LOS ANGELES — XBIZ is pleased to announce that the Winter Edition of its exclusive event for global adult retail market leaders will return to the Andaz West Hollywood on Jan. 13-17.
The all-inclusive, invite-only XBIZ Retreat connects leading retail vendors and buyers for one-on-one private meetings and exclusive networking opportunities, while offering a VIP experience that includes dinners and evening entertainment.
XBIZ Associate Publisher Sara Ramirez said that January’s XBIZ Retreat is already amassing a growing list of participants from international markets.
“XBIZ Retreat provides the perfect platform to start the year off with a bang by introducing the newest product releases and services,” Ramirez said. “With XBIZ Retreat’s ever-growing assembly of top vendors and buyers, our upcoming edition is poised to be the biggest to date.”
Participants of the Winter Edition of XBIZ Retreat also get access to a multitude of festivities surrounding the XBIZ 2020 events series, including the annual XBIZ Exec Awards — which will return as part of the inaugural XBIZ Honors ceremony.
Announced earlier this month, XBIZ Honors will recognize the year’s XBIZ Exec Awards nominees along with select categories from the flagship XBIZ Awards show. XBIZ Honors is set for Jan. 15.
“Every year, attendees of our January show have the opportunity to enjoy nightly dinners as well as special events such as the Exec Awards and the famed XBIZ Awards,” Ramirez said. “For 2020, we’re excited to introduce an upgraded celebration with XBIZ Honors, which will spotlight the year’s top business leaders alongside pleasure product and retail categories that will shine together on stage.”
With a successful return to Berlin last month for the second European edition of XBIZ Retreat, international buyers and vendors are already anticipating the winter edition.
“I went to XBIZ Retreat in L.A. and now I’m addicted,” said Claudia Sousa, owner of Red Feelings in Portugal. “I can talk directly with brand representatives and tell them my thoughts, plus I can also give them feedback from consumers because I’m still doing home parties. This can help them with what they’re doing.”
Regarding her second time attending XBIZ Retreat Berlin, Danielle Seerley, senior sales executive at Voodoo Toys said, “I really like the assortment of customers here because they’re all new to us. I think it’s a good dynamic. I like that it’s a small group because it makes it more intimate. Our goal is to secure regions but not oversaturate the market. I want to be more strategic because there are a lot of distributors and it’s better to not have them all carrying the same stuff.”
ABS Holdings head of global sales Justin Vickers said, “It’s nice to have the one-on-one time because you get to talk about what you want to talk about. It’s not like doing a big spiel in front of a group in your booth. If someone wants to talk about more private things, they also have that option too because there’s no one else around. You meet the people that make the decisions. I think it’s also fun to do all the meals together because it’s not always about selling, it’s about building a relationship, and [XBIZ Retreat] helps to establish that trust.”
Regarding her attendance at this year’s XBIZ Retreat Miami, Jade Leon, operations manager, Clandestine Devices, said, “It's really hard to choose a favorite [XBIZ Retreat Miami] event when I found each of the experiences equally remarkable. Being able to experience art in the making by Avi Ram from the TV show ‘Skin Wars’ right before our eyes at Alec's suite party, eating at Barton G., where you couldn't wait to see what extravagant food would light up our night, to acting like a kid again playing games at the beach.”
“I think the events are very helpful to be able to socialize on a different level,” Lisa Strong, head buyer of Tokyo Valentino. “It is hard to meet colleagues while running all around but at the events you get to relax and meet more new people. All these things help to build relationships because, while yes, we are all there to get our jobs done — but too much work and not enough enjoyment and relaxation is not good for the soul.”
“XBIZ Retreat is a fantastic, well-organized show with a range of products available,” said Jon Davis, buying and merchandising manager of ABS Holdings. “It’s great to sit down and have meetings where we often only email due to time and distance restrictions.”
“XBIZ Retreat is a perfect balance between business and pleasure, giving every participant a great chance to learn about new trends and network with industry colleagues,” said Lenny Balshen, president and founder of WestMarket LLC. “Thanks a lot, XBIZ team!”
“The XBIZ Retreat is a wonderful and well-thought-out retreat for companies such as ours,” CB-X director of sales Michael Tullis said. “I have attended three over the last nine months and have enjoyed each one (Miami, Berlin and Los Angeles). It is truly the most efficient ways to see most of the serious buyers in the industry in a quick and professional manner. I don't need to cold-call and be a pest or bother, but rather I have their attention for an acceptable amount of time needed to present our products and story. For a niche product like ours, there just isn't a better way to present the product.”
“I love how going to XBIZ Retreat feels like a family reunion more than a business event, and yet it is more productive than any other regular trade show,” Lovense’s Joris Guisado said. “The quality of the relationships I have developed over the past few events makes The XBIZ Retreat my first B2B choice.”
“XBIZ Retreat is always a great event that provides us the environment to do business, make partners and friends with excellent organization, meetings and networking opportunities,” said Alejandra Preciado of Fantasias Boutique. “The venue, vendors and the activities were great.”
For more information, visit XBIZRetreat.com.
