XBIZ Retail’s ‘State of the Industry’ to Feature Adult Retail Heavyweights

LOS ANGELES — Castle Megastore CEO and President Mark Franks will lead a panel of adult retail heavyweights in analyzing a range of hot-topic issues impacting the industry during the State of the Adult Retail Industry seminar at XBIZ Retail Expo.

Taking place Feb. 9, this session will be held at the Sofitel Hotel’s Stone Rose Lounge, and will feature a panel of industry luminaries made up of Bob Christian of Adam & Eve, Rondee Kamins of GVA-TWN, Hustler Hollywood’s Theresa Flynt, Lion’s Den Shelly Sandau and Romantix’s Steve Brown.

“2010 was a year of cautious optimism for adult retailers,” Franks said, noting the threat of a continued weak economy, continued layoffs and unemployment. “Retailers leaned down their infrastructures, worked hard to stimulate demand and to get their businesses in order. By aligning expense structures and inventory, retailers experienced improved productivity. The end result gave cushion to margins and compensation to sales growth.”

Franks added that the session will address the emerging trend of maintaining a customer-centric business model, including the gathering and monitoring of customer satisfaction; and how the Internet’s influence on customer decisions is making use and relevance of social media mandatory.

With regard to the past and current state of the adult retail industry, this session will provide a valuable outlook for retail professionals in every sector.

“I am excited to have been chosen to moderate the State of the Adult Retail Industry panel,” Franks said. “This panel will set a new benchmark for an expert panel, with input from four of the oldest, largest, and experienced adult retail chain owners. Never before has the adult industry assembled a retail panel of this stature. This will be a must-attend event.”

From Feb. 9-11, the XBIZ Retail Expo is set to draw buyers representing more than 700 retail operations with three days of world-class seminars, product debuts and showcases and unlimited business-networking opportunities inside the event’s intimate venue, the luxurious Sofitel Hotel.

An expanded exhibiting hall will include suites on the hotel’s 10th floor featuring the industry’s leading manufacturers, which will showcase their latest and greatest product releases.

To register, visit XBIZRetailExpo.com.

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