xbiz world
xbiz premiere

Articles by Casey Murphy

profile

Kimberly Ardwell Discusses Mission Behind Glyde, Union Condom Brands

From plant-based meat at Costco to cruelty-free beauty at Sephora, today vegan options are accessible via most mass-market retailers. Things were dramatically different in 2010, when Kimberly Ardwell’s vegan condom brand, Glyde America, debuted in the U.S. market.

Casey Murphy ·
profile

Romantic Depot CEO Glen Buzzetti Lays Out Retail Chain's Tenets for Success

In 1999, Romantic Depot CEO Glen Buzzetti was living in South Beach, Miami when he befriended a man who owned three flourishing upscale adult stores in South Florida.

Casey Murphy ·
profile

Bria Brown Advocates for Sex-Positivity With Handmade Kynx by Brynx Goods

Bria Brown was completing her last term of college when lockdown began in spring of 2020. With a toddler at home and no promising job prospects, Brown needed to find a way to work remotely for the foreseeable future.

Casey Murphy ·
profile

Shani Hart Talks Passion for Wellness Behind 'The Noir Leaf' Brand

Those familiar with Shani Hart likely associate her with Hart’s Desires stores, which she co-owns with her husband Mike. What some might not know is that Hart is also the owner and founder of The Noir Leaf, a curated line of CBD products developed to support whole-body wellness.

Casey Murphy ·
profile

Bawdy Bookworms' Thien-Kim Lam Elevates Erotic Books With Pleasure Product Pairings

Romance novels enable readers to indulge in escapism, vicariously experiencing passion and lust with a guaranteed happy ending that real life doesn’t always offer. But what if you simultaneously gave those same readers products to help them explore their own physical pleasure?

Casey Murphy ·
profile

Casey Kaminsky Shares Vision for Barnaby Ltd.'s Retail Brands

The Kaminsky name is a very familiar one in the adult retail industry, associated with not just one, but two iconic brands: Babeland and Good Vibrations, under the auspices of Barnaby, Ltd.

Casey Murphy ·
profile

The White Unicorn's Zoe DeVine Adds Personal Style to Business

Back in 2016, Zoe DeVine was working in the fashion industry. After a particularly difficult day, while venting to a relative, she said — half joking — “I am just going to quit and sell dildos online.”

Casey Murphy ·
profile

Tara Acevedo Ties Fashion, Bondage With 'Tyes by Tara' Creations

In 2010, Tara Acevedo had recently graduated from an MBA program and was working at a hotel design firm in Denver, Colorado where her job was to design and spec hotel rooms. At the time, she had never planned to venture into entrepreneurship, but her plans changed after accessorizing a costume with a lace-adorned schoolgirl necktie.

Casey Murphy ·
profile

Uberlube's Amy Baldwin Discusses Brand's Longevity

When we think of leaders in product manufacturing, whether in the mainstream or the sexual wellness industry, most renowned brands that start with one or only a few products eventually expand their product lines.

Casey Murphy ·
profile

KushKards CEO Lauren Miele Busts Through Green Ceiling

The number of cannabis lubricants and weed-themed vibrators has increased over the years, but adult-themed greeting cards are notoriously outdated, leaving very few options specifically suited to adult distributors.

Casey Murphy ·
opinion

Overcoming 'The Badge Glance,' Cliques and Politics at Trade Shows

Leading up to Altitude, many industry folks were likely wondering what might have changed since the last live trade show that we attended together.

Casey Murphy ·
opinion

Digital Marketing Tips for Small Adult Retail Businesses

Spoiler alert! Social media isn’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to growing an online audience.

Casey Murphy ·
opinion

15 Digital Marketing Ideas for Ecommerce Startups

By now, most adult businesses have learned to pivot in the era of a global pandemic in one way or another.

Casey Murphy ·
opinion

How to Introduce Customers to a New Way of Playing

“How do we spice things up in the bedroom?” is one of the most common questions echoed throughout sex shops, online communities and blogs, and couples therapy couches around the world.

Casey Murphy ·
opinion

Even in Business, Empathy Goes a Long Way

To quote Wilhelm Röpke in “A Humane Economy: The Social Framework of the Free Market” (1960), “Self-discipline, a sense of justice, honesty, fairness, chivalry, moderation, public spirit, respect for human dignity, firm ethical norms.

Casey Murphy ·
opinion

How to Build a DIY Retail Website From Scratch

If you’ve ever thought about building a sex toy website, whether you are already in the pleasure products business or not, you should — and you can.

Casey Murphy ·
opinion

Foolproof April Marketing Tips for Springtime Adult Retail Sales

You may feel a bit lost staring into the dark abyss that exists until the holidays start to pick up after summer vacations come to a close.

Casey Murphy ·
profile

Q&A: KittenLingerie.com Founder Melisa Mae Reigns as One-Woman Operation

In March 2014, Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Melisa Mae put her creative expertise and entrepreneurial spirit into action and launched her first website, KittenLingerie.com. The online boutique offers an extensive selection of lingerie, costumes and hosiery from well-known manufacturers such as Seven ‘Til Midnight, Oh La La Cheri, Mapale, and Rene Rofe.

Casey Murphy ·
profile

Washington-Based Eve’s Garden Stands the Test of Time

Tucked away in a small town located in the heart of Central Washington, female-owned Eve’s Garden boutique has been thriving for 28 years.

Casey Murphy ·
opinion

Beat the Burnout: How Small Business Owners Do Self-Care

When you are in the thick of building a business from the ground up, nurturing yourself will almost immediately take a backseat. Fair enough — “be obsessed or be average,” right? For self-employed small business owners, this risk of total burnout is extremely real on a day-to-day basis.

Casey Murphy ·