profile

The Male Rose Co-Founder Heather Gruber Discusses Journey in Building the Brand

The Male Rose Co-Founder Heather Gruber Discusses Journey in Building the Brand

Recognizing high demand and interest as profitable pleasure products spread across influencer platforms, in 2021, Jamael Williams and Heather Gruber decided to launch a company with a clear mission: to help men feel more comfortable using pleasure products and talking about them with their partners. Their combined expertise in branding, marketing and business development laid the foundation for The Male Rose, eventually resulting in a line of whirling, vibrating strokers.

“The turning point came when we posted a video on TikTok that unexpectedly went viral, sparking curiosity and demand for the brand,” recalls Gruber, The Male Rose COO. “That viral success catapulted the company into the mainstream, proving there was a strong appetite for products that catered specifically to men’s pleasure.”

As part of our strategic vision, we are now prioritizing the international market, aiming to bring our products to a broader global audience.

Williams and Gruber rode the social media momentum of The Male Rose to the team’s first XBIZ Retreat in 2022, where they connected with industry leaders, expanded the brand’s reach and officially cemented their product and earworm of a moniker in the adult industry. The co-founders say their ultimate goal is to become a game-changing name in the adult wellness space.

“The Male Rose is committed to innovation, consistently developing new products tailored to men while continuing to educate, engage and go viral,” affirms Gruber.

The Male Rose currently calls several warehouses home, including East Coast News, Nalpac/Entrenue, Holiday Products, Honey’s Place and Eldorado.

The Male Rose Pro has become the brand’s bestselling device, Gruber reports.

“Customers love its sleek, modern design and ultra-portable, handheld size, making it both convenient and discreet,” she explains. “The overwhelming positive feedback proves that the Male Rose Pro delivers on both innovation and satisfaction.”

The Pro features a whopping 81 different functions, including powerful vibration settings and an automatic thrusting mode, offering a highly customizable experience. The toy’s handle sports a digital display, providing a user-friendly experience and allowing for precise setting control.

The Male Rose line also features the Original Male Rose, also known as the Gawk Gawk 3000, which wildly rotates through five spinning speeds and 10 vibration modes. The Male Rose 2 and Male Rose 3 models added more sensation and technology to the mix: The Male Rose 2 ups the ante with multiple suction modes and dual side motors, while the Male Rose 3 twirls 360 degrees to ensure users feel the full strength of the stroker’s three motors and thrusting action.

All four models are outfitted with stretchy, textured sleeves lined with 3D bumps, nubs and tiny fingers. The sleeves are easily detached from the handles for no-fuss cleaning.

Gruber and Williams believe that a good brand requires more than just a great product, however. They aim to provide steadfast B2B and B2C customer service. Male Rose products also arrive with pro-quality packaging and imaging that supports the brand’s luxury image.

“While similar products exist with plain, unremarkable packaging, they fail to achieve the same level of consumer trust and desirability,” Gruber highlights. “The Male Rose has established itself as the original and most sought-after version, with customers willing to pay more for the assurance of quality, 24-hour online customer service and the credibility that comes from its widespread online recognition.”

Gruber and Williams aren’t slowing down now that they’ve crossed the mainstream threshold of TikTok stardom. As The Male Rose team makes the industry trade show rounds this year, they will be highlighting their next steps toward world domination.

“As part of our strategic vision, we are now prioritizing the international market, aiming to bring our products to a broader global audience,” promises Gruber. “By leveraging key partnerships, optimizing our supply chain and adapting to diverse market demands, we are confident in our ability to establish a strong international presence. Additionally, we plan to release new, innovative products every year, ensuring that we stay ahead of trends and continue to offer unique, high-quality solutions to our customers.

“This expansion marks an exciting new chapter for The Male Rose,” Gruber concludes. “The Male Rose is committed to driving the business forward. We are determined to continue to build on our success, and reach new heights.”

Copyright © 2026 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

profile

Meghan Dunkel Brings Momentum, Focus to Sales Management

As an 18-year veteran of the sex toy business, Meghan Dunkel has witnessed plenty of the industry’s ups and downs. One of her big takeaways: Only the most committed end up staying.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Viben Toys Aims to Personalize Pleasure in the Affordable Luxury Market

If your customer’s sex toy collection doesn’t include a pulsating purple unicorn or a rose equipped with a tongue, it may be time to introduce them to Viben Toys.

Colleen Godin ·
profile

Condom Sense's Adam Edwards on Driving Retail With Purpose

Still, the inclement weather can’t stop Edwards from doing something he’s done for most of his adult life: talking shop. About six and a half years ago, as soon he turned 18, he joined Condom Sense. His father, Mike Edwards, started the company in the 1990s.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Delicto Serves Up Online Retail With a Side of Super-Charged Sex-Ed

Meet Rose MacDowell and Sarah Riccio, co-founders of the online pleasure product hot spot Delicto.com. Since 2021, these business owner besties have been slinging vibes and dildos while openly sharing their love for self-induced orgasms on social media — a strategy that has earned Delicto half a million followers on TikTok.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Tips for 'Soft Selling' to Today's Shoppers

"This is our bestseller.” “You should get this one instead; it’s stronger.” “This one costs more — but it’s way better!” In adult retail, sweeping statements like these can sound impersonal and make shoppers feel rushed, unseen and unsupported.

Sara Gaffoor ·
opinion

A Guide to Displaying Sex Dolls In-Store

Sex dolls are high-priced and visually striking, but often misunderstood by first-time buyers. Displayed poorly, they can seem intimidating, gimmicky or off-putting. Displayed well, they become conversation starters, high-quality premium products and confidence-boosting sales opportunities.

Jessica Sav ·
opinion

How AI Is Modernizing Retail HR

With 21 locations, I’m pretty much always hiring. Unfortunately, the employment market these days can be chaotic, as candidates send out applications across dozens of job boards with a single click. For managers like me, this results in more time spent sorting through signals and static.

Zondre Watson ·
opinion

Rethinking Influencer Marketing in Sexual Wellness

Influencer marketing has evolved over the past several years, and that ripple has extended to the sexual wellness industry. The factors driving the appeal of partnering with influencers — raising awareness and expanding reach — remain just as important as they did when such partnerships first became common.

Naima Karp ·
trends

Meet the New Class of Pleasure Purveyors Making Waves

The sexual wellness industry has always evolved in response to cultural shifts, but the current wave of up-and-coming pleasure brands signals something deeper than trend cycles or aesthetic refreshes. These founders aren’t just launching new products; they are reframing what intimacy means, who it is for and how it fits into everyday life. Across supplements, toys, aftercare and even divination decks, a new generation of brands is closing long-ignored gaps — between pleasure and wellness, fantasy and function, science and sensuality, individuality and shared experience.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

Viben's Kara Liburd on Building a Fulfilling Career in the Industry

“We work in an industry where trust, follow-through and service matter just as much as product quality,” declares Viben sales exec Kara Liburd. “Retailers today want analytics, marketing assets and deeper product knowledge, and brands are stepping up to provide that support.”

Colleen Godin ·
Show More