profile

WIA Profile: Ruth Blair

How did you get into the business?

Inadvertently! I was living in Canada at the time and I hooked up with a small marketing company selling various herbal supplements online. One of the supplements was a penis enlargement pill. Evaluating the best market for such pills inevitably pulled us toward the adult market, and ultimately the online adult industry.

The kind of work I do is able to be done remotely, which in turn allows me to work from wherever I want in the world.

What in your background prepared you for what you are doing now?

Working for Paxum has been a dream come true so far. I adore the people I work with, and I love bringing in new business. Helping new and existing clients to use our services to their best advantage is incredibly satisfying. My background is varied; I was born and raised in England where I worked with animals for a time before landing a position working in the Inheritance Tax division of the Inland Revenue (U.K.’s tax service). During that time I also worked online part-time for NBC’s Talkcity as a chat forum moderator. After moving to Canada I also did a lot of volunteering for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Habitat for Humanity, assisting with a multitude of office tasks and various fundraising events. Throughout my career I’ve learned how to develop lasting business relationships with both clients and colleagues. Quite frankly I believe that ability, along with consistently delivering the best service possible, are the key assets I bring to my role at Paxum.

What do you see as the challenges of working in the adult online business? How do you overcome them?

I find the same challenges in the adult online industry as one would find in any business; attracting and keeping customers, maintaining good quality service, growing your market reach, branding, and constantly improving your service/product, etc. Besides those obvious challenges, I’d say one of the biggest challenges I have personally faced was being a parent and working in the online adult industry. I don’t mind people knowing what I do for a living, and my daughter has always been aware, but with a child in school where judgments from other parents, teachers, and children can seriously affect normal development, I found I had to be cautious about exposing my line of work. My daughter is now almost 22 though, so thankfully it’s no longer a personal challenge.

Does your work life affect your personal life?

Very much so, but in a good way. The kind of work I do is able to be done remotely, which in turn allows me to work from wherever I want in the world. As long as there is a solid Internet connection where I happen to be, then I can get online and I can work! I’m typing this to you from Mexico, where I currently live on the Riviera Maya. I suppose I have a bit of wanderlust inside me since I do enjoy living in different lands. Thankfully my work gives me that freedom.

Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Rebranding Sexual Wellness Through a Self-Care Approach

As most of us in the industry already know, sexual wellness remains the black sheep of self-care. Discussions about wellness glorify meditation apps, skincare routines and workout regimens — but mention masturbation or using a sex toy, and most people shy away from the topic.

Hail Groo ·
profile

WIA Profile: Leah Koons

If you’ve been to an industry event lately, odds are you’ve heard Leah Koons even before you’ve seen her. As Fansly’s director of marketing, Koons helps steer one of the fastest-growing creator platforms on the web.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

Why Sex Toy Innovation Isn't What Shoppers Want Right Now

During my first year in the industry, the luxury vibrator on shelves was LELO’s Gigi, priced at $109. It was made with high-quality silicone, boasted an ergonomic design, a travel lock and a warranty. Soon after, Je Joue released its first product, SaSi, which employed “rolling ball” movements to simulate oral sex.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
opinion

What France's New Law Means for Age Verification Worldwide

When France implemented its Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law on April 11, it marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing global debate surrounding online safety and access to adult content.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

How Adult Retailers Can Enhance Sales With Supplements

The supplement industry is big business. In 2024, Future Market Insights estimated it to be valued at $74.3 billion, and other market research firms anticipate that number will grow to upwards of $170 billion in just 10 years.

Rick Magana ·
opinion

From Tariffs to Trends: Staying Resilient in a Shaky Online Adult Market

Whenever I check in with clients these days, I encounter the same concerns. For many, business has not quite bounced back after the typical post-holiday-season slowdown. Instead, consumers have been holding back due to the economic uncertainty around the Trump administration’s new tariffs and their impact on prices.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Why It's Time the Pleasure Industry Got Serious About IPX Waterproof Ratings

As someone who regularly communicates with manufacturers, retailers and consumers, I’ve seen how this ambiguity can do a disservice to both the customers who use these products and the businesses that sell them.

Alicia Sinclair Rosen ·
opinion

Optimizing Payment Strategies for High Ticket Sales

Payment processing for more expensive items, such as those exceeding $1,000 per order, can create unique challenges. For adult businesses, those challenges are magnified. Increased fraud risk, elevated chargeback ratios and heavier scrutiny from banks and processors are only the beginning.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Tips for Sexual Wellness Brands to Win Over Gen Z This Summer

As summer rolls around, the excitement in the air is palpable, especially for one particular demographic: Gen Z. College and university classes are over, vacations are booked and it’s time to let loose.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

Celebrating the LGBTQ+ Community With Inclusive Packaging Design

Pride Month is a time of visibility, joy and self-expression. In the pleasure industry, projecting that energy can start with something as simple as a box. Market research shows that 72% of U.S. consumers say product packaging influences their purchasing decisions.

Matthew Spindler ·
Show More