Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.
April Lampert made the smooth transition from adult retail manager to business-to-business in 2010 when she joined the internationally renowned manufacturer, Fun Factory USA. Today, Lampert is widely known for her vivacious personality and dedication to the brand she represents. With her on board, Fun Factory USA has seen its most profitable year to date, and Lampert tells XBIZ she’s aiming to expand on that success. In this exclusive interview with XBIZ Premiere, Woman in Adult spotlights April Lampert as she discusses her professional experience, goals and motivation.
I really feel rewarded after I finish a training or a meeting and someone says to me “wow you really know your stuff” or compliments me about having the “best trainings in the industry.”
XBIZ: What is your role and responsibility at Fun Factory?
April Lampert: My official position as director of sales for Fun Factory USA entails driving and growing profitable sales of Fun Factory products through strategic planning along with building and maintaining relationships with new and existing retail partners. I also conduct and organize in-store trainings to increase selling skills and product knowledge for stores across all of North, South and Central America. Fun Factory handles most of its distribution directly so the amount of time I am in the field visiting our retail partners is extremely pertinent to reaching our sales objectives. Much of my responsibilities lay in making those store visits, increasing product knowledge, merchandising our retail real estate, and expanding brand awareness of our impeccably made products.
XBIZ: How did you get into the pleasure products industry?
Lampert: I started in the retail side of the business back in 2008 as a store manager for my friend’s sex-positive boutique in Santa Cruz, Calif. called Pure Pleasure. I majored in environment science in college and literally had zero retail experience except for my amazing shopping abilities but I had absolutely no idea how to sell a vibrator. My friend was astute enough to realize my abilities and convinced me I would be a natural sales person and as it turns out, I was. I slowly started helping with novelty and lingerie buying and found myself attending trade shows on a regular basis. I moved abroad in 2010 for a year but upon my return I was back on the trade show circuit and Fun Factory scooped me up. Since Fun Factory was always one of my favorite brands to sell at the store level, I knew the match would be seamless and perfect. In my experience, it’s always paramount to sell something you truly stand behind and Fun Factory has kept me motivated and excited with all the newness and innovations every year, they make my job easy to love.
XBIZ: What challenges have you confronted in your career and how have you overcome them?
Lampert: I would say the biggest challenge in my career thus far has been keeping up with the travel demands of such a global brand. We are still a small team and many times I need to be in three places at once so time management can be a chore. I have always prided myself on being an exceptional multitasker and the demands of my travel schedule put that skill to the test. I’ve been able to accomplish everything that is put in front of me so far during my career by thoughtfully planning my calendar as far out as six months in advance. Planning is everything in business and in life so thoughtfully looking forward and organizing yourself accordingly is the best way to overcome these challenges.
XBIZ: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Lampert: I really feel rewarded after I finish a training or a meeting and someone says to me “wow you really know your stuff” or compliments me about having the “best trainings in the industry.” Of course, closing a big deal is extremely rewarding as well but there is nothing better than some verbal gratuity from time to time affirming that you are good at what you do. Lastly, meeting and seeing the amazing people of this industry is always a huge perk of the job too, I get super excited when ever there is a retreat or trade show coming up because the people are so fantastic!
XBIZ: What is your personal motto or mantra that you live by?
Lampert: A quote rather, that I absolutely adore and live by is: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined” – Henry David Thoreau.
I have always and will always live the life I’ve imagined; all with a nice glass of Pinot Grigio that is half full.
XBIZ: What career accomplishment are you most proud of?
Lampert: Whether I’m writing an email, doing my 95th training of the year, or closing a deal, I give everything in my career 150 percent and I do it with a smile. I am conducting somewhere around 180 trainings a year so I really have to focus on keeping things as fresh as possible. I don’t ever want to sound like a used car salesman or a mind-numbing robot, especially when the brand you are representing is so much fun. So I guess I am proudest of my ability to make each and every training amazing, whether it’s for two people or 75. Also, because of our incredible USA team, we have our biggest year-to-date numbers in history, which is a wonderful accomplishment in itself and I am extremely proud to be a part of such a remarkable team.
XBIZ: What are your professional goals for the rest of 2014?
Lampert: My 2014 objective is to reach our biggest year-to-date numbers in history, a goal we are already attaining. Fun Factory is a household name in the European market and, with our continued growth and expansion in the Americas, I’m hoping to help our USA team achieve the same recognition.
