After 18 years in the pleasure products industry, Kristin Zuri-Godskind has experienced the business from nearly every angle. Her career has taken her through retail, merchandising, management, distribution, sales, product education and manufacturing, giving her a perspective shaped as much by the sales floor as by the relationships she has built along the way.
As the regional sales manager for Sportsheets, Zuri-Godskind is applying her experience at a company she has admired since before joining its team.
I think success is measured by the relationships you've built, the lives you've touched and whether you've continued to become a better version of yourself.
“When I was working in retail, it was one of my favorite brands to sell,” she said. “The products are exceptionally well-made, approachable and easy to use, making them easy to introduce and recommend to customers. They had a way of breaking the ice, and that made them both fun and rewarding to sell.”
As Zuri-Godskind moved from retail into other areas of the business, Sportsheets became what she describes as her “dream company.” Beyond its products, she was drawn to the company’s reputation and the relationships behind it.
“It always stood out as a brand that genuinely cared about its customers, its partners and its people,” she said.
That relationship-first mentality reflected Zuri-Godskind’s approach to sales.
“I like people, and I genuinely love talking,” she said. “Literally every report card from my elementary school days says, ‘talks too much.’”
Fortunately, that childhood tendency has proved useful professionally. Zuri-Godskind says her enthusiasm for people and products makes selling feel more like helping customers find the right solution than pursuing a transaction.
“I've never been someone who picks up the phone just to push for an order,” she said. “Many of the customers I work with have become true friends over the years. If I recommend a product, it's because I honestly believe it will be successful for them.”
She credits that philosophy partly to the many mentors who have shaped her career. Zuri-Godskind points to Wicked Sensual Care’s Nicole Talley for teaching her about confidence, independence and believing in herself, while Lisa Hanna from Maia Toys, whom she calls her “industry momma,” helped guide her from retail into distribution and later manufacturing.
She also credits XR Brands’ Josh Ortiz with influencing how she approaches education and training, particularly through his commitment to thoroughly learning a subject before presenting it and his ability to connect with audiences.
Other industry colleagues helped her find confidence at critical moments. Zuri-Godskind still remembers her first training session as a manufacturer representative, when Lovehoney Group’s Kim Card, Aneros’ Brent Aldon and Classic Brands’ Nicole McCree stood at the back of the room giving her thumbs-up and making funny faces to ease her nerves.
Industry vet Cheri Curry has been a steady source of advice and encouragement, she says, while Channel 1 Releasing’s Rob Novinger provided an environment where she felt safe developing professionally and personally. She also singles out COTR’s Kim Faubel, whose fearlessness and authenticity she admires.
“One of the things I love most about this industry is how willing people are to lift each other up,” Zuri-Godskind said. “I wouldn't be where I am today without the generosity, encouragement and friendship of so many incredible people, and I hope I've been able to pay even a small part of that forward throughout my own career.”
Zuri-Godskind has also watched the broader industry undergo a dramatic transformation during her 18 years in the business. When she started, she remembers customers parking away from adult stores and slipping inside hoping not to be recognized. Pleasure products were still surrounded by stigma and misinformation.
Today, she sees a substantially different marketplace, with sexual wellness products selling at mainstream retailers and consumers discussing pleasure more openly across social platforms.
“People recognize these products for what they truly are: tools for self-care, self-expression, connection and overall well-being,” she said.
Although mainstream acceptance has introduced new challenges, Zuri-Godskind sees the shift as validation for an industry that has dedicated decades to promoting sexual wellness, consumer education and responsible product innovation.
At Sportsheets, she continues to find new ways to stretch beyond her previous experience. One highlight has been participating in product brainstorming sessions, something she had never done before.
“Being at that table and contributing to those conversations has made me feel like a valued member of the team,” she said.
Rather than measuring her career by a single achievement, Zuri-Godskind sees its defining moments as a collection of relationships, challenges, and opportunities that pushed her beyond her comfort zone. Being recognized among XBIZ’s Women in Adult is one of those moments.
“There are so many women in this industry whom I admire and respect,” she said. “Many of them have been mentors, role models and friends throughout my career. To be considered alongside women who have inspired me for so many years is honestly a little surreal.”
Looking ahead, Zuri-Godskind does not have a rigid five-year plan. Her immediate goal is to continue growing into her Sportsheets role, strengthening customer relationships and contributing to the company’s next chapter. Beyond that, she is guided by a philosophy that has carried her through nearly two decades in the industry: Stay curious, keep learning and leave each place a little better than she found it.
“I don't think success is measured by a title or a number,” she said. “I think it's measured by the relationships you've built, the lives you've touched and whether you've continued to become a better version of yourself. That's the goal I'll keep working toward.”
