Twenty-six years ago Marina Fourier made a decision to take a job alongside industry pioneer Martin Tucker after initially turning it down. Today, she has taken a leadership role with the up-and-coming wand-style massager brand, Shibari Wands. As the product development/brand manager of the Southern California-based company, Fourier is focused on increasing the brand’s exposure, while managing its day-to-day operations. Taking a fearless approach to establishing the Shibari Wands brand, Fourier tells XBIZ she is determined to make it a household name. In this exclusive interview with XBIZ Premiere, Women in Adult spotlights Shibari Wands Product Development Manager Marina Fourier Sets as she offers a glimpse into her ambitious plans.
What is your role and responsibility at Shibari Wands?
For 2014, my main goal is to see the Shibari wands product line expand so that it will become one of the top contenders in today’s market.
I am the product development/brand manager for Shibari Wands. Shibari Wands is a new and upcoming company located in Los Angeles. I must say it’s extremely exciting for me to be involved in a start-up company that is growing so fast, mostly I feel because we are choosing optimal products to share in the marketplace. My main responsibility is developing and expanding our brand with new products, and all the support that goes along with it, for instance … product procurement, copy writing, marketing materials, inventory tracking, data entry, invoicing, and sales. I also manage travel arrangements for the company, as well as prepare product and marketing collateral to attend trade shows and networking events. It wouldn’t be possible if I wasn’t working alongside a talented team of designers and sales personnel, whom also have many years in the business.
How (and when) did you get into the pleasure products business?
In 1988, I was sourcing the classified ads for a day-time job to assist in financing my college education. I thought, with a 9-to-5 job, I could continue attending evening classes at Los Angeles Mission College, gain valuable office work experience and earn an income at the same time. I answered an ad and interviewed with Martin Tucker. We got along great and I so I accepted the position offered. Mr. Tucker then showed me the new product catalog; I was shocked to see the content, adult toys. I then rescinded my acceptance of the job, due to the nature of the products. Shortly after I returned home, the phone rang and the office manager convinced me to give the job a chance and any misconceptions or preconceived notions I had about the business (of adult toys) would be proven wrong. I reported to work the following day … that was 26 years ago.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Seeing items that I have collaborated on hit the shelves with retailers and wholesalers nationwide is very rewarding to me. Getting feedback from a customer that an item is selling well is encouraging and seems to make all the hard work done worthwhile, as this is such a competitive market. It feels wonderful to know I was a part of a creative process that brings such great products to the marketplace that people can enjoy. Meeting and developing relationships with many fun and interesting people over the years is the added bonus of my job.
What is your personal motto or mantra that you live by?
This excerpt from a famous speech delivered by Teddy Roosevelt resonates with me. I read it daily as it inspires me greatly to be the best person I can be:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Excerpt from the speech “Citizenship In A Republic” delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris, on April 23, 1910.
What career accomplishment are you most proud of?
Developing 24 new Shibari items in less than two months and premiering them at the September 2013 ILS and January 2014 ANME is what I am most proud of.
What are your professional goals for 2014?
For 2014, my main goal is to see the Shibari wands product line expand so that it will become one of the top contenders in today’s market. I look forward to being a part of the future development of the Shibari line.
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.
