XBIZ Expo Day 2: Education, Dialogue, Community

LOS ANGELES — Day 2 of XBIZ Expo continued the event’s focus on education, collaboration and industry insights, with a packed schedule that balanced business-driven discussions with innumerable opportunities to network.

The day began with more new product showcases and scheduled vendor-buyer meetings conducted variously on the show floor, in private luxury suites and virtually as part of XBIZ Expo’s “3D” format.

Midday lunch programming offered attendees a choice between a seminar session and luncheon roundtable talks. Both tracks provided opportunities for retailers, brands and distributors to connect in a more intimate setting while diving into timely topics, while the simultaneous “AV in Focus” panel explored the challenges online retailers are facing in light of increasingly prevalent age verification laws.

An afternoon highlight for many was the keynote address by Dr. Carol Queen. Drawing upon decades of experience as an educator, activist and leader at Good Vibrations, Queen addressed the pleasure industry’s responsibility to promote true sex positivity, which she defined as the belief that everyone deserves rights, resources and respect regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship structure — including people who don’t want or enjoy sex at all. She challenged industry colleagues to reject the idea of “normal sex,” explaining how rigid norms harm individuals by making them feel broken, isolated or ashamed when their experiences don’t align with cultural expectations.

Highlighting Good Vibrations founder Joani Blank’s conviction that quality products paired with trustworthy information can drive both pleasure and social change, Queen argued that retail staff are often on the front lines of sex education precisely because comprehensive, inclusive sex education too often remains absent in broader society. She urged businesses to view themselves as community spaces that protect diversity and keep sex positivity alive at a time when broader cultural and political forces are actively threatening it. The industry, she concluded, holds unique tools others do not: acceptance, education and pleasure — and with them, real power.

On the XBIZ Expo show floor, numerous entrepreneurial brands demonstrated how they are doing their part to live up to the legacy Queen described. 

Hanlo Products was born from founder Hannah Tyler’s experience working as a couples sex therapist. In her practice, Tyler found that the resources she could recommend tended to fall into two extremes: highly academic materials like books and courses, or traditional adult products and games that often felt intimidating, stereotypical or even triggering for some clients.

“I wanted something in the middle,” Tyler explained. “Approachable intimacy tools.”

Unable to find a gender-inclusive, non-triggering option for clients dealing with past trauma or anxiety about sex, she decided to create one in collaboration with her wife, an artist.

The result was Touch Therapy, a deck featuring 30 guided exercises for sexual and emotional connection — the same exercises Tyler had been using with couples for years. The game’s activities range from mild to spicy and focus primarily on hands-on connection, conversation and skill-building rather than penetration. The deck teaches foundational intimacy skills such as communication, consent and body awareness, expanding how couples define closeness and pleasure.

The modest initial production run of 100 decks quickly ran up against unmet demand. 

“I sold out in three weeks,” Tyler recalled. 

Touch Therapy officially launched in March 2025, followed by its retail debut in June 2025. It was immediately embraced by stores to which Tyler personally reached out. 

Tyler noted that XBIZ Expo’s virtual access option made a meaningful difference for her small business, which is based in Oklahoma. 

“This was a good way to start,” Tyler attested. “I might have been intimidated to do it in person, and it would have been more of a financial burden if I had to go to California. So this was a better way for us to be able to afford it and still make some relationships.” 

Lovely Planet was also among the brands participating virtually. Sonny Farnsworth, senior sales manager for the U.S. and Canada, noted that the hybrid show format opens the doors for international vendors and smaller retailers alike.

“It’s a really great way to encourage more people to get involved and be here,” he said. 

Farnsworth showcased the North American market debut of Creamy, a hybrid semen-mimicking formula developed specifically for ejaculation-style squirting toys. 

“We wanted to develop our own liquid product that could be used for a really realistic experience,” Farnsworth explained, noting that the formula was engineered to look and feel authentic while never becoming sticky or tacky — a critical feature for use with pump-and-tube squirting dildos. Already a top seller in Europe, Creamy can be used either with compatible toys or on its own.

A newly launched companion product, Creamy Glide, offers a water-based alternative that’s “super slick” with a natural, filament-like effect. Designed as a versatile two-in-one, Creamy Glide can be used “straight up” as a semen-style lube or mixed with warm water to create an even silkier, gel-like texture suitable for full-body massage.

Lovely Planet has also expanded its lineup of lingerie-style harnesses with four new gender-neutral designs made from nylon microfiber and mesh. Highlights include Idol, a high-waisted panty-style harness; a boxer brief version for fuller coverage; Halo, a flirty boxer/bike-short hybrid with mesh legs and ruched detailing; and a signature body harness that Farnsworth touted “really wears like a piece of lingerie” and doubles as an everyday layering bodysuit.

Rounding out the brand’s new launches is the Edgy from Manwand, the latest addition to its frenulum-focused line. Described as the most versatile and partner-friendly Manwand yet, Edgy is a lightweight, fully waterproof, rechargeable wand with strong rumbling vibrations, flexible head movement and two interchangeable stroker attachments. It also features a touch-sensor mode, allowing the toy to activate only when it makes contact with skin.

“This creates a more intuitive, human way of controlling the product,” Farnsworth said.

Je Joue returned to the expo spotlight led by Ian Kulp, who after several years away rejoined the company in September as head of global wholesale and brand.

“It’s good to put my voice behind the brand again,” Kulp enthused. “The show’s been great — it’s really nice to be back.”

Kulp excitedly shared a wave of updates and launches planned for 2026, including two new products, refreshed versions of Je Joue’s core and global bestsellers, and an inclusive couples’ kit designed with nonbinary shoppers in mind. The brand is also reintroducing updated swag and gift-with-purchase items aimed at driving impulse buys at $15 and under, alongside two new candle scents and upcoming marketing campaigns.

This month also marks the official launch of Je Joue’s ILY (I Love You) line, debuting with the bullet, pebble and wand, with three additional products planned by year’s end. 

On the retail side, more than 75% of the line has transitioned to more shopper-friendly windowed packaging, with new updates including a cobalt blue Mio and a Mio remote control. 

At the Future Method suite, rep Greg Lam explained the doctor-led brand’s start-to-finish  “prepare, care, play and daily” system focused on helping users have safer, more comfortable and more pleasurable anal sex.

Built on clinical expertise and real-world patient needs, the line is organized by color-coded categories, with a deliberate emphasis on care before and after sex — areas that Lam noted are often ignored despite being essential to comfort and health.

“So many of our patients come to us for issues that could really be alleviated if they had the right tools,” Lam said. 

Future Method’s tools include a saline-style preparatory cleansing system designed to soothe rather than irritate, using ingredients like panthenol and offering both reusable options and single-use, on-the-go pouches. The brand has also seen major success with its anal dilators, which have repeatedly sold out. Designed like vaginal dilators but intentionally longer, they account for natural anatomical variation and support gradual, comfortable progression. Rounding out the system are fiber supplements, prebiotics and probiotics aimed at supporting gut health and reducing the need for frequent anal douching.

Face-to-face conversations at XBIZ Expo, Lam noted, helped to reinforce strong awareness and trust in the brand.

“The response has been even more positive than I expected,” he shared.  

Evolved Novelties’ Steve Sav also sang the praises of the event’s ability to foster connections, noting that focused, meaningful meetings inside the company’s private suite made it easier to connect deeply with long-standing partners.

In a shift that began late last year and has already received strong feedback from buyers, the brand has rolled out refreshed packaging designed to stand out on retail shelves, with logo colors matched directly to product colorways and higher-priced items upgraded to magnetic-closure boxes. The result, Sav observed, is a cleaner, more premium retail presentation where individual items stand out. 

Showcasing Evolved’s wares — including the Kiss & Tell stroker, which has drawn particular attention for its visual realism — Sav outlined the company’s fast-paced, product-forward release strategy. Debuting roughly 12 new items each month rather than just once or twice a year, he noted, keeps retailers consistently engaged.

“It always gives me something to talk about,” Sav said.

By contrast, Wicked Sensual plans to release just four new products this year. Brand rep Cassie Pendleton described this deliberate approach as highly intentional, part of starting off the new year by taking time to reflect, reconnect and build. 

Pendleton also touted continued growth driven largely by the company’s Timeless collection — a line created for people navigating perimenopause, menopause and beyond. According to Pendleton, Timeless products continue to resonate deeply with customers seeking solutions as their bodies change. She emphasized that Wicked Sensual was among the first brands to approach menopause “as a collection and as a conversation,” helping to normalize and destigmatize an often-overlooked life stage. That impact, she said, is now being felt at retail, with stores reporting that after using the products, customers who had despairingly believed something was “broken” returned “crying in gratitude,” sharing stories of relief and validation.

Building on that momentum, the Timeless collection will expand this year with the addition of a new arousal serum launching in early March. The hybrid formula delivers a gentle warming sensation via a dropper-style applicator and incorporates skin-care ingredients focused on hydration and soothing, positioning it as both functional and sensorial.

Wicked Sensual’s other new product drops at XBIZ Expo included the Anal Adventures Weekender Kit featuring top-selling items, and a new aloe-based lubricant formulated to avoid the tackiness common in aloe gels. Made with organic aloe and red algae, the formula absorbs easily, Pendleton said, remaining soft without becoming sticky.

Rounding out the lineup was the brand’s coconut oil-based lubricant, developed in response to consumers who default to kitchen coconut oil. Pendleton explained that unlike store-bought coconut oil, which contains water and has a high pH, Wicked Sensual’s formula contains no water at all — meaning it has no pH and functions more like a silicone lubricant, making it safer for internal use.

Like Sav and other attendees, Pendleton cited, as a high point of the show, the meaningful conversations she was able to have looking back on growth, addressing pain points and reaffirming that the brand’s purpose-driven strategy is making a real difference.

On the show floor, Svakom and sister brand Kaotik Labs showcased a striking dual-brand booth that visually underscored their distinct yet complementary identities. Svakom’s side reflected the brand’s long-standing positioning around sensuality, wellness and “affordable luxury,” while Kaotik Labs made its presence known with a louder, more entertainment-driven aesthetic tailored to tech-focused male consumers.

According to Alex Feynerol, rather than forcing Svakom’s clean, wellness-forward voice to stretch into the male masturbator category, the company created Kaotik Labs as a separate space for bolder storytelling, playful humor and gamer-inspired energy. That contrast was clearly embodied by Svakom’s elegant restraint versus Kaotik’s neon-accented, high-impact visuals.

The Kaotik display leaned heavily into gaming and tech cues, with futuristic product styling, LED highlights and a simplified, fun-forward tone designed to signal experience-driven sextech. Clean lines, a white-black-cyan color palette and console-inspired forms helped communicate innovation without resorting to exaggerated masculinity. 

Together, the dual approaches illustrated how Svakom is expanding its range — maintaining its core identity while giving Kaotik Labs room to experiment, attract a different audience and turn up the volume at retail and on the show floor.

Pipedream showcased strong momentum at XBIZ Expo, led by high demand for new additions across its strap-on and masturbator categories. According to Mona Madrigal, the brand’s hollow strap-ons have already proved themselves — and the newest vibrating versions are generating even more excitement.

“Since we first came out with them, we just can’t keep them in stock,” Madrigal said.

The updated vibrating strap-ons are available in 6-, 7- and 8-inch sizes, supported by accessible pricing starting around $119 for the larger sizes. Madrigal described the build as “firm but bendable,” combining structure with comfort.

Pipedream also introduced a new standout in its Wet Pussies line with the Super Sucker XXL, which features dual functionality. 

“You flip it over,” Madrigal explained. “One hole is for your favorite bullet and the other hole is for liquid release.” 

She touted the products’ ease of use, removable components and durable internal construction designed to keep everything securely in place.

Madrigal also had good things to say about the 2026 XBIZ Expo’s suite-based meeting format. 

“It’s ideal,” she said. “You get that special one-on-one time. So far, all of our meetings were pretty awesome. We did some good business.”

Elsewhere at XBIZ Expo, Sportsheets’ Rin Musick and Kristin Zuri-Godskind spotlighted a bold new wave of BDSM and impact-play releases defined by rich colorways, tactile materials and accessible price points — all designed to carry retailers through the entire year. 

One standout was a deep, saturated green colorway of Sportsheets’ Indica collection, which has already performed strongly in holiday displays and is expected to transition seamlessly into spring, Pride and beyond. 

“It just looks so rich — elegant, juicy, delicious,” Musick marveled, citing an “amazing” number of early reorders.

The lineup expands across multiple categories, including new silicone cuffs priced under $40 per pair. 

“They’re so freaking buttery,” Musick said. “Soft and stretchy.”

Demonstrations revealed how the cuffs can be linked together for hog-tying and other restraint setups, reinforcing their appeal as both beginner-friendly and creatively flexible.

Impact play saw major additions with four new silicone implements, including Pins & Needles — a spiked paddle — as well as additional impression paddles engineered to leave longer-lasting marks.

A newly introduced punishment mat — dense, textured foam designed for kneeling, wall play or restraint — stood out as one of the collection’s most unique offerings. 

“I’ve never seen anything like that in this arena,” Musick observed, adding that despite its premium feel, the price point remains accessible at $75 MSRP.

Nipple play also received thoughtful updates with new pinching rods and reimagined clover-style clamps that Musick called “tuggable, not yankable.” Lightweight, adjustable and modular, the designs address common fit and security concerns while expanding use cases across different bodies and anatomies.

“We’re leaning back into more luxurious items at really nice price points,” Musick said. “The whole collection has been very well received.”

Erica of Hidden Honey Homes, which operates four luxury properties, told XBIZ that what struck them most about this year’s XBIZ Expo was the shared understanding among participants that authenticity drives growth.

A pharmacist and former luxury yacht stewardess, Erica established the company with her husband Matt, who has a background in finance. Their goal was to blend high-end service, wellness-forward amenities and data-driven strategy. Hidden Honey Homes properties feature private hot tubs, infrared saunas, in-room massage tables and intentionally intimate design meant to remove friction between intention and connection. 

“Our properties aren’t billboards or bland backdrops,” said Erica. “They’re experiential environments where couples are present, receptive and genuinely engaged. The right collaborations happen naturally in that context.”

Guests, the founders noted, frequently describe their stays as “marriage-saving.” That has translated into rapid growth for Hidden Honey Homes, which now has more than 180,000 Instagram followers and offers nightly rates ranging from $500 to $1,000.

“We’re proving there’s significant opportunity at the intersection of luxury hospitality and sexual wellness,” they said. “It’s not a niche market. It’s an underserved majority that’s been waiting for someone to serve them authentically.”

Day 2 of XBIZ Expo concluded on a social note, with an evening happy hour hosted by Paradise Pleasure Products. Highlighting the launch of the brand’s Illuminations collection of colorful light-up LED toys, ranging from wand massagers and internal vibes to butt plugs, the party transformed Preston’s restaurant into a nightclub. Thumping music and the neon glow of the products on display paired with lighting to set the mood. A neon-colored carpet and step-and-repeat wall contributed to the festive vibe. 

The gathering gave attendees a chance to unwind, network and continue conversations sparked earlier in the day, capping off a schedule that blended learning, strategy and relationship-building.

With strong turnout across sessions and events, Day 2 underscored XBIZ Expo’s role as both a business hub and a space for deeper dialogue about where the pleasure industry is headed.