LAS VEGAS — Serving up its usual mix of product showcases and special events, the spring edition of the International Lingerie Show came to a close yesterday, after introducing attendees to a wide range of new lingerie and toys.
Held at the Rio Hotel and Casino, ILS kicked off its three-day run on Monday, ending the evening with a fashion show that featured reality TV star/model “Coco” as a guest MC as she debuted her new Cocolicious brand of lingerie made by Rene Rofe. Coco and husband, rapper/actor Ice T made an appearance at the company’s trade show booth.
“After I started the CocoLicious line of toys [from CalExotics], I felt like it was the natural thing to move into the lingerie category,” Coco told XBIZ. “I helped to design it — or ‘Coco-fy’ as I like to call it. I took clothes from my clothes and found ways to make them better. I wanted a line that wasn’t just good for the bedroom or a nightclub and to make it affordable — you can’t find anything like this at any regular lingerie store.”
According to Coco, the line is made to fit women of any size. “The line is made for any body type — from the curvy girl to the skinny girl.”
The 22-piece collection is comprised of fishnet string bikinis, seamless dresses, tops, skirts, and leggings with sexy slashes and cutouts, bad-ass bras, body stockings, panties and thigh-highs. Coco said that every piece has a concept, and describes the line as trendy and edgy.
“I didn’t want to design a regular lingerie line — you won’t find any baby dolls here,” Coco said. “I also incorporated Ice’s feedback, and he likes to see me in edgier pieces — so you can say this line is ‘Ice & Coco’-approved.”
The main draw of the Baci Lingerie and Envy Menswear booth was the company’s latest releases, including new additions to Baci’s White Label collection — which were on display. Additionally, Baci Lingerie’s booth also featured After Dark hosiery, Dreams bedroom costumes and hosiery, eyelashes and Masq fashion masks. For retailers, Baci also showcased its planogram displays, and is now offering a new products supplement for 2015.
Envy Menswear’s new male model Ajdin Sefer, aka “Mr. Envy,” was on hand at the company’s booth. The Bosnian-born model is featured on the packaging and promotional materials for the new Envy menswear product release.
“A lot of guys came in [for the model casting] but when he came in, he stood out,” said Helle Panzieri, International sales director. “His personality came in before him. He’s very personable — and then he got into the underwear."
The chiseled 24-year-old played the role of "lead man" on Lady Gaga's “G.U.Y” music video.
Within the Williams Trading Co. booth, Body Arts Ink offered free samples of its range of body tattoos that include seven styles of “VagTats” and nipple tattoos, along with larger designs for the torso and back. The tattoos can last for up to 6 days.
“They’re better quality than other brands,” said Khara Cartenga of Body Arts Ink. “Our ink is certified as being non-toxic and we use better printing.”
Also within the Williams Trading Co. booth, Nasstoys debuted its new range of rechargeable Amore vibes and the line of Ravishing Rabbits.
“These lines have been getting a really good response,” Nasstoys’ Lisa Caffrey said. “They’re really affordable — not everybody wants to buy an expensive vibrator.”
Stopping by the Williams Trading booth was Channel Marketing Group CEO Robert Jury and Brad Yeager, the company’s vice president of new business development. Channel Marketing Group was started after years of Jury’s experience supplying electronics for Groupon Goods section. Now the company supplies pleasure products to the daily deal website.
“Some of the brands we’ve brought to Groupon are Nasstoys, Pipedream, Doc Johnson, NS Novelties, Shibari Wands, Jimmyjane and Wet,” Jury said. “Groupon is currently selling around 100-140 products on its site.”
Williams Trading launched its Cloud 9 Novelties’ Pro Sensual Series of anal plugs featuring the Double Dare at ILS. The Pro Sensual Series is the newest addition to the Cloud 9 family of products. The products use the highest grade of silicone, are phthalate free and offer unique cloud textures that create sensations during anal play.
Industry vet Kim Airs attended ILS for the first time as Topco’s newest sales executive.
“I always love coming to this show,” Airs said. “It’s such a pleasant mix of vendors, buyers and distributors. It’s great to get our products in front of people and support our distributors — we’re showcasing different items and different distributor booths. Topco has about 800 products, several of which many people have become familiar with and others that have new packaging.
IVD and ECN had a large booth with walls of planogram displays for new collections and bestsellers from more than 20 manufacturers. Among the products on display was OVO Lifestyle Toys, which showcased new rechargeable items, and the company’s launch of its new couple’s rings campaigns.
Dana DiValli, OVO Lifestyle Toys global sales manager, said that the new campaign featuring the slogan “Missing Something?” is intended to spotlight couples’ rings as essential for lovers rather than just for men.
“We’re hoping to breathe new life into the category,” she said.
OVO’s selection of rings includes 13 styles. Additionally, the brand showcased new U.S.-made displays featuring interchangeable product holders and signs that can be mounted onto the wall or set on a countertop.
Vibratex unveiled the company’s latest edition of the Magic Wand massager, which has been a popular item among consumers for the past 30 years. Boasting several new features, the Magic Wand has four power intensities, four vibration patterns and a silicone head. It can also be used while plugged in.
XGEN Products presented 15 new additions to the line of Lapdance lingerie, clubwear and shoes, as well as debuted a new multifunction collection of Bodywand vibrators.
The Home Pleasure Party Plan Association (HPPPA) hosted a 10-year anniversary celebration for members and supporters. Pipedream, CalExotics, Sportsheets, Doc Johnson, Classic Erotica and Forbidden Kiss sponsored the exclusive event.
Within the company’s booth, Adult Drop Shipper Director Jamie Horne showcased the company’s range of e-commerce, web solutions, non/affiliate programs, data feeds and drop shipping products, which include the websites: AdultDropShipper.com, AdultDropShop.com, MyFreeSexStore.com and MySexyWishlist.com. The sites are backed by IVD, ECN and XGEN, which are widely considered the largest distributors of adult products and lingerie in the industry.
Erosscia is an item that turns a Sonicare toothbrush into a vibrator. The bulbous attachment is body-safe, hygienic and compatible with all personal lubricants. According to the company, the discreet design hides in plain sight.
“It’s so convenient because it takes something that you already have laying around the house rather than having to buy a whole other item,” Erosscia’s Genea Martell said.
BDGI’s first couples’ pleasure product, the Lover’s Dream, made its debut at ILS. The vibe is the first product from founder and designer Lawrence Mark, and features body safe silicon, three vibrating motors, five modes, three speeds, is water resistant and rechargeable.
BDGI’s Michael Bassett said the company’s aim at ILS was to pick up distributors and retailers, and that overall it had been a success. Regarding plans for the line’s expansion, Bassett said, “his and her toys are coming soon."
Maia Toys debuted new packaging for its range of pleasure products for men and men. Mara Epstein, the company’s director of sales, said that the company also recently expanded with the addition of industry vet Lorraine Weinberg and the social media management services of Rob Walker, founder of Mutant Capitalist.
“We’re making boxes with flaps and without to serve the varying needs of retailers,” she said. “We’re looking forward to debuting many new products this year. We’re going to have a big lineup at ANME.”
Peter Greico, founder of the Eurotique brand of corsets, showcased the company’s latest designs made of Nubu leather.
“It looks and feels like suede but it’s not,” he said, showing off the details of the company’s latest designs of steampunk fashion styles.
Next to the Eurotique booth, tyes.by.tara showcased the company’s latest release of bondage harnesses and thigh tyes. Company founder Tara Christine said that the new releases have been doing really well and that tyes.by.tara’s recent redesign of its packaging has also helped boost sales.
“We’ve gotten an excellent response to the new packaging,” she said. “The boxes give it a more boutique-y vibe.”
With its typical expansive booth, Eldorado showcased several of the brands that it carries with manufacturer reps on hand to promote and offer information on their brands.
“For the Eldorado team, ILS has been phenomenal,” Eldorado’s CEO Larry Garland said. “We’ve been busy every minute of the show.”
Sexologist Megan Andelloux, executive director of The Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health (The CSPH) was stationed in Eldorado’s booth to showcase her favorite pleasure products.
Andelloux’s top toy picks, featured items from Je Joue, Sportsheets, We-Vibe, Spareparts, WETFORHER and more. She offered attendees information regarding the benefits of using sexual enhancement devices from a pleasure and health perspective, and discussed how to lead conversations with customers to find them the best products for their needs.
International Amusement displayed a modern all-digital video arcade system for retailers called the Connected Arcade System, aka CAS II.
“No more DVD players, no more having to change DVDs,” said Lance Bacigalupo, the company’s executive VP. “We started selling them this year and already some of our customers are reporting a 20 percent increase in sales. This is the only arcade system that takes credit cards.”
According to Bacigalupo, the company hopes to appeal to millennials with touch screen navigation features and a variety of search functions.
“With this booth you’re seeing the movie the way it was designed to be watched,” he said. “We are also working on 3D booths that will take virtual sex to the next level.”
HUSTLER Lingerie showcased its newest erotic fashion styles and pleasure products from HUSTLER Toys, alongside other items available from online wholesaler ElectricDistro.com.
“ILS was great for us,” Electric Eel President Elan Rofe said, “We picked up new distributors, received a lot of good feedback and wrote a lot of orders. Buyers are the most impressed by our prices.”
Shibari Wands had 52 items on display at its booth. Shibari debuted three intimate moisturizer formulas: Silicone, Hemp, and Kiwi, all in 8-ounce sizes. In addition to its two flagship vibrators, the HALO and the My Wand 10X, Shibari’s vibrator line has also been expanded to include three new five-inch vibrators, as well as its four-inch miniature Blings, all with 10X pulsation patterns. All rechargeable Shibari Wands can be used with a travel converter/adapter compliant with international voltage requirements.
With company reps from the British brand Nexus Range on hand, Nalpac showcased the Nexus Revo Intense, a rechargeable, rotating prostate massager to the adult novelty, along with the brand’s other latest releases.
"It was great to show our latest items to Nalpac's existing and potential customers and experience their response first hand,” said Monique Carty, Nexus director.
