LOS ANGELES — XBIZ is pleased to announce the expanded XBIZ Retail 2012 Advisory Board, which now includes bellwethers from the online retail and wholesale/distribution sectors who have joined forces with the show's Founding Board of top retail chain executives.
The inaugural XBIZ Retail Expo & Conference featured a founding advisory board that includes: Bob Christian of Adam & Eve Stores, Rondee Kamins of Adultmart/GVA-TWN, Mark Franks of Castle Megastore, Ed Braunstein of Deluxe Distributors, Hustler Hollywood’s Theresa Flynt, The Lion’s Den’s Shelly Sandau and Steve Brown of Romantix.
To reflect the expanded focus of XBIZ Retail 2012 — which is to cater to “all things adult retail” — XBIZ has widened the scope of its advisory board to include two additional market segments, online retail and wholesale/distribution.
The updated XBIZ Retail Expo Advisory Board is visible on the newly launched event website, XBIZRetailExpo.com.
XBIZ Retail's Online Retail board members include Andrew Sullivan of Gamelink, Joel Kaminsky of Good Vibrations, Dave Levine of SexToy.com, and Jax Smith of SugarDVD.
“I am extremely pleased to be named to the XBIZ Retail Advisory Board,” Good Vibrations President Joel Kaminsky said. “I look forward to working with others in assisting in making this Retail Expo the most outstanding and most meaningful adult event to date.”
SexToy.com and CNV.com owner Dave Levine, aka “SexToy Dave” adds, “It’s an honor to have been selected to offer our advice to XBIZ Retail Expo. We will use our 17 years of adult e-commerce experience to make this a great event.”
SugarDVD CEO Jax Smith has previously participated in the XBIZ LA digital media conference and brings his expertise to XBIZ Retail.
"The L.A. conference has always been a great place for new business ideas,” Smith said. “This year, with all the changes going on in the retail market, it will be more exciting than ever. I'm looking forward to participating in this year’s XBIZ Retail conference. There are great new opportunities opening up every day in the retail market. It's important to keep learning and the XBIZ Retail Expo is the perfect place to do this."
Andrew Sullivan, vice president of online operations for online retailer Gamelink, also brings a wealth of knowledge to the XBIZ Retail Advisory Board.
“I am very excited to work with XBIZ to help map the very dynamic landscape of online retail and to hone strategies that will help our industry both succeed and innovate in the digital marketplace,” Sullivan said.
XBIZ Retail's Wholesale/Distribution Advisory Board includes Larry Garland of Eldorado, Ken Sahn of Holiday Products, Bonnie Feingold of Honey’s Place, Brian H. and Frank K. of IVD/ECN, Phyllis Heppenstall of Peekay, Ari Suss of Sex Toy Distributing, and Bob Pyne Jr. of Williams Trading Co.
"I am extremely excited to be part of the ongoing efforts of XBIZ," Heppenstall said. “XBIZ has been the leader for many years in providing the very best wealth of information to retailers and all in the adult industry. They are always looking for ways of improving —thank you XBIZ for all you do. Together we all will do better."
Williams Trading Co.’s Bob Pyne, Jr., adds, “I am honored to be included on the XBIZ Retail Board for the January 2012 XBIZ Retail show. I feel that with some of the top owners and executives in the adult market on this board, we can put together a forum that will be informative and beneficial to all retailers that attend the show.”
Larry Garland, Eldorado’s CEO and founder, participated in XBIZ Retail 2011 as a panel moderator and says he’s pleased to return as an XBIZ Retail Advisory Board member.
“It’s an honor to be named an XBIZ Retail board member,” Garland said. “Working with our industry leaders is always a very positive experience and I look forward to making a worthwhile contribution to the XBIZ Retail Board that will benefit novelty and lingerie retailers worldwide.”
Similarly, Holiday Products’ Ken Sahn is excited to participate in the planning of the XBIZ Retail Expo & Conference.
“I am looking forward to working with the board to help make this a world-class trade show,” Sahn said. Brian Herbstman of IVD/ECN adds, “I am very excited to be part of the XBIZ Retail Show. It’s an honor for me to have even been asked.”
Ari Suss, president of adult specialty distributor Sex Toy Distributing, said, “I am proud to represent SexToyDistributing.com at the XBIZ event and answer questions relating to online marketing, business management, operations and planning.”
Honey’s Place President and CEO Bonnie Feingold also will share her vast industry knowledge in collaboration with the XBIZ Retail Advisory Board.
“It is an honor to be involved with the XBIZ Retail Advisory Board,” she said. “XBIZ is a very valuable resource for our industry. I look forward to working with all of the other professionals who make up this board.”
XBIZ Retail exhibitors will consist of novelty manufacturers, lingerie, video, books as well as distributors and business solution/service providers.
It also will include the industry-leading trade show staple components that have become synonymous with XBIZ brand B2B events, including world-class seminars, innumerable opportunities for networking with industry leaders, keynote speeches and special events.
The 2012 XBIZ Retail Expo will bring together all segments of the adult retail marketplace, including e-tailers, home party organizers, wholesalers and manufacturers of all types of adult goods for an event unlike any other.
“On behalf of the entire XBIZ staff, I’d like to welcome the new Online Retail and Wholesale/Distribution segments of the XBIZ Retail Advisory Board and thank the Founding Board of retail chain leaders for all their support,” XBIZ founder and Publisher Alec Helmy said. “The expanded advisory board is a reflection of the broad and dynamic nature of the retail market and their valuable input will contribute to achieving the most comprehensive adult retail trade event to date.”
XBIZ Retail Expo follows the ANME Founders Show at the Burbank Airport Marriot Hotel in Burbank, Calif., will be held in conjunction with the highly anticipated 10th annual XBIZ Awards and the 2012 XBIZ LA digital media conference.
The 2012 XBIZ Awards marks the 10th anniversary of adult entertainment's biggest industry awards show.
For more information, visit XBIZRetailExpo.com.
