ANME 2003 Starts with A Bang

Exhibitors and buyers from all over the world met Monday at the Sheraton Universal Hotel for the eighth annual Adult Novelty Manufacturers Expo.

The 2003 ANME show features the largest exhibitor turnout in the event?s history as executives from about 80 companies introduce their newest products to the leading buyers in adult entertainment. The re-designed floor layout that includes a spacious tent in the valet parking area with several booths gave this year's ANME a different look.

"It's really great to see old faces and promote and see what new products are in the marketplace," Mara Epstein, executive account manager for Private North America, told AVN.com.

Adult performers Kellemarie and Dominica Leoni represented Private at the Doc Johnson booth positioned near the front. Kellemarie, who is from Wales, told AVN.com that Private has a "whole new scheme" and that she moved to Los Angeles two weeks ago.

Legend contract girl Jodie Moore came to ANME after a feature date at Solid Gold in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She told AVN.com she was running for Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Australia, her hometown. The Lord Mayor is the equivalent of a Controller in the U.S. That election is coming up in March of 2004, while Moore's bid for the Australian Senate will be contested in November.

Some of Moore's campaign platforms include building a Brisbane sign similar to the Hollywood sign on Mt. Coathea, changing the Australian police uniforms and staging an annual, totally nude parade called "Brisbane Bares All."

"I want to bring Brisbane into the 21st century," Moore said.

The Las Vegas Novelties Inc, booth was mobbed during the two hours of the show, co-owner Steve Lane told AVN.com.

"I'm very satisfied right now," Lane said. "... It?s generally been a flat year, but things are starting to pick up. We?ve met a lot more people than we had last year and this is our first year upstairs."

Lane and Serenity came to this year's ANME armed with such new products as Aurora Snow?s Purring Pussy, Alexis Amore's Vibro Fireman In-the-Hole and Ron Jeremy's Jurassic Prick.

Robyn from LVNI told AVN.com the Mood Light Dildo from the Transcendental Series and the Shower Smoothies also were hot items.

She said that this marked the official launch of Aurora Snow and Gauge's toys. The two young starlets joined Alexis Amore and Christy Lake on LVNI's Pocket Pals. Lane, meanwhile said that LVNI took put extra thought into this year's promotional bags.

"We've done several co-branding agreements so we?ve included not only our catalog but also little samples or all our material. And we?re giving them a Pulsator (with Julie Meadows on the package)."

Lane said that LVNI is working with Instinctive Seductions on some co-branding initiatives. He also has an agreement with Astroglide, which is included in the bag along with bath salts.

"It's something a little different instead of just the straight catalog," Lane said. "And the new catalog is shipping in three weeks."

Janie Liszewski, marketing manager for Metro Interactive, said she came to this year?s show to scout the latest products that Metro's talent or directors may want to use in their productions.

Her mother Jane, who was working at the Classic Erotica booth and has been in adult for 20 years, said ANME is a great place to see "the newest innovative products to use in the upcoming year."

"There are a lot more people displaying and it's a wonderful venue," she told AVN.com.

Topco President Scott Tucker said that Topco Sales went with a "Retro Lounge" theme this summer, complete with Martini Glass torches, purple couches and leopard skin carpeting. Topco also treated its guest to a full bar.

Topco publicist Jennifer O'Gorman told AVN.com that sex toys are becoming increasingly mainstream and her company's line of products reflects that.

"We have the very simple to the way high-tech. We have everything in between," O'Gorman said.

The Topco booth was packed with the latest in its Penthouse, TLC and Adam & Eve lines of toys and novelties, as well as their E-glass.

Maybe one of the most interesting new products was at the California Exotic Novelties booth, where Gina Lynn's Wireless Infinite Sex Positions Love Doll was on display.

"Designed for the crawling position," Lynn has a "mannequin head," and is always wearing pink lipstick and nail polish. She even has "jointed arms" and "wraparound legs."

"I like my sex hot and in lots of cock swallowing positions!" Lynn is quoted as saying on the package.

Industry veteran Al Bloom told AVN.com that Cal Exotics just released a new 365-page catalog.

"It's like a phone book," he said. "It?s the biggest novelty catalog in the novelty business."

Sandy Bunz of Flashpoint Products summed up the first day in saying "novelties and videos are inter-related. The two industries go hand-and-hand. This is my third year here. I see a lot of the people from all over the place and this is the only chance I get to see them."