The adult retail market has always been ripe for entrepreneurs with the right stuff — courage, ambition and drive to build or lead a thriving business.
The XBIZ Exec Businesswomen of the Year Award celebrates extraordinary individuals who encompass all of the needed traits and demonstrated leadership in going above and beyond in every challenge.
As part of XBIZ’s “Execs of 2018: The Year in Review,” the adult retail market’s most prolific businesswomen share their thoughts on the top business trends of the year.
What drives you as a businesswoman?
Dee Bertino
Owner, Fantasy Gifts
“I think what drives me as a businesswoman is what drives everyone in business. I am very fortunate to work in an industry that gives me flexibility to create my own hours, challenges so I’m never bored, financial means to provide my family security and the camaraderie that forms from working in an industry that is never dull. Running a business can be stressful, tiring and risky, and running an adult business comes with its own unique challenges. But every day, I’m motivated by my passion for Fantasy Gifts N.J. and the pride I feel for the company my husband and I created.”
Ti Chang
Co-Founder and VP of Design, Crave Innovations
“As the co-founder and VP of design at Crave, I have a unique opportunity to not only create beautiful and iconic objects, but also, to elevate the conversations around women’s pleasure and fight the stigma and taboos around women’s sexuality. As I travel around the world, I hear from people every day about how much my work means to them — and that’s what keeps me inspired to do this work.”
Susan Colvin
Founder and CEO, CalExotics
“Empowerment is what drives me. I want everyone around me to feel empowered in their lives. With my work at CalExotics, empowerment is the essence of what we do. We empower our customers to have an active and healthy sex life, as it is an essential part of an overall healthy lifestyle. We empower the associates at CalExotics to feel a sense of ownership in their work. Happy employees have a high quality of life and bring joy to the customers we serve. We also empower the community around us. We contribute to organizations with the goal of helping and improving the lives of others. Overall, empowerment is a driving force for everything I do.”
Suki Dunham
Co-Founder, OhMiBod
“I am motivated every day by my passion for this industry. I am inspired by the women who have come before me educating others on the benefits of self-pleasure, its normalcy and for being a force in the movement of female empowerment. I am driven to carry the ball forward for my daughter and the next generation of women so that they are supported and celebrated as they take ownership of their sexuality.”
Alexandra Fine
Co-Founder and CEO, Dame Products
“There's an interesting phenomenon of categorizing myself and my peers as being businesswomen and not simply ‘business people.’ I understand where this comes from, but if I’m being honest about what drives me — I would like to show the world that when it comes to business, we do not need to separate categories for men, women or any gender or lack thereof. On a simpler note, I like living my life the way I want to live it — and part of what drives me is the ability to create and run a company, and by extension a life, that reflects my ideals. I’m sure other entrepreneurs will relate to this.”
Wanda Garland
CEO, Eldorado Trading Company
“Integrity drives me both personally and professionally. Eldorado’s mission to be a dynamic distribution leader has long been the foundation for the business decisions we make. Our mission, along with our guiding principles, have established Eldorado’s reputation as a trusted business partner to both customers and manufacturers. I firmly believe their success determines our success. Likewise, I am committed to creating a quality work environment that enhances the lives of all Eldorado employees. I enjoy working alongside a talented team of directors and staff members who work tirelessly to achieve our goals. I am fortunate to lead from within such a remarkable environment.”
Bunny Lampert
Product and Education Specialist, Sybian
“What drives me is more personal than most jobs out there. My respect and admiration for the work my father Dave Lampert, creator of the Sybian more than 30 years ago, is the underlying motivation for me to be a positive role model and pushes me to share Sybian with everyone. Sybian has changed and enhanced lives in every facet of pleasure and fun. We will continue to be the leading force in the ride-on toy category. Our commitment is to the people and providing a safe and quality product with a proven track record of success and enjoyment.”
Marla Lee
President, Kama Sutra
“I feel lucky and excited every day knowing that I am helping to shape the vision and direction of a 49-year-old brand. Helping to create products that make other woman feel good makes me feel empowered. Mentoring and encouraging other women in my organization is very important to me and keeps me passionate about my role in the industry.”
Julie Stewart
President, Sportsheets International
“I do think that women in business still have hurdles we must overcome when proving ourselves. That’s just something I accept and have learned. I have always worked very hard. I choose to look at obstacles as challenges that are exciting to overcome. What drives me most is the desire to continue to make Sportsheets a better company for our customers and our employees and their families. I was so young when I started at Sportsheets 22 years ago. Now, I get to see younger people with fresh ideas, technology tools and a better work/life balance. They inspire me to keep what we do fresh, relevant and meaningful. It’s also very important to me that we respect and celebrate diversity at Sportsheets, both in our offices and our packaging. I’m driven to continue to build brand strength and a great place to work.”
Elsa Viegas
Co-Founder, Bijoux Indiscrets
“People! The most important part of my job is how I affect and how I can improve people’s lives — not only with the products we launch as a brand, but also, as a leader for my team. When I think about a product and design it, I’m aware that this product will have a huge impact on people’s lives because it touches a very precious area of our existence: intimacy. We aim for personal growth through pleasure — not an easy one. This is a huge responsibility, but also, a great challenge…. I love what I do, and basically that drives me as a businesswoman.”
