Kyrie Hara is making significant moves. After racking up sales and general management experience during her 14-year run with Hawaiian retailer Sensually Yours, Hara has quickly embraced her role as the newest U.S. sales lead with Japanese manufacturer Tenga.
“Having worked on the retail side for so long, I understand what store owners and staff need — and I love being able to provide that support now from the manufacturer side,” says Hara. “I get to be the kind of account manager that made my own days working in retail feel truly special: the one who genuinely shows up for their partners.
If I can help create pathways for other women to thrive in this industry, whether they’re starting in retail like I did or coming from completely different backgrounds, then I’ll consider that a huge win.
“I love helping our customers succeed,” she adds. “Whether that’s troubleshooting challenges, offering product education or simply being a dependable resource they can rely on.”
Hara’s career in the pleasure industry began unexpectedly. While shopping for Halloween costumes, she and a friend walked into Sensually Yours, a single-location adult retail shop on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Hara began chatting with owner Shellee Rose, who was working behind the counter — and the conversation led to a job offer.
“I thought she was joking,” Hara recalls. “I was already working full-time. But a few days later, her scheduling manager called me and within eight months, I left my job at Macy’s behind to become a shift manager. I’ve never looked back.”
At Sensually Yours, Hara progressed from part-time seasonal worker to sales associate, then to buyer and eventually general manager. In that role, she planned store events, oversaw marketing materials and focused on supporting the staff.
Now a seasoned industry veteran, Hara continues to build on the client relationships and valued friendships she developed as a retail manager, in her new job at Tenga. The career shift also entailed a major life change, as joining the Tenga team meant relocating to Southern California.
“I love Hawaii, truly,” says Hara. “But my family and I had been talking about moving for a little while. When the opportunity with Tenga came up, we knew it was finally the perfect chance to stop talking about it and actually do it. Moving across an ocean is not something I’d enjoy doing again, but I don’t have any regrets about it.
“I love Southern California so much,” she adds. “It’s been a blast exploring the area and getting to know the community here. I’m a big foodie. When I’m not out trying new spots, you can usually find me gaming or working on my latest art piece — I’m also an independent artist.”
Despite having lived her entire life in Hawaii, however, one thing Hara is unlikely to do is spend much time on SoCal’s famous beaches.
“Please don’t hate me, but I actually dislike the beach!” she laughs. “Sand really isn’t my thing. There, I said it. It felt good to get that off my chest.”
One thing Hara has enjoyed is getting settled in with the Tenga team.
“Being closer to so much of the industry’s activity has been exciting,” she says. “There’s an energy here that’s really inspiring.”
Of course, even with 14 years of experience, Hara still felt a few first-day butterflies upon arriving at Tenga’s California office. However, the nervousness disappeared thanks to its kind and welcoming ambiance.
“There’s such a great, inclusive vibe here,” she attests.
As a sales lead, Hara is responsible for everything from managing client relationships and ensuring orders are completed smoothly, to ensuring the company maintains a cohesive brand image across both the Tenga and Iroha product lines.
Although she loves her job, Hara admits it’s been a tough year. Consumer product sales have declined across the board and many people are losing disposable income. Hara says her team relies on the company’s reputation to get through difficult times.
“As a legacy brand, I think there’s real value in the trust we’ve built,” says Hara. “Knowing that our quality and offerings remain as innovative and strong as ever really helps end users feel confident about investing in our products even when budgets are tight. When people do have disposable income to spend, they want to spend it on something that’s going to deliver — and that’s exactly what we do.”
Hara emphasizes Tenga’s strong commitment to its B2B relationships. That commitment has recently entailed increased training, more robust marketing resources and creative staff incentive programs to support the success of the company’s frontline retail partners.
Hara’s personal commitment to inspiring and guiding other women motivates her to spend her days in true Women in Adult fashion.
“I’m a firm believer that sexual wellness is wellness and that we’re all entitled to pleasure and connection,” she says. “If I can help create pathways for other women to thrive in this industry, whether they’re starting in retail like I did or coming from completely different backgrounds, then I’ll consider that a huge win.”
As for her own path, Hara has no more doubts about it than she did about crossing that ocean.
“Honestly,” she declares, “this industry feels like exactly where I was meant to be.”
Each month, 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 businesswomen.
