Whether to impress a partner or get the most out of every sexual experience, male enhancement, or the improvement of male sexual function and performance, becomes appealing to some men once they become sexually active.
The mention of male sexual enhancement almost immediately calls to mind supplements. With the Food and Drug Administration on a warpath against male sexual enhancement supplements, the brands that have withstood, have refined their formulas and marketing approach.
Men are definitely using more sexual aids than ever before. Much of this is due to women bringing sexual aids into the bedroom via inspiration from ’Fifty Shades of Grey’ and other media influences. —Sunny Rodgers, Doc Johnson
The challenges retailers face when marketing men’s sexual enhancement supplements is the constant turnover and repercussions of selling illegally spiked pills,” said Keith Caggiano, president of SOBO Products and the Rock On line. “While the rest of the adult retail industry has evolved in sophistication, styling and education, the pill section remains a rogues gallery of suspicious brands that come and go as they get pinched by the feds.
“While FDA recalls are burdensome to retailers and distributors alike, not complying with them can put the stores in a situation of fines, confiscations, with them now put on a watch list. What is a retailer to do? One thing retailers can do is market to the positive trends in the marketplace to help supplement their supplement business,” Caggiano says. “The massive consumer movement towards sexual health and wellness and healthy supplementation are growth areas in most stores and match the higher standards of today’s stores, staff and perception. That was the goal when reinventing the Rock On line of premium sexual vitality supplements, is to appeal to an expanding new category while supplementing the existing one, pun intended.”
Beamonstar Products has become a reputable supplier of sexual enhancement supplements for men, women and couples since 2006, when the company began manufacturing and distributing ExtenZe. The company’s most recent product releases include Magic Mike for men and Nyagra — a sexual enhancer for women, which according to Beamonstar Products President Jeff Bolanos, is the next big trend to influence the market.
“The popularity of ‘Fifty Shades’ has made it more acceptable for women to express themselves sexually,” Bolanos said. “Women are becoming more likely to be ahead of their mate when it comes to their desires and curious. Nyagra is a product that speaks to those women that want to experience full-body orgasms and possibly even squirt.”
According to Bolanos, ejaculating is most commonly associated with men, however with Nyagra, women have the opportunity to share in the experience.
“Sexual supplements can be used by men and women, alone or together,” Bolanos said.
According to Caggiano, the perception of men’s sexual enhancement supplement products has changed from the early days when Viagra first hit.
“The perception then was that these are products for the elderly and the common male ego would never let the average man admit that this was something the needed or used, at least not openly anyways,” Caggiano said. “Today that has changed, the willingness of men of all ages to want to supplement their sexual performance has almost reached the level of recreational and is as much a part of the pre-date to-do list as having some drinks.”
Caggiano said that the target demographic for Rock On is “the new educated, sexual health and wellness consumer and the forward thinking retailers that have already begun to market to this consumer.”
Sexual enhancement supplements promise a variety of results, ranging from situation-specific boosts in vitality to long-term improved performance.
According to Bolanos, there is a 50-50 split between preferences.
“Some men want to feel secure all the time so they’ll take SexVoltz or ExtenZe daily,” he said. “We also offer a pill for instant results called Magic Mike — this will make him a star in the bedroom within an hour of consumption.”
Rock On took a sexual health-focused approach to its formulating.
“There are a lot of natural herbs, vitamins and minerals that have been known for ages to offer positive sexual advantages in the bedroom,” Caggiano said. “With Rock On the goal was to start with the most comprehensive list of these ingredients as well as supplement the body for performance the way an athlete would. Many of these herbs and ingredients work on different principles in the body some work very quickly and others become more effective over time and continued supplementation. This is one of the main factors in designing a complete once daily male or female formula. These formulas are design to naturally optimize the body’s ability to do what it is designed to do and also support the prescription products they take as well.”
Sexual enhancement for men can also be achieved without experimenting with supplements. Pleasure products such as penis pumps and cock rings can provide on-the-spot augmentation.
First developed in the early 20th century, penis pumps have long been a staple in the male products market.
“We have been in the business for over 18 years and have always seen pumping as the best means to attain enlargement and treat erectile dysfunction,” said Charles Nicholson from LA Pumps. “Our business allows us to interact with the customer both by email and telephone as well as our website. Since our inception we have never had a customer who was not happy with their results. I think this makes a strong statement for our products.”
CalExotics, a major manufacturer of pleasure products for men, women and couples, says that with its philosophy of offering “something for everybody,” its product offerings also cover an expansive selection of men’s toys.
“The Dr. Joel Kaplan Collection by California Exotic Novelties is one of our most popular lines with a focus on men’s sexual health and performance,” CalExotics founder and president Susan Colvin said. “It’s known for pumps and prostate products and is a brand that men trust.”
Among the collection’s bestsellers are the Prostate Massager 6.7, Adjustable Extension with Added Girth, and Stroking Power Pump.
CalExotics’ Apollo line also consists of pumps, rings and sleeves.
“The Precision Pumps Collection by CalExotics is a state-of-the-art collection with all the features men want,” Colvin said. “Made with state-of-the-art materials, the entire Precision Pumps Collection are durable and sturdy.
“Two pumps in the Apollo Collection, the Automatic Power Pump and the Premium Power Pump, are heavy-duty, professional-grade vacuum pumps. The Automatic Pump features an LED, which displays the pressure from in the cylinder. Men who like gadgets love these pumps.”
According to Nicholson, one of the most important keys to success with LA Pump products is the range of sizes available to fit all users.
“By using the correct size the customer gets the full advantage of a system that can attain maximum results,” he said. “Our newest product includes a cylinder that is elliptical in shape and more in tune with the real anatomy of the penis. Our customers tell us that they are getting faster results with this product. Our greatest challenge has been marketing in a category that is overgrown with products of poor quality.”
“Men are definitely using more sexual aids than ever before,” Doc Johnson Marketing Director Sunny Rodgers said. “Much of this is due to women bringing sexual aids into the bedroom via inspiration from ’Fifty Shades of Grey’ and other media influences.”
To address men’s interest in men’s sexual wellness, Doc Johnson offers OptiMALE, a 30-piece line of go-to items for “modern men looking to improve their sexual health and function.”
For increased masculinity and attraction, Doc Johnson has formulated 10 naturally derived personal care products, including creams, sprays and gels for “‘OptiMALE’ wellness.”
“To achieve optimal performance for extended sessions, So Hard is an alcohol-free genital desensitizer, available as both a Delay Cream and Delay Spray,” Rodgers said. “So Big Plumping Cream enhances sexual performance by creating thicker, fuller, and bigger erections. A safe and effective Deodorant Spray that does it all, So Fresh is a naturally derived formula that enhances the body’s production of pheromones while soothing Tea Tree Oil keeps users smelling fresh and feeling clean.”
Even Beamonstar Products has started venturing into supporting sexual enhancement with non-ingestible products. The company recently launched a “ToyZ” line that pairs items such as penis extenders and cock rings with its signature brands such as SexVoltz and XploZion.
“It’s all about boosting a man’s confidence,” Bolanos said. “Sometimes it takes supplementing your vitality with pills, sometimes it’s trying out other options."
