In the midst of the 2020 corona crisis lies a silver lining like only a German sextech brand could create. We are in the age of the “sex toy r-love-ution,” says the team at Satisfyer, and pleasure industry veteran Nadine Schwalbe is leading the charge.
Innovative, breathtaking, timeless: are we talking Satisfyer products or Schwalbe herself?
I have seen how we started out with a toy and how we managed to become one of the world's leading brands in sexual wellness in only four years.
As the team lead in international trade show planning for this premier brand, Nadine Schwalbe experiences all the best parts of the industry, in-person. Schwalbe lives for the people, the products and the passion that keep the big wheel of sex toy innovation turning strong, year after year.
With over 11 years of pleasure industry expertise under her belt, Schwalbe is still surprised by the enthusiastic crowds that storm the trade show booths she helps coordinate — especially when said crowds are bee-lining for Satisfyer product ambassador and porn star Rocco Siffredi. (But we'll let Schwalbe finish that anecdote a few paragraphs down.)
Though COVID-19 might have stolen Schwalbe's pride and joy — trade exhibition coordination — for the rest of the year, her career is still going strong. Thanks to Satisfyer's focus on app-based sex toys, there's no shortage of customers vying for the next life-changing pleasure accessory from everyone's favorite techy toy brand.
All the way from Germany, Nadine Schwalbe extends a warm (but virtual) hug to all her industry friends in the locked-down U.S. Cheers to inducting Nadine as this month's edition of Women in Adult, and as Schwalbe happily reminds us, she'll be seeing us all again very soon.
XBIZ: Give us a little behind-the-scenes peek at your career and education prior to landing with Satisfyer. Where did you first build your skills?
Nadine Schwalbe: I have previously explored several areas. I worked for international companies like Hewlett Packard and Samsung in the field of IT systems management and decided late in life to go to university. I graduated in business psychology, because I have always been interested in what people buy and especially why.
XBIZ: What initially drew you to the pleasure products space, and where did you get your start?
Schwalbe: During my studies I already got the opportunity to work for the [German sex toy retail] company EIS in their customer support [department] and quickly got a feeling for the customers, but especially for the wide range of products that our industry offers.
After a short while I got the chance to support the Satisfyer brand from the very beginning and [have] work[ed] since then in the best team I can imagine.
XBIZ: What do you adore the most about working in this industry, both then and now?
Schwalbe: The seemingly boundless creativity of customers in terms of products and further development possibilities. It is unbelievable how interested people are in the industry, but also in the products, and the feedback is worth its weight in gold. I was thrilled how positively my environment reacted to my job and what an open-minded attitude people have towards the industry.
XBIZ: How have your job roles and overall career evolved with Satisfyer?
Schwalbe: In customer support, I was always happy to help customers and give them a smile, and gratefully accepted their feedback. This helped me a lot when I was able to work with Satisfyer. I was able to incorporate the experiences and at the same time always had the well-being of the customers in mind. Now that I am mainly responsible for the worldwide exhibition planning, it is a great pleasure to be able to pick up the mood on-site and give something back to the customers. It is only through all these years — it is 11 years that I have been in this business — that I have been able to assess the market and know what to do next.
XBIZ: Who truly inspires you in the sexual health and sex toy space?
Schwalbe: First and foremost, definitely Jerome Bensimon. We have been working together since the beginning and he taught me so much! I am very thankful to him — how patiently he put up with my younger me. But also Megwyn White, our sexologist. I can say that she is my biggest inspiration and I admire her for her open-minded attitude.
XBIZ: How does it feel to work with the Satisfyer team year-round?
Schwalbe: Exciting! I am lucky that I really experienced everything from the beginning. I have seen how we started out with a toy and how we managed to become one of the world's leading brands in sexual wellness in only four years. Being able to experience every step from production to sales and seeing what our team does every day makes me proud.
XBIZ: Satisfyer is always a staple at every pleasure industry trade show. Tell us about one of your most unforgettable moments while working the floor with your team.
Schwalbe: A highlight was definitely a trade show with [porn star and Satisfyer Mens' product ambassador] Rocco Siffredi. We had invited him to our booth to sign autographs and yes, I knew him of course, but I didn't know that he had a big fan base. So we had to lock up everything and ask security to watch out for us. He was the absolute megastar and his fans were so obsessed to see him that it really wasn't going to last. It was a bit like the sale of the latest iPhone: there was no holding back. That moment surprised but also it made me laugh so much because we ran to safety so fast that I will remember it for a long time.
XBIZ: How has the industry changed since you first began over 11 years ago? How is Satisfyer taking us to new heights of design and sexual experiences?
Schwalbe: When I started, the industry had an online shop through EIS.de that managed to make great inviting products available to the masses. They were playful and colorful products that I liked from the beginning.
Over the years, everyone added a lot of technology, like we did with our Satisfyer. I am very happy that my heart still beats for technology-based products. Now with the introduction of our new Satisfyer App Connect, we are taking the next step and allow customers to try out new features and discover new toys on another level.
I think that this is exactly what the future holds: app-based products. Especially in the corona crisis, it has become clear again how important it is to stay in touch even over long distances; and that of course includes one’s love life.
XBIZ: Despite the crazy year corona has thrown at us, are you looking forward to anything exciting in your professional or personal life?
Schwalbe: Professionally, we will hopefully see each other again soon! We have already announced that we have taken over the rights for Penthouse, and I'm very happy to be able to present lingerie and toys; and especially to prepare the trade fair appearances.
Privately, I profit from my professional experience and I am looking forward to traveling again to broaden my personal horizon, and to finally see everyone again.
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.
