Full-body restraint benches, handcuff-bedecked sex couches and dragon-shaped dildos once seemed like the stuff of dimly lit, back-alley porn stores, but not so much anymore — and definitely not if XR Brands has anything to say about it.
As one of the industry’s go-to manufacturers for kink accessories, XR Brands is known for bringing wild toys and BDSM tools down to earth for the average pleasure product consumer. Over the last few years, the Huntington Beach, California company has launched collections like Creature Cocks, a line of fantasy dongs shaped like unicorn horns, tentacles, and the would-be penises of reptiles and gargoyles; and Heavy Hitters, a selection of weighted, silicone butt plugs to fill up even the most insatiable of anuses.
I thoroughly enjoy diving into the creativity of product design, and I also enjoy perfecting the process of our business.
XR Brands has been around since 1999, but within the last handful of years the manufacturer has significantly increased its team’s industry presence and mainstream reach. XR Brands President Rebecca Weinberg attributes much of the company’s recent growth to the continued normalization of sex in the media.
“Currently, light fetish is literally everywhere and available at practically every retail shop worldwide,” says Weinberg. “Consumers are more kink-curious than ever and are exploring the kink world more than they ever have.
“We are seeing increases in all fetish categories, but especially in furniture and sex position aid items like our Master Series Kinky Couch and Obedience Bench. Our Obedience Chair presale was also hugely successful for us,” Weinberg remarks. “We credit this increased desire for furniture to the now-famous Netflix show, ‘How to Build a Sex Room,’ which opened the eyes of millions of viewers to the existence of these type of room accessories.”
Weinberg has spent 22 years in the pleasure products industry and celebrated her ninth year with XR this year. In 2021, she was named Businesswoman of the Year at the XBIZ Honors. Weinberg says she was incredibly honored to have her hard work behind the scenes brought to light among colleagues and friends, and is now gearing up to continue the same level of dedication in the new year.
“In 2023, we plan to continue refining and improving our packaging and cohesiveness within our lines, while debuting new and innovative collections,” says Weinberg, looking to the near future. “We also will be diving full-force into increasing our U.S. footprint and maintaining our worldwide footprint utilizing our international distribution model.”
Weinberg draws upon knowledge and experience from her days in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley, where she worked for some of the pleasure industry’s pioneering companies. She initially developed a relationship with XR Brands as a customer, then transitioned to a role on the XR sales team, beginning a trajectory that would eventually land her the title of company president.
“The move to XR was not only for a better quality of life, moving from the San Fernando Valley to Huntington Beach, but mainly for the chance to work with a smaller company that was open to change and, quite frankly, not as set in its ways,” Weinberg reflects. “It was definitely the challenge I was looking for.”
After more than two decades, Weinberg knows the retail space like the back of her hand. However, she’s also learned that the various sex toy retail markets can shift in a matter of months.
“There are so many factors changing daily that affect my opinion on the future of retail,” muses Weinberg. “It’s almost like predicting the stock market and then making a prediction per country. In the U.S., brick-and-mortar is growing and thriving. In Europe, retail stores have consolidated considerably and online has boomed. In South Africa, new regulations threaten all business in the country. It’s literally all over the place right now and I don’t think anyone can predict where it’s headed.”
However, if there’s one thing Weinberg can predict, it’s a forever career with XR Brands. Though she’s generally humble when it comes to playing the “president” card, being at the helm of a trusted industry brand brings Weinberg more life satisfaction than she ever could have dreamed when she was some 20 years younger.
“I thoroughly enjoy diving into the creativity of product design, and I also enjoy perfecting the process of our business,” she says. “This industry is home for me. Our trade shows are like high school reunions. My colleagues are closer than family and my customers are my friends.”
She credits some of the pleasure industry’s best and brightest for teaching her the — ahem — ropes of the biz. Weinberg says that these folks have gone above and beyond in gifting her their knowledge, time and friendship during her long career journey.
“Of course, my boss, Ari Suss, who believed in me and empowered me to help bring XR to the next level,” says Weinberg. “Scott Watkins for the continuous years of guidance and support, and literally always being a phone call away. Joanie Lee, who introduced me to this industry and has remained not only the best colleague to have, but my best friend since we were teens. Most notably, Autumn O’Bryan took me under her wing, teaching me the trade and showing me what a true professional with unwavering dedication to the craft looks like.”
As another holiday season concludes and we gaze into the new year and the wide-open future of kink retail, Weinberg wants the entire industry to know that XR is always at the ready for its customers, no matter what.
“You can expect continued improvements on packaging, new creative product launches, more focused customer interactions, improved logistics, expanded education of our retailers and, overall, another great year,” Weinberg promises on behalf of the XR Brands team. “2023 will be the year for efficiency, working smarter not harder, improved logistics, increased brand awareness and growth.”
