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.
Team Sportsheets has a knack for bringing undiscovered talent over to — as we pleasure industry folks so lovingly call it — “the dark side” of sales. Previously innocent administrative staff, mainstream marketers, and temp workers find themselves in the depths of an addictively wild career world that’s seemingly on another planet. Unsurprisingly — and much to our delightful benefit — most of them refuse to return to banal reality.
Every time I go out and represent my company, I make sure everyone has a fun and educational experience.
The Stewart siblings have once again taken a fledgling rookie under their wings and sent her soaring into a lifelong love of pleasure education. Kelly Jamison’s title reads brand ambassador, but she’s so much more than a voice on a soapbox for Sportsheets’ recent head-to-toe re-brand.
Jamison was brought on board just as the company was set to overhaul just about everything. She soon put a face and an unforgettable personality to the veteran brand’s re-designed and modernized logo, new packaging photo shoots featuring world-famous fetish model Kendra James (she’s the statuesque redhead on those new boxes), and an all-inclusive marketing approach to big movements in body positivity and the LGBTQ community.
Jamison took to retailer trainings like a Dominatrix to a dungeon. A former beauty industry professional and make-up artist, Jamison knew the value of a good paint job and a smile. Now it was time for her to bring that signature sparkle to a new sector of self-love.
While Jamison undoubtedly adores life on the road, she’s learned a thing or two about taking matters into her own hands, namely when it comes to travel plans. Letting a colleague book your hotel can, as Jamison regrettably found out, make for an unforgettable night battling the boogey man (which she recalls with nervous laughter a few paragraphs below).
With three and a half years of adult industry success under her belt, we’re pretty sure Jamison will be sticking around the “darker” corners of her career, and that’s just how we like it. In a rather short time, she’s managed to obtain industry veteran status from some of the most well-known names in the biz.
XBIZ: What passion paid the bills before joining Team Sportsheets?
Kelly Jamison: I was a makeup artist! I spent years making people look pretty on the outside and I figured why not help them feel the same way on the inside. Self-care is very important.
XBIZ: How did you make the big switch from painting faces to selling bondage bed straps?
Jamison: On accident — I was looking for makeup jobs on Craigslist and stumbled on an ad for a job in the industry. It offered excitement and travel — two things I love most — so my interest was piqued immediately. I started my career in the industry working for a well-known lubricant manufacturer. Now I’m three-and-a-half years in and there’s no turning back.
XBIZ: What’s surprised you the most about your new career path?
Jamison: How quickly the time passed. I’m always traveling or planning trips several months in advance. Every now and then when I come up for air, another year has gone by and I’m getting ready to leave again!
XBIZ: What’s your role at Sportsheets? Tell us how you bring your own special flair to the position.
Jamison: Well, my official title reads “brand ambassador” but I like to think of myself as a jack-of-all-trades. If you’ve ever had one of my trainings, they’re pretty unforgettable! I really enjoy what I do. Every time I go out and represent my company, I make sure everyone has a fun and educational experience.
XBIZ: Which industry vets do you count among your most treasured friends and mentors?
Jamison: There are far too many to name but I’ll give you three: Chaney Cox, Kim Card and Conde Aumann.
Chaney has always been a symbol of strength and perseverance to me. She gives me great advice and she is a gentle soul. I want to be her when I grow up!
Kim Card is one of the kindest and most loving people I know. She has helped me in more ways than I can count and I can’t thank her enough.
Conde is my birthday twin! She is someone I look up to and I thank her for all her great advice and constant support.
They have all helped guide me to the place I’m at today, so thank you!
XBIZ: Sportsheets has undergone so many amazing changes since bringing you on board. How would you describe the company environment as the brand continues to evolve?
Jamison: Exciting! I started at such a great time because we are making new products, rebranding packaging and our sales team is on point.
XBIZ: As a fast-paced road warrior, you’re constantly racking up wild travel experiences. What was your most memorable trip to date?
Jamison: I did a road trip to Savannah with another vendor and like an idiot I let her pick the hotel. Little did I know she booked a haunted hotel! To make matters worse, my room was next to the most haunted room (yikes!) Right outside my door was a “Blair Witch”-looking mannequin they had staring out of a window! This place was so spooky they offered daily tours for people to check this room out! Let’s just say I didn’t get any sleep that night because I slept in my clothes with all the lights and T.V. on. Now I book all my own hotels!
XBIZ: What new trends have you observed since joining the pleasure industry, and how do you think they’ll impact the future of sex accessories?
Jamison: Since being in the industry, I’ve noticed how CBD products have gained significant prominence in the stores — something that was once taboo is now front-and-center in many products.
I see [the industry] becoming even more mainstream. I’m already seeing vibrators in drugstores like CVS and Walgreens so it’s only a matter of time before I’ll be able to buy fetish items at my local Target.
XBIZ: What’s on your plate for the next few months, both in the office and at home?
Jamison: Professionally, I look forward to celebrating my first year with Sportsheets in a few months! Personally, I’m planning a fun girls’ trip to Thailand next year with my friends!
