CalExotics and Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) have come together to launch Inspire, a new line of female-centric products whose sales benefit the non-profit organization. The collection, featuring nine items, made its first debut at January’s ANME Show.
LBBC connects those affected by breast cancer with trusted information and a community of support. CalExotics has supported the efforts of LBBC for more than a decade, beginning with the Papillon massager.
Our core values aligned and our mission was the same, supporting women’s health. –Susan Colvin, CalExotics
Inspire is CalExotics’ first full line of products dedicated to a charitable organization. CalExotics and LBBC aim to increase awareness of the sexual side effects breast cancer treatments can cause and to address these issues with the Inspire collection.
Susan Colvin, founder and CEO of CalExotics and Jean A. Sachs, CEO of LBBC, tell XBIZ more about their partnership in this exclusive Q&A.
XBIZ: What inspired the launch of the Inspire collection?
Susan Colvin: We are a woman-owned company and breast cancer in an important issue to us. Our goal was to bring awareness to Living Beyond Breast Cancer and help support their efforts. We wanted to make a bigger impact and with a full collection of products, we can help do just that. With Inspire we have the opportunity to impact women’s lives and our community.
XBIZ: How many items are in the collection? How do they promote women’s sexual health?
Colvin: The Inspire collection has nine styles — two Kegel exercisers, two wands, two arousers, a dilator kit, a panty teaser and breast massager. All Inspire products are waterproof and made of premium silicone that is body safe, unscented and phthalate-free. The powered items in Inspire feature 10 functions of vibration and are USB rechargeable.
Let me tell you a little about each product individually. The Silicone Dilator Kit is designed to help women maintain vaginal health and improve physical comfort during intercourse. The kit offers five graduated sizes that are ergonomically curved and easy to use. The Kegel Training Kit is designed to assist in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles with three different sizes and weights. It’s recommended to start with the lightest weight and work your way up to the heaviest. The Vibrating Remote Kegel Exerciser is designed to help promote a positive Kegel routine with both exercise and pleasure in mind. It is designed to be used with or without the remote, making it versatile and easy to use. The Vibrating Remote Intimate Teaser is a versatile massager that is design to fit comfortably in a panty. The remote is discreet, shaped like a compact with a built in mirror. This makes its perfect for pleasure anywhere. The Vibrating Remote Breast Massager is designed to gently stimulate breasts. This is the ultimate device for those that love intense nipple stimulator or endeavor to relieve soreness. Its design allows it to fit comfortably in most bras. It also comes with a compact-shaped remote making it discreet. The Vibrating G-Wand is a multi-directional massager that flexes and bends with you. Its functionality and sleek design help women to have ultimate control during use. The Vibrating Ultimate Wand is a full-body massager designed to be used on any body part. It’s discreet enough to be left on someone’s nightstand without worry. The Flickering Intimate Arouser helps stimulate any erogenous zone with its intense flickering tip. The Pulsing Intimate Arouser enhances arousal and intimate sensitivity with its soft nodules.
Each product offers unique benefits to women in the form of sexual health and sexual satisfaction. Sexual health is a large component of women’s overall health and is vital for overall well-being. Inspire products are designed to help improve vaginal strength, decrease physical discomfort during intercourse, help strengthen pelvic floor muscles, increase sexual stimulation and frequency of orgasms.
XBIZ: How did CalExotics and Living Beyond Breast Cancer begin a partnership? Why did CalExotics choose to support the organization?
Colvin: Over 10 years ago, we wanted to create a line of product supporting a worthy cause that helped support women. We found Living Beyond Breast Cancer and instantly knew this company was one we wanted to partner with. Our core values aligned and our mission was the same, supporting women’s health. We were so impressed with the work LBBC was doing and thought it was a unique organization as it supported survivors through their recovery.
Our first venture into the partnership was with the Papillon Massager. It’s a small massager that comes in a counter display. CalExotics donated a portion of each product sold to LBBC. I am proud to say this massager is still on the market today.
XBIZ: How important is sexual wellness to cancer survivors?
Jean A . Sachs: Sexual activity after diagnosis and treatment has benefits for the body, mind and soul. A study in the journal Cancer reported that 42 percent of women with breast and gynecologic cancers wanted medical attention for their sexual health needs but only 7 percent asked for advice.
XBIZ: How does cancer affect sexual wellness?
Sachs: Various types of breast cancer treatment (chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy) can affect a woman’s sexual wellness. Many factors can come together to reduce sexual desire, including fatigue, menopausal symptoms, pain during sexual activity, decreased ability to achieve arousal and lubrication and breast cancer itself.
XBIZ: How will this line benefit cancer survivors and their partners?
Sachs: Data indicates 50 to 90 percent of women who have had breast cancer report concerns about its impact on intimacy, interest in sex and performance. Nearly one-third feel lingering problems for years, and even decades. Breast cancer does not mean an end to a woman’s sexuality.
Colvin: It is our goal that this line brings visibility to LBBC and the unique services they provide, in addition to creating funding for LBBC programs.
