educational

Porn Syndicate

When you hear the word cartel, what comes to mind? Drugs? Dangerous men with large guns?

Well, the word cartel actually means "a combination of business firms to control production and marketing and to avoid competing with one another." With this in mind, Javier C. and Alex Ladd, the principals of DVSX, joined forces with Empire Video Distributor President Roy Karch, and XCartel was born.

"XCartel is the perfect name for us," Javier C. said. "It's all about independent individuals coming together, united in a common cause. In this case, it just so happens that the cause is porn." It was no coincidence that Karch (not to be mistaken for the director with the same name) Javier C. and Ladd came together on the project.

Karch had decided to start a production company to complement his wholesale distribution company, Empire Video. About the same time, Javier C. and Ladd toyed with the idea of venturing out to build on their own empire. The trio knew each other through the industry, so when Karch suggested teaming up, all three had that "aha!" moment, realizing that their shared goals meant it was more than just a passing conversation.

They didn't waste any time improvising a business model that defies industry standards. While many directors sell their own product, the scenario creates huge responsibilities, often in areas that lie outside a director's expertise. Marketing and distribution take time and energy away from focusing on production. According to Adam Jay, XCartel's head of production, it puts directors in a position of constantly working overtime to get the job done right and cover all the bases. In the end, the product suffers.

XCartel takes care of the problem, Jay says, by doing all the grunt work for its directors.

"Our combined experience, in all aspects of the industry, allows our partner filmmakers to concentrate on making movies and leave the heavy lifting to us," Jay tells XBIZ. "The three partners are very connected with the whole distribution stream from distributors to retailers to even the end user. So I think we have a nice grasp of what is salable — from concept to packaging — and that we have the ability to take that information and put it to good use on the filmmaker's behalf."

The premise is simple: With veteran Ed Kail heading the sales staff, a warehouse to store the movies and the ability to ship out easily, XCartel can move more of a director's product than he could alone. To make the setup even more appetizing for filmmakers, they are allowed to keep ownership of their own work. This bottom line is less headache for more pay.

"We've run into a lot of extremely talented directors who want to control their own destiny," Ladd said. "But they don't necessarily have the expertise in sales, marketing and distribution. With XCartel, they can concentrate their energies on doing what they do best — making movies."

Getting the company off the ground hasn't been a breeze. In particular, the company faced one major struggle along the way — finding reliable directors who can afford to produce their own movies on a regular basis. So Javier C. and Ladd worked overtime to seek out talented directors and content providers, introduce themselves and build relationships.

With that hurdle cleared, XCartel can now concentrate on putting the same effort into sales and support of the DVDs it distributes as its directors put into creating them. "It's important that the quality of the packaging reflects the quality inside," he says.

The three principals also are trying to make a difference in the industry in other ways; for example, by treating directors with honesty and respect.

"If we can become known for that and become a haven for filmmakers who want a fair shake, then we would be very proud," Jay says. "Hopefully that kind of business practice would reflect well on the industry as a whole."

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

Mitigating Retail Shrink Through Intelligent Video Solutions

Retail shrink isn’t just a cost of doing business — it’s an existential threat. Theft, fraud, operational inefficiencies and employee mismanagement chip away at profits in ways that many business owners don’t even realize.

Sean Quinn ·
opinion

The Power of Authenticity in Selling Pleasure Products

I’ve been working in the pleasure industry for more than two decades. For a significant chunk of that time, I thought that to be successful in sales, I had to fit a mold. I assumed that selling meant following a formula: say the right things, use the right voice and present myself in a way that was guaranteed to convert.

Kimberly Scott Faubel ·
profile

Dennis DeSantis on Building a Blockbuster Career in Adult Retail

The adult industry and the mainstream Hollywood scene often intersect, and few executives are more familiar with that crossover than Dennis DeSantis.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

'Pleasure Professionals Place' Facebook Group Marks 5 Years of Fostering Connections

Where can you find the pleasure industry’s most tantalizing, trending and relevant conversational banter? For once, we’re not talking about a trade show after-party!

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

How Cannabis Culture Is Reshaping Sexual Wellness, Pleasure

April is a month of celebration: Lovers Day, Earth Day… and 4/20. Once a subculture symbol, “420” has evolved into a movement that bridges cannabis advocacy, wellness and an increasingly vital discussion around sexual health and pleasure.

Ian Kulp ·
profile

Lea Lexis On Challenging the Porn Status Quo

Lea Lexis doesn’t just aim to make movies — she wants to craft experiences. Bending the rules of what’s possible in moviemaking with the precision of a true auteur, the performer-turned-Brazzers producer has helped shape some of the industry’s most striking and boundary-pushing productions.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

WIA Profile: Holly Corbella

Even during last year’s retail slump, the adult home party business continued to rock and roll — at least in New Jersey. Just ask Holly Corbella. Based in the Garden State, Corbella is the founder, CEO and lead party planner for Parties by Bellas, an intimate, in-home sex toy event company focusing on creating budget-friendly home parties for women on the East Coast.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Friday Bae Founder Benoit Palix Discusses Brand's Gen Z Focus

French sexual wellness brand Friday Bae is aiming to disrupt the market with its genderfluid, inclusive pleasure products. With bright pops of color for Gen Z and millennials to swoon over, Friday Bae is merging creativity and education for fans, dubbed the “Bae Squad.”

Namma Karp ·
profile

Self Serve's Matie Fricker on Promoting Sex-Positivity in Albuquerque

For 18 years, Self Serve has been providing a sex-positive space for adult toys and resources to folks in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The story behind its success is all about making connections: connecting with your passion, with your business partner, with your customers, with your staff and with your community.

Justin Goodrum ·
opinion

Why Inclusivity in the Pleasure Industry Is More Important Than Ever

2025 has kicked off with a series of unsettling events. Tension and anxiety are high across North America as the unknown impact of tariffs, climate change and attacks on human rights loom ominously. In times of unrest, seeking pleasure is not frivolity but necessity.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
Show More