SAN FRANCISCO — Kink.com announced last week that it has reached the 10,000th shoot milestone. Kink, which began in founder Peter Acworth’s dorm room at Columbia in 1997, estimates that in the past 18 years, the company has shot more than 25,000 hours of sex, hired nearly 3,000 performers, used more than 192,000 ounces of lube and more than a half a million condoms.
While the first Kink site, Hogtied.com, started in a dorm room, the company itself has grown to become the world’s largest producer of BDSM and fetish entertainment, with more than 100 employees working on almost two dozen sites, with a webcam division, an educational division that conducts workshops, and a Kink-themed bar. The company attributes its success to its dedication to producing authentic fetish experiences — many of the employees are part of San Francisco’s vibrant BDSM and fetish communities.
“Back when I started Kink.com, I never envisaged getting to 10,000 published shoots,” Acworth said. “In the early days I would tie up models I found on Craigslist with the video camera on a remote control. Looking back, the production value has risen consistently over the last 18 years thanks to the incredibly talented people who have joined Kink.com. I am constantly blown away by the quality and volume of material we produce, host, and sell.”
While the company continues to fight to stay in California, they’re clearly focused on the future. Acworth says that though recorded content is not the juggernaut it was in the early days, thanks to live cams, classes and bars, company growth shows no signs of slowing down. With the documentary "Kink" hitting theaters this summer, and the recent opening of the Armory Community Center for events, the porn company is branching out as a lifestyle brand. This spring, Acworth plans to launch Kink University, and online learning program that will help those interested in BDSM and fetish to explore their sexualities creatively and safely.
“There’s a tremendous hunger for authentic fetish entertainment and education,” said Justin Byson, Kink’s VP of marketing. “Hardcore is only a small part of that, and we think Kink’s next chapter maybe even greater than its first.”