profile

Xgen President Andy Green Reflects on the Good Old Days of the Adult Industry Hustle

Xgen President Andy Green Reflects on the Good Old Days of the Adult Industry Hustle

Xgen President Andy Green remembers the old days of the true sales hustle. If beginning one's career before the advent of AOL isn't yet a marker of success, it should be. That, and sharing a single email account between three coworkers — namely Michael and Frank Koretsky.

“My office was directly between their two offices. We would laugh and joke, but work hard all day and in to the night,” recalls Green. “This was before email! When we got our first AOL email account we all shared it, can you imagine? They were great times. Hustling and selling.”

[Michael and Frank Koretsky] believed in me at a very young age and allowed me to grow within their system and hone my craft.

Today, Green is Xgen's resident workaholic. He dives into his inbox at 6 a.m., before most of us are even out of the shower. Somewhere around the time most folks roll into the office at 8 a.m., Green is already prepping orders for the warehouse.

When asked what his average day looks like, he laughs and exclaims, “Wow, how much time do you have?”

For Green, being the president means immersing yourself in every detail of your work, and devouring every minute of it. “I love going in to work everyday,” he says. “In fact, I’m on vacation now and missing it a little bit!”

But back in the late ‘90s, Green was just stepping onto the bottom rung of his career ladder.

In 1997, during his senior year of college, Green nabbed a gig with then-video giant IVD and Pleasure Productions. Green initially worked in the warehouse during porn's generation in the spotlight, boxing up high-end studio features from Wicked Pictures and shipping Jenna Jameson's teased blond hair all over the country.

“I changed all of my classes to night classes and worked during the day, picking and packing VHS and beta tapes,” recalls Green. “It was great. It was the heyday. A whole different world from what it is today. East Coast News had barely been started at this point.”

Green moved up the ranks quickly and transitioned to managing Pleasure Productions and the company's video licensing department, where he managed international accounts, TV stations, and even hotels and cruise lines.

“I started traveling a lot and meeting all sorts of amazing people around the world,” says Green.

And then, just like that, Green was gone. He left the industry for a few years to hone his skills in the mainstream world. Meanwhile, companies were transitioning from focusing on porn to sex toys, and when Green finally returned, he had big plans for catching the latest trend wave.

“I stayed close to everyone I had worked with at IVD/ECN and wanted to come back, but at a different angle than what was being done,” recalls Green. “I saw that video sales were going down and people were looking for other items to carry that would draw in a different clientele, especially more women and couples.”

By late 2008, Green and his colleagues brain-stormed what would become Xgen, a source for pleasure businesses to buy wholesale lingerie and KY-brand lubricants. After a successful running start, the company took off with their own creative brands like Perfect Position sex cushions and Pleasure Wigs. Green and his team knew they'd found the ticket to hitting it big.

“Then it was off to the races,” recalls Green. “More lines, more types of products. I found an amazing team of people to work with overseas that made my life so much easier. We collaborate on newness on a consistent basis so we can pivot quickly to bring what the market demands.”

Looking back, Green hands all the credit to industry greats Michael and Frank Koretsky, who Green says he cannot thank enough for kick-starting his career.

“They believed in me at a very young age and allowed me to grow within their system and hone my craft,” he reflects.

Now Green's priorities involve keeping up with the modern market as consumers demand sex education and product knowledge from every brick-and-mortar.

“Consumer knowledge and interaction has changed dramatically with the internet and social media,” says Green. “I am full-on right now educating store staff and consumers about our items. I hired a person to literally travel the U.S. 48 weeks out of the year to do trainings and store events. We will spend a week canvassing a particular city and teaching anyone who will listen!”

By pleasure industry standards, one might assume Green parties as hard as he works when on the road. The “work hard, play hard” adage rings true for plenty of high-level managers, CEOs, and sales reps alike — but not for Green. He'd prefer to save his energy for the trade show floor.

“I think the joke is on me here. I’m the boring guy at the party,” laughs Green. “At the shows I’m in bed by 11 p.m., and I was never really into partying or staying out late, then feeling like crap the next day. Over the years I have seen so many people get in to trouble with crazy behavior that just costs them in the end.”

Green seems to have plenty of fun back at Xgen headquarters, where he happily spends his days bouncing between projects and departments from 7:30 a.m. to long past closing time.

“I’ll work with the international customers in the early part of the day before they go home. We are unique on the East Coast, we can correspond sooner than if we were on the West Coast,” says Green of his daily run-down. “I’ll check on the warehouse during the day and help pack or ship if needed. I love it back there. The guys don’t want me back there, but we make it a point to ship as much as we can every day.”

Then it’s off to the sales department, where Green leaves most of the creativity up to his efficient staff.

“I work with our amazing sales team during the day, planning strategy and assisting where needed, but to be honest they are so incredible they don’t really need me too much, which is great because that allows me to focus on new products, plan trade shows, and work on marketing materials,” Green says.

When he finally leaves the office around 7 p.m., Green still can't bear to pull himself away from his email. He's back on the grind until sleep finally calls sometime before midnight.

“I leave for the day around 7 p.m., go home and work out, eat, answer emails from China since they just got into the office, and go to sleep by 11,” he concludes. “Repeat that every day!”

If there's a recipe for happiness, Green has certainly found it. It's easy to envy those with a life of leisure. It's a lot harder to find this much satisfaction in a work-loaded week, and Green wouldn't have it any other way.

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

opinion

Scroll-Stopping Social Media Strategies to Capture Short Attention Spans

Attention spans are shrinking across all types of media. No matter how innovative a concept may be, if it doesn’t stop the scroll, it’s quickly forgotten. That’s why Netflix has intentionally been simplifying its content, with executives directing writers to create scripts that are less complex and nuanced, and more second-screen-friendly.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

The Hidden Cost of Letting Retail Define Pleasure Brands

Not long ago, spotting vibrators and lubricants at a national chain like Target or CVS might have raised eyebrows. Now, it’s almost expected.

Rin Musick ·
profile

WIA Profile: Kelsey Harris

At sister distribution brands Nalpac and Entrenue, one woman is in charge of leading customers in the right direction: Director of Sales Kelsey Harris. Since Michigan-based Nalpac took the reins of Arizona’s Entrenue, Harris has led both sales teams from her home base in Oakland County, Michigan.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

Rebranding Sexual Wellness Through a Self-Care Approach

As most of us in the industry already know, sexual wellness remains the black sheep of self-care. Discussions about wellness glorify meditation apps, skincare routines and workout regimens — but mention masturbation or using a sex toy, and most people shy away from the topic.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

Why Sex Toy Innovation Isn't What Shoppers Want Right Now

During my first year in the industry, the luxury vibrator on shelves was LELO’s Gigi, priced at $109. It was made with high-quality silicone, boasted an ergonomic design, a travel lock and a warranty. Soon after, Je Joue released its first product, SaSi, which employed “rolling ball” movements to simulate oral sex.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
opinion

How Adult Retailers Can Enhance Sales With Supplements

The supplement industry is big business. In 2024, Future Market Insights estimated it to be valued at $74.3 billion, and other market research firms anticipate that number will grow to upwards of $170 billion in just 10 years.

Rick Magana ·
opinion

Why It's Time the Pleasure Industry Got Serious About IPX Waterproof Ratings

As someone who regularly communicates with manufacturers, retailers and consumers, I’ve seen how this ambiguity can do a disservice to both the customers who use these products and the businesses that sell them.

Alicia Sinclair Rosen ·
opinion

Tips for Sexual Wellness Brands to Win Over Gen Z This Summer

As summer rolls around, the excitement in the air is palpable, especially for one particular demographic: Gen Z. College and university classes are over, vacations are booked and it’s time to let loose.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

Celebrating the LGBTQ+ Community With Inclusive Packaging Design

Pride Month is a time of visibility, joy and self-expression. In the pleasure industry, projecting that energy can start with something as simple as a box. Market research shows that 72% of U.S. consumers say product packaging influences their purchasing decisions.

Matthew Spindler ·
profile

WIA Profile: Pettus Ashley

Pettus Ashley brings her A game to the world of authentic adult branding, flitting between airports as the American face of U.K. brand Bathmate. As a company brand ambassador, Ashley personifies Bathmate’s dedication to the retail world, showering staff with equal amounts of appreciation and sales education.

Women In Adult ·
Show More