profile

System JO Marks 20th Anniversary With Display Contest, Surprise Visits

System JO Marks 20th Anniversary With Display Contest, Surprise Visits

Throughout October, reps from System JO traveled the globe to surprise winners of the company’s 20th-anniversary display contest with in-person visits secretly arranged with the assistance of store managers and owners. They arrived with fanfare, bearing cupcakes, nonalcoholic champagne and gift cards, much to the delight of the store employees who had spent the better part of the year conceptualizing and executing their winning displays.

The display contest kicked off in January with hundreds of System JO 20th Anniversary promo envelopes sent out to retailers and distributors, explaining the rules of the contest and the deadline for entry. The company provided branded items like gray-and-red balloons with the System JO logo, pins and acrylic signage declaring “Cheers to 20 Years,” but also encouraged retailers to get creative with their displays.

It cannot be emphasized enough that JO would not be the brand it is today without our retailers and associates.

“We invited partners to create a unique store display that showcased JO products and our 20th Anniversary kit,” explains Timothy Ferencz, regional sales manager at CC Wellness, System JO’s parent company. “Retailers were not limited to the materials in the kit. They could do whatever they want, use additional materials, create signs, banners, more balloons, whatever their imagination could come up with.”

The response from retailers was impressive. More than 180 entries poured in from around the world over the course of nine months.

“Participation reached record numbers,” says Ferencz. “We saw so many extravagant and unique displays. Everyone who participated did an amazing job and came to win!”

Including retailers in the company’s anniversary celebration made sense to Ferencz on several levels.

“We wanted to actively engage with our retail partners and associates at the store level,” he says. “Let’s face it, without retailers carrying JO and associates selling JO, we would not be in business for 20 years.”

Along with acknowledging the vital role retailers and retail associates play in the company’s continuing popularity with consumers, Ferencz says, System JO understands the importance of fostering creativity and teamwork within the retail setting.

“Retail can be a tough environment to work in,” Ferencz acknowledges. “Doing something fun with your teammates makes for a better work environment. A display contest gives the retailers and associates an opportunity to be active and creative when designing the display, and creates and fosters teamwork and team building with associates at the store level. Displays give the associates ownership in the contest, something they can be proud of creating whether they win or not.”

As the competition progressed, System JO wanted to see retailers really push the creative envelope and pull out all the stops.

“We teased some of the entries on social media, and that forced retailers to up the ante on the displays they created,” says Ferencz, explaining how JO kept interest in the contest high. “Picking winners was a difficult decision as we had so many amazing entries.”

Out of nearly 200 entries, System JO had to narrow the field down to eight winners, spanning three continents and six countries. Of those eight, four were from the U.S. and two from Europe, while Canada and Australia each had one winner. The winners in the U.S. were separated into two categories: East and West.

For the USA East region, the winners were Condom World 18 in Puerto Rico, and Hot Flixx in Melbourne, Florida. For USA West, Deja Vu in Las Vegas and Hustler in Sacramento, California took home the top prize.

Europe’s two winners were Novum Markt in Germany and Belover in Spain. Blushing Memory was Canada’s winner, and Flirt Dubbo in Australia rounded out the winners circle.

The contest prize — besides bragging rights for beating out over 170 other entries — was commensurate with the occasion. Each winning store received a $400 Visa gift card for every staff member, plus $2,000 in JO product. As if that wasn’t enough, System JO took awarding the prizes to the next level.

“Once we picked the winners, we came up with a strategy on how to surprise them,” Ferencz confides. “Our reps reached out in secret to the owner/managers of the winning stores. We came up with a plan to have a store meeting or training on the day of the surprise. A JO rep flew out to the store the night before to prepare for the surprise, and we ‘crashed’ the store meeting with balloons, red velvet cupcakes, nonalcoholic champagne and gift cards.”

Ferencz himself was one of the reps who traveled to congratulate the winners, and recalls the overwhelmingly positive response they received upon visiting the stores to surprise the employees.

“This was by far the best part,” he says. “The reactions were priceless: from jaw drops, to screams and yells, to applause and cheers, to people jumping up and down. We loved seeing the reactions from the associates when we walked in the door.”

For some, winning the contest meant being able to pay bills in a tight economy, especially when working part-time.

“At one of my visits, some of the associates broke down in tears,” Ferencz shares. “We are in a tough economic climate right now. A $400 Visa gift card is a week’s worth of work to some of the part-time associates. You wouldn’t think winning a simple contest would mean so much, but after seeing the associates’ reactions, you realize how much it meant to them. I was really touched. JO really appreciates the passion of the associates who sell our products.”

As this year draws to a close, System JO rep and industry veteran Ferencz offers some parting words acknowledging those who have supported the company and helped make it what it is today, even as it looks to the future:

“We are thrilled to have so many amazing partners come together to help us celebrate 20 years in the industry. We’ve come a long way as a brand and truly appreciate each and every one of you. It cannot be emphasized enough that JO would not be the brand it is today without our retailers and associates. You are the lifeblood of the industry; you are the front lines. You are the ones who help the customers have an amazing experience. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your continued support. Cheers to another 20 together!

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

Kraig McGee Blends Family Biz Experience, Creative Background at TAF Distributing

Walk into any Adam & Eve store in the Mountain West region of the U.S. and you’ve likely stumbled into a TAF Distributing outfit. Owned by industry veteran Kraig McGee Jr. and staffed by his closest family members, McGee’s 35 TAF-operated stores span 13 states, from woodsy Idaho to scenic Utah and well beyond.

Colleen Godwin ·
opinion

How Pleasure Brands Can Ethically Market to LGBTQ+ Communities

Every June, the rainbow floodgates open. Suddenly, pleasure products are “Pride-themed,” companies change their logos and brands rush to show just how inclusive they are — at least for 30 days. But as a queer, nonbinary marketing strategist who works with adult brands year-round, I’m here to say: Rainbow dildos alone are not progress. They’re often just noise.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

A Retailer's Road Map for First-Timers' Anal August

Anal August offers a prime opportunity for brands and stores to capture new customers and drive growth in a category that’s gaining mainstream momentum. As consumer interest in anal play continues to rise, now is the time to meet first-time buyers where they are, with approachable products, trusted education and a clear path to pleasure.

Matthew Spindler ·
opinion

Optimizing Your Leadership Through Wellness Practices

For many of us, 2025 has proved intensely stressful — and we’re still only halfway through the year. In times like these, it may seem counterintuitive or even irresponsible to talk about seeking pleasure. Yet pleasure, presence, joy and connection can help you return to a mental and physical state that allows you to face and handle stressors.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
opinion

Chastity Play Is Trending: Why It Should Be in Your Marketing Strategy

From chastity fetishes to power play, erotic control — once considered an esoteric niche within the world of BDSM — is now entering the mainstream. Google searches for “chastity cages,” “chastity fetish” and “orgasm denial” have exploded over the past year, with interest especially high for beginner-friendly models.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

A Look at Adult Retail's Role in Community Care

In the adult retail industry, we focus on empowerment, exploration and connection. We connect people with products that can transform their relationships with their bodies, with their partners and with themselves.

Rin Musick ·
trends

A Deep Dive Into Key Trends Shaping Pleasure Products

In 2025, the pleasure industry is evolving in intentional ways. Rather than racing toward newness for novelty’s sake, brands are reassessing everything from shape and function to what price intended shoppers can afford.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

WIA Profile: Jia Jeng

Modern branding is all about storytelling — and Jia Jeng certainly knows how to tell an authentic, perspective-shifting tale. As brand manager for ID Lubricants, Jeng applies her creative talent to shaping the long-established company’s public image in a way that aligns with her own vision for an ethical future.

Women in Adult ·
profile

Spicerack Market Offers Indie Brands a Launching Pad

Spicerack Market is an ecommerce platform with the heart of an artisan crafter and the soul of a kinkster. On the website, independent sex toy makers, lingerie seamstresses and kink gear craftspeople can set up a personalized shop to sell their handmade wares, unhindered by censorship or bans on adult products.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Strategies to Bring Pleasure Brands into the Spotlight

Every brand dreams about landing a feature in The New York Times or Men’s Health — and pleasure brands are no exception. After all, mainstream media coverage isn’t just a vanity milestone. It builds trust, attracts new audiences and opens doors to connecting with retailers, partnerships, and investors.

Hail Groo ·
Show More