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.
Making the world a better place, one vagina at a time — that’s Savannah Robertson in a nutshell. In fact, Dame Products’ business development manager was seemingly born to pioneer pleasure and close the orgasm gap.
I always knew that I wanted to work in an industry that helps make a difference in people’s lives.
Robertson struck gold when it came to family inspiration. From a young age, she watched her relatives, namely her empowered mother, Luz, work in the pleasure industry to promote sex education throughout Latin America. After a stint in mainstream advertising, Robertson took her rightful place in the family tradition as a Jane-of-all-trades at Dame Products.
Over the last year, Robertson’s influence in helping to build ecommerce, product development, and sales and marketing has proven invaluable in a big way. The company launched three brand-new products that have taken the market by storm, much like Dame’s Eva couples’ vibrator, a true industry first.
Since improving upon the original Eva and re-launching it to customer delight as the Eva 2, Dame has most recently followed up with two unique vibrators — the Pom and the Kip — and even a work of modern sex furniture design, the Pillo.
The Pom is a deceptively simple clitoral vibe — until you give it a squeeze. Pom is so flexible and soft that its entire body seems to mold to your every move. The Kip, a lipstick-style vibe, has a unique shape and a squishable tip for more direct stimulation with an easy-to-grip design.
And Pillo — well, now here’s something we weren’t expecting from a vibrator manufacturer. Pillo is exactly that: a pillow, but for sex, as the company’s website explains. Pillo is the perfect entry-level piece of sex furniture you never knew you needed. Pillo is equipped with an easily removable, non-slip cover, side handles for extra grip, and foam interior that provides just enough lift and just enough squish. (It seems Dame has a thing for squish, which we can definitely support.) Oh, and did we mentioned it also makes a great laptop support?
As Dame sets its sights on conquering the mainstream world with vibrators for every vulva, Robertson foretells a promising future. Though she’s skeptical about advertising opportunities a la social media, there’s nothing stopping this young freedom fighter from securing a safe space for sexuality.
If you catch Robertson at ANME this July, make sure to congratulate her on two achievements: her recent engagement to a supportive partner, and her hard work in bringing more amazing products to the Dame lineup. Make that three achievements, actually — there's also her induction into XBIZ’s Women in Adult showcase.
XBIZ: What sort of path led you to the pleasure industry, and where did you initially grow your career?
Savannah Robertson: I have always had a passion to help people while having fun at the same time. It just so happens that my family worked in the pleasure industry and I have the unique insight of seeing trends in manufacturing, marketing and consumers evolve over my lifetime. I’ve been involved in many different facets, from distribution to ecommerce and manufacturing.
XBIZ: When did you decide to join the family business?
Robertson: After working in advertising, I decided I wanted to follow my family’s footsteps and promote sexual health in Latin America. I always knew that I wanted to work in an industry that helps make a difference in people’s lives.
XBIZ: What did you notice right off the bat when you joined the sexual wellness space?
Robertson: I started just as brands began manufacturing and marketing toys as more than a fun novelty, but as well-engineered and ergonomic sex toys that consumers would feel fashionable and proud owning.
XBIZ: What talents have you utilized throughout your career?
Robertson: I’ve done a bit of everything, from product development to ecommerce to supply-chain management to marketing and sales. This has given me a holistic insight into the industry as a whole. Because I have been involved in so many aspects of the pleasure industry, I have long-lasting partnerships with many different departments across it.
XBIZ: Who has been your No. 1 career mentor?
Robertson: My mom, Luz de la Riva, was and still is a huge mentor.
XBIZ: What’s particularly awesome about working at Dame Products?
Robertson: I love working at Dame Products so much! What can I say, we have fun! But my most favorite part is working with a group of wickedly talented individuals who all share a common goal — closing the pleasure gap. Most people we talk to say they don’t find pleasure as enjoyable during sex as cis-identifying males. Our mission is to develop products to help close the gap and make the world a better place, one vagina at a time.
XBIZ: Everyone’s got a favorite story from road-warrior life in the industry. What’s yours?
Robertson: I’ve had so many funny encounters traveling to industry events. Traveling with a bag full of vibrators has lent itself to so many funny encounters with TSA. Recently I had a bag full of vibrators and one of them knocked on in my suitcase, and TSA asked me to please turn it off. You can imagine the looks I received from passersby as I opened my bag full of vibes to search for the one that turned on! But I never take myself too seriously and these encounters always lead to funny memories.
XBIZ: Where has the pleasure industry had the most impact on the world, and where do we still need to keep improving?
Robertson: Sex toys are much more socially acceptable today than 15 years ago. I find people talking about purchasing and using them more. However, even though sex toys are more "mainstream," we still have a lot to fight for in terms of promotions and advertising, especially on social media, where brands are constantly being flagged for sexually explicit material, whereas pharma companies that promote pharmaceuticals like Viagra and Addyi are given carte blanche.
XBIZ: What’s coming up next for Dame this summer, and for your own future growth?
Robertson: We have a few new exciting releases that we will be revealing at ANME; we are so excited! Personally, I’ve recently gotten engaged to a wonderful human being who does not work in the industry, but has been the most supportive and compassionate companion. When you’re on the road as much as myself, it’s important to have a network of support and I am so incredibly lucky.
