Buyers from all the big names in novelty toured ANE's Hilton and Sheraton hotel showrooms, taking note of the myriad of new vibes, dildos and specialty toys that both established and new novelty companies brought to the expo.
Toy manufacturer California Exotic Novelties unveiled more than 100 new products at the show, including a rabbit-like vibrator whose head features a patented wave effect, taking the place of the style's traditional circular movement. Retailers and buyers left the CalExotics booth with a 450-page catalog and a smile.
"It's one of the best collections I've seen from CalExotics," company marketing director Al Bloom told XBIZ.
British male G-spot specialist Nexus unveiled its newest stimulator with a brand new bullet vibe, what sales and marketing director Aneal Dominic told XBIZ is the first of its kind. The booth showcased the toys' sleek packaging, and Dominic said a line of women-only G-spot and anal stimulators are in the works. Nexus currently offers a specialty G-spot attachment for the classic Hitachi vibrator.
Tantus Inc. unveiled its new and improved line of butt plugs, redesigned with the help of customer feedback and comments in order to meet the high standards of its consumer base, Tantus Marketing Manager Jeff Muesse told XBIZ. With a wider lip and slender base, he said, the anal toys' improved design helps them stay put and makes them even more comfortable.
Spartacus Enterprises released its new "Crave" line of purple restraints, including cuffs, collars and whips. Sales and Marketing Manager Sean Christensen told XBIZ that the line's clear, attractive packaging is a move to make the company's fetish wear more approachable to the average adult novelty shopper. And with other lines of restraints featuring more affordable non-leather options, he said, the company is doing just that.
Chad Braverman, director of product development and licensing for Doc Johnson, showed XBIZ his booth's three walls of brand-new toy prototypes, complete with concept drawings of each product's packaging. New products include Jenna's Velvet G-spot vibrators and realistic dildos made from a soft jelly and offered in both a soft pink and crystal-white.
Braverman also unveiled prototypes for the new line created with adult star Mr. Marcus. The urban-targeted line will feature vibrators accented by gemstones and lubes offered in what Braverman called "urban flavors," such as cocoa butter.
And smaller companies also were on hand to show off several new products made with the techie and luxury-focused consumer in mind. OhMiBod founder Suki showed XBIZ her new G-spot vibe that synchs up with any MP3 player, as well as her brand-new bullet vibe, the BodyTalk Escort, which can be synched up to buzz along with a cellphone call at three different settings.
And Greg DeLong of Njoy — the company responsible for making dildos sleek enough to pass for modern art — showed off his new polished stainless steel Njoy 11, an extra-long, extra-thick version of its original Pure Wand. He told XBIZ that the new toy was inspired in part by adult superstar Nina Hartley, who wanted a heftier Njoy toy to play with.
The Njoy 11 is the company's first hollow toy, DeLong said, making it more affordable and easier to handle. If it were solid, he said, it might be too heavy for some customers.
And as always, all of Njoy's art-inspired toys, including the extra-large Pure Plug, are curved for G-spot use for both men and women.
"We don't like straight," DeLong said. "All the good stuff is on a curve."