he knew he had to bring his A game to grow the brand even more. According to Sven, “Satisfyer is currently represented in over 100 countries worldwide, and we are continuously working to expand our presence even further. As we grow, we aim to reach new markets, bringing our innovative products to even more consumers around the globe. Our commitment to expanding our international footprint ensures that we will continue to make sexual wellness accessible to people in every corner of the world.”
Of course, not every country embraces and supports sex toys, so when asked about what markets in the world are the strongest for the brand, it comes as no surprise that “our strongest markets include countries with a high level of sexual education, a progressive approach to sexual wellness, and open-minded attitudes toward pleasure and self-care.”
Sven elaborated, “Markets such as the Netherlands, the USA, Germany, Spain, Poland, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Israel, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia have shown significant demand, reflecting a cultural shift where sexual wellness is no longer a taboo but an accepted part of overall well-being.” With Satisfyer constantly staying focused on and committed to high-quality products, innovative technology, competitive pricing, and elegant design, the company has continued to establish a strong presence in these regions.
Part of Satisfyer’s growth plans include addressing the accepted state of the pleasure products industry here in the US. Sven’s strong belief in “reinventing the industry” includes focusing on the mainstreaming of adult products and blending them with the character of brick and mortar stores similar to Apple stores.
Sven elaborated, “The industry needs reinvention because its turnover is much smaller than many think, and yet it still struggles to attract new customers. While online sales are strong, they mostly serve existing buyers. The real growth lies in reaching new audiences—and today’s offline stores aren’t doing that. They’re often outdated, poorly located, and not appealing to the target group.”
Taking these beliefs and reinventing the industry includes launching exclusive, high-traffic flagship stores, including their newly opened store in Barcelona. Plans are to include their Satisfyer branded stores in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Miami, that the company is hoping will draw up to 10,000,000 visitors a year each, dramatically boosting brand visibility. The goal is to open 50 stores in 2025, with the number to increase to 250 in 2026, bringing sexual wellness awareness to an accessible, modern mainstream platform.
When it comes to the concerns of established adult retailers, their strategy is designed to benefit the entire industry. “By expanding into various retail channels, including big-box stores, we create visibility and attract new customers who may not have previously explored our products,” Sven explained. “At the same time, we support our brick-and-mortar partners by enhancing their margins and investing in their existing stores, ensuring that all brands have the opportunity to thrive. Our goal is to strengthen the market as a whole and provide a fresh, welcoming shopping experience for all.”
The entire industry relies on just one thing: constantly creating new and innovative designs, with an emphasis on quality. The belief runs deep at Satisfyer and Sven’s attitude is that the company doesn’t just develop toys, they are revolutionizing pleasure. “Every new product is the result of cutting-edge innovation, meticulous research, and an unrelenting commitment to delivering the ultimate orgasmic experience. Customer feedback is integral to our product development process and every new product begins with extensive research and collaboration between product designers, sexologists and other experts.”
Diving more into details about their product development, Sven shared, “Our innovation process also includes rigorous testing, where we gather input from hundreds of participants who provide detailed feedback on prototypes. This testing helps us refine our products to ensure we’re delivering the most pleasurable experience possible. In fact, our testing program is so popular that we have 500 people currently on our waiting list to participate.”
Given the wide range of Satisfyer’s pleasure products, one of their lines outsells many of their other creations. But which one? “The Satisfyer Pro 2 Generation 2 is undoubtedly our most successful product and holds the title of the world’s best-selling sexual wellness device,” Sven said. “Since its launch in 2016, we’ve sold over 100 million Satisfyer products globally, with more than 30 million of those being Pro 2 Generation 2. This product alone has garnered over 60,000 reviews on Amazon across the USA and Europe.”
Their Pro 2 is popular because it uses their proprietary Air Pulse Technology that provides gentle, effective clitoral stimulation through pressure waves. It offers a more gradual and comfortable experience compared to traditional vibrators and has helped redefine how women approach pleasure.
As the company continues its rapid growth and focus on their Air Pulse Technology devices, they remain committed to maintaining their leadership in the market by constantly innovating. This year, they are set to launch around 100 new products as a part of both the Fun Factory and Satisfyer brands with the focus on leveraging their extensive portfolio of patents—over 150 that they have developed and acquired—to create groundbreaking new products.
When sharing more product development details, Sven mentioned, “One exciting innovation will be the fusion of pressure wave technology with Stronic technology, resulting in the ultimate pleasure device. We are thrilled to present this innovation at the upcoming EroSpain show, this May, in Barcelona, setting a new benchmark for the industry."
In 2024, Satisfyer acquired Fun Factory, another German company known for their high-quality silicone vibrators and dildos, all part of the company’s goal to further expand into the pleasure products world.
Sven explained, “With the investment in Fun Factory, we are positioning that brand as a key player in the sexual wellness sector. We see it as a complementary brand that will cater to a different demographic than Satisfyer. While Satisfyer is the global market leader, Fun Factory will leverage its innovation-driven approach to offer unique products to customers.” As for adding other brands to their portfolio, Sven added, “We have already had discussions with several other potential brands that are not performing well in their current form and are exploring the possibility of acquiring and revitalizing them,” realizing their biggest growth opportunities lie in expanding their innovation strategy and entering new markets.
And there’s still room for excitement in the industry, as there in never a dull moment in the sexual health and wellness world.
Sven was happy to share, “What excites me about this industry is its tremendous potential for innovation. The conversation around sexual wellness is growing more open and mainstream, and the industry’s shift toward prioritizing health and pleasure is something I’m proud to be part of. There’s an enormous opportunity to create products that can deeply impact people’s lives, and we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible. Both Satisfyer and Fun Factory are brands that are passionate about breaking taboos and offering consumers a truly transformational experience.
"Through continuous innovation, we aim to remain at the forefront of the industry, making sexual wellness more accessible, enjoyable, and empowering for everyone. By continuing to improve product quality and accessibility, we want to make sexual wellness a mainstream part of everyday self-care and wellness.”
