profile

WIA Profile: Leslie Shwartzer

Boasting international appeal and stylish designs, Rocks-Off has established an undeniable presence in the pleasure products market. Leslie Shwartzer, who leads the U.K.- based company’s U.S. and South American arm, takes on numerous responsibilities and late nights to continue cultivating the brand’s global presence.

How did you get into the business?

In this business I believe you have to be different and that customer service is key — you’ve got to make sure customers are taken care of.

Unfortunately, they didn’t discuss selling sex toys on “Career Day.” I started out as a U.S. customs broker, and I worked with Adam & Eve, clearing their products through customs. That’s when I started learning everything there was to know about sex toys. Later I supplemented my income doing home parties, and later I ran Holiday Products for four years before joining Rocks-Off.

Describe a typical Monday at your desk.

Since we’re a U.K.-based company, a typical Monday for me starts way earlier than most — at around 1 a.m. I wear so many different hats doing everything for the U.S., that there is nothing typical about my job. A lot of Mondays I’m on the road. As we speak, I’m on a tour bus in Ireland taking my first vacation in two years.

What is your business philosophy?

My philosophy coincides with that of Rocks-Off. In this business I believe you have to be different and that customer service is key — you’ve got to make sure customers are taken care of. I’m proud to say that Rocks-Off hasn’t raised its prices in eight years — not even in the U.S. We work based on the same philosophy — it’s all about our customers. We make a fantastic product; you get treated the way you treat people and in turn we’re very successful.

What factors do you attribute to the growth of Rocks-Off to where it is today?

Quality and innovation; we do something different than anybody else and we do it with quality — manufacturing in the U.K. is not an inexpensive venture but we do it for quality’s sake.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Three years people kept asking “where are you going?” when I left Holiday — nobody knew who Rocks-Off was, but now we’ve worked our way up to being recognized in the industry. I believe our products are extremely body-friendly not just a big piece of rubber slapped on a motor — I think we really help people. There’s nothing better than standing at a trade show and telling people how to use our products. I also love the people that I work with in this industry from every level — from home party reps to distributors to other vendors.

How do you maintain balance in your life?

I can relate to a friend that used to always say: “balance is for gymnasts and I’m not a gymnast.” My life is sometimes like a juggling act with chainsaws. I do the best I can. I have an 18-year-old son and a personal life that I try to maintain, and I do whatever else needs to be done. I look very laid back but I’m actually very OCD — you have to know what chainsaw is coming down next.

What career accomplishment are you most proud of?

When I was asked to run everything in the U.S., and South America for Rocks-Off, it was a huge accomplishment that they trusted me. I love that they believe in me to do this — we could get a million awards but it’s most fulfilling to know that I’ve contributed to making Rocks-Off what it is: trusted and respected. I’m proud to have earned the wonderful support of the people I work for.

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.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

Neon Coyotes Sets the Tone for Trendiness With Bespoke Leather Kink Wear

If your kink wear can’t readily make the leap from a dark BDSM dungeon to a sunny, mimosa-fueled brunch, you haven’t yet been initiated into the cult of the Neon Coyotes — fresh, leather kink wear brand transforming restraints into runway-ready art.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Why It's Time for Adult Retail to Embrace AI

In the late 1980s, I was working in the rental car business. My first company didn’t have a single computer. Everything — contracts, inventory, employee records — was done by hand. If you wanted a report, you dug through paper files and crunched numbers on a calculator. It was tedious, but it was all we knew.

Zondre Watson ·
opinion

What Retailers Gain by Partnering With Family-Run Brands

In an age increasingly dominated by corporate consolidation and faceless supply chains, choosing to work with a family-owned and operated business can offer retailers a depth of value that goes far beyond pricing and product margins.

Briana Watkins ·
opinion

How the 'Back Massager' Vibrator Became the World's Most Versatile Sex Toy

Wand vibrators are once again having a pop culture moment. Recently, Harry Styles expanded his lifestyle brand, Pleasing, by introducing a “Pleasing Yourself” double-sided wand vibrator developed in collaboration with sex educator Zoë Ligon.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

Strategic Retail Buying in a Shifting Pleasure Economy

Retail buying has never been a static job, but recent volatility in pricing, caused by shifting tariffs, global import costs and freight variations, has demanded a new level of agility for adult industry buyers and managers. As business expenses rise, so does the pressure to optimize the return on every product.

Rin Musick ·
profile

WIA Profile: Cynthia Wielgosz Elliott

The past year has been a challenging one for the team at premier lubricant manufacturer Sliquid. Late in 2024, company co-founder Dean Elliott passed away after battling cancer, though he managed to flash his wide, signature grin until the very end.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

Michigan's Intimate Ideas Offers Playful Retail Setting for Wide Range of Shoppers

Jerry Manis, the regional manager of Intimate Ideas’ Michigan stores, never planned on working in adult retail — but he says it’s turned out to be a surprisingly rewarding gig.

Quinton Bellamie ·
opinion

Kraig McGee Blends Family Values, Creative Background at TAF Distributing

Walk into any Adam & Eve store in the Mountain West region of the U.S. and you’ve likely stumbled into a TAF Distributing outfit. Owned by industry veteran Kraig McGee Jr. and staffed by his closest family members, McGee’s 35 TAF-operated stores span 13 states, from woodsy Idaho to scenic Utah and well beyond.

Colleen Godwin ·
opinion

How Pleasure Brands Can Ethically Market to LGBTQ+ Communities

Every June, the rainbow floodgates open. Suddenly, pleasure products are “Pride-themed,” companies change their logos and brands rush to show just how inclusive they are — at least for 30 days. But as a queer, nonbinary marketing strategist who works with adult brands year-round, I’m here to say: Rainbow dildos alone are not progress. They’re often just noise.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

A Retailer's Road Map for First-Timers' Anal August

Anal August offers a prime opportunity for brands and stores to capture new customers and drive growth in a category that’s gaining mainstream momentum. As consumer interest in anal play continues to rise, now is the time to meet first-time buyers where they are, with approachable products, trusted education and a clear path to pleasure.

Matthew Spindler ·
Show More