FLENSBURG, Germany — Orion Wholesale is touting its popular seasonal Erotic Advent Calendar with 24 products that are "a colorful mix of toys, lingerie, stimulating items, bondage products and massaging devices."
"This is why Orion starts working on a new Advent calendar long before the Christmas period," noted a rep.
"Orion has been bringing out a special Advent calendar for Christmas for over 15 years — and was a trendsetter in the erotic industry," the rep continued. "Since then, the erotic Advent calendars have become a bestseller because they often turn the stressful Advent period into a sensual time, which then concludes with a special Christmas of love, for many customers. Christmas will quite literally become a celebration of love."
Sina Bazan, product manager for Orion, has been responsible for developing the company's Erotic Advent Calendars for five years. She and the Orion design team begin their planning one-and-a-years in advance.
“With our packaging supplier, we have someone at our side that can make lots of things possible," said Bazan. “If I have a new idea, we get together and develop features, improvements or new designs. It’s an incredibly interesting and creative process. When we’ve finished, we’ve usually created something that’s even better than our original idea.”
Added attention is paid to quality and pricing as no item can be longer than 16cm (approximately 6.3 inches).
"It’s important to us to be able to offer the customer a variety of products," added Bazan. “We want to make this variety interesting for both erotic beginners and experienced couples.”
Each Erotic Advent Calendar includes lubricants, lingerie, sex toys and condoms, there are always "new surprises" and customers' feedback regarding prior editions are taken into account.
“We have matched the content to the design for the 2020 Advent calendar," revealed Bazan. “So, as a special highlight, a Womanizer Starlet in a special color is hidden behind one of the doors this year.”
Once all of the items are selected, they are assigned specific boxes.
“It’s important that I order the items on time and that delivery dates are adhered to," Bazan explained. “The transport and, above all, the storage needs to be organized as well because Advent calendars mean that there is a huge number of individual items, printed material and then the packed calendar itself. The number of pallets can quite easily reach three- to four-digits."
All of the design, including the finished artwork, is done in-house at Orion.
Bazan described "a big logistical and complex process," which includes coordinating and scheduling the marketing and advertising of the calendars. “The coronavirus pandemic has proven how important it is to have a small buffer just in case something unexpected happens," said Bazan. “I was quite relieved that I had planned a bit more time for the Advent calendar.”
After five years, Bazan admits to "a little Advent calendar fetish."
"I have approximately ten different versions of Advent calendars at home during the Christmas period. I have always loved this ‘Christmas anticipation.' I hope that I can pass this on to our customers again this year as well," Bazan concluded.
The 2020 Erotic Advent Calendar, themed "...Make Love, it's Christmas," is now available while supplies last. Visit Orion online for additional details. Direct inquiries to wholesale@orion.de.
