LOS ANGELES — Lora Haddock DiCarlo, CEO and founder of Lora DiCarlo, and Alexandra Fine, CEO and co-founder of Dame Products, were recently featured on an online panel highlighting developments in the world of sextech, hosted on The Next Web.
Held this past Wednesday, the duo fielded questions from a virtual audience, speaking to a number of topics ranging from stigma, professional challenges, the state of sexual health and wellness during the pandemic, and of course, what the future of sextech might hold.
Questions poured in from participants in real time; others had been submitted in advance. Over the course of approximately an hour-and-a-half, Fine and Haddock DiCarlo took turns answering questions one-by-one, their blurbs of text popping up at intervals throughout the live discussion.
While some were eager to hear what the execs have been up to since quarantine began, Fine and Haddock DiCarlo kept a positive perspective as they shared how the pandemic has affected their respective businesses. For Haddock, as DiCarlo’s events shifted to an online format, she shared that she’s excited about the prospect of more digital opportunities.
“Everyone is getting really creative with various platforms,” she said. “I have a number of podcast and IGTV appearances planned in the next few weeks while we're working from home.”
On a personal note, she continued, “The introverted side of me is really empowered to utilize this time just for me. Being alone has really allowed me to dig a little deeper mentally, emotionally [and] psychologically. Having that alone time can be so good for introspection, self-discovery and exploration.”
Meanwhile, Fine spoke to the widely reported uptick sex toy sales have seen in the past month. “Of course, we expect there are a few factors at play here, but it’s safe to say that the recent changes due to the pandemic are part of this shift. So many aspects of our daily life that make us feel human are not accessible right now; exploring your pleasure is really a great way to feel alive during this strange time.”
Since the "stay-at-home" orders were implemented, Fine says that Dame Products has seen a 30 percent increase in sales since February, along with a higher conversion rate on their site. Sales in certain cities, including Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, New York City and Austin have spiked as well.
Although uncertainty over what’s to come for the industry as a whole looms, Fine nevertheless is looking on the bright side. "In a weird twist, Dame Products and many sex industry brands are uniquely prepared for this moment," she said. "For Dame specifically, in addition to the fact that our business takes place mostly online, we’re also accustomed to coming up with creative solutions when capital isn’t readily available."
Companies that focus on "sexual wellness for women and people with vulvas," she noted, continue to be blocked from advertising on Facebook, Instagram and other platforms, and by such institutions as New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which Dame Products is currently suing.
In fact, responding to another participant’s question, Haddock DiCarlo and Fine were unanimous in saying that the discrimination in advertising that they face is easily the number one thing they’d like to change about the pleasure product industry.
“I wish I could run advertising,” said Fine. “I wish I could more easily spread health[y] sexual narratives and showcase my team’s ingenuity in design. When I was running ads on Facebook, my business was cashflow-positive and growing aggressively. However, Facebook decided that the New York Times article we were using as ad content was inappropriate.”
The concept of stigma came up several times in the conversation, with several questions directed at overcoming the stigma associated with using toys, for men specifically, as well as in relationships, and how it has affected both Dame and Lora DiCarlo on a business front.
For Haddock DiCarlo, a seminal moment for Lora DiCarlo as a company was when the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) rescinded their 2019 CES award, a move that sparked international headlines. Following widespread backlash, the CTA eventually reinstated the award and even welcomed sextech at their 2020 show, officially sanctioning the market segment as part of the larger Health and Wellness category.
One participant touched on the issue of stigma and the potential upsides controversy can have, asking if CES retracting their award was ultimately a net gain for the company.
“The award retraction offered us an opportunity,” Haddock DiCarlo responded. “We were able to work with the CTA and negotiate to reintroduce sextech to an internationally recognized show. This brought about mainstream awareness with respects to the importance of sexual health and wellness and how it intersects with technology. Furthermore, we had stood shoulder-to-shoulder in camaraderie with our competitors and we had all risen together. I call it a win.”
Similarly, Dame Products is no stranger to headlines — its ongoing legal battle with the MTA having garnered mainstream media attention.
“I've had numerous people ask if the lawsuit was better than running the ads due to the additional press,” Fine noted, “and the truth is, it’s complicated."
“The lawsuit [and] press outrage over our challenges does help shed light on the issues. However, the articles about being rejected or treated poorly don't convert into sales as well as articles that highlight the actual innovations we are making. I know that these fights against stigma is what I signed up for, but ultimately I hope to be able to be just a normal business that brings joy to the world.”
On a more poignant note, Fine touched on the deepest affect the stigma against sex, in its largest sense, has had on her business. Prior to launching Dame Products, she said, “I didn't understand how profound the impact would be on my capitalist enterprise. I thought if we build it, they will come and it won't matter that some people will judge me for it. I didn't realize that I'd mostly be barred from many of the resources most American companies receive. I didn't know that might mean I need to lay off more people during a pandemic or that my voice would be shut down on social media platforms, preventing me from sharing my life and mission with people.”
Amongst one of the more popular topics discussed was innovation in the sextech field. Participants were keen to ask the founders how progress has manifested in the industry thus far, as well as what their predictions for the future are.
Topping the list, both Fine and Haddock DiCarlo credit 3D printing as one of the biggest disruptors that’s changed the industry in a substantial way.
“It’s had a big impact on our ability to iterate quickly on designs,” said Fine. Looking forward, Fine says she expects to see more products that incorporate virtual experiences and ones that help partners communicate more efficiently.
“If there is one thing sexuality research has taught me, it’s that humans are diverse and creative,” she added.
For Haddock DiCarlo, aside from Lora DiCarlo's debut stimulator Osé, which uses biomimicry to recreate lifelike sensations, and also has multiple patents pending for new tech, the future is full of exciting possibilities.
“Coming from a healthcare background,” she said, “I am really excited about the utilization of sensor tech and giving folks the power to analyze how they react physiologically to stimulation.”
“Liz Klinger of Lioness is breaking ground [in that field] and doing a beautiful job,” she added.
Ultimately, Haddock DiCarlo set her sight on a future that prioritizes sex and pleasure as integral to overall health and wellness, sharing her vision of an inclusive and innovative industry.
“I am hopeful that we will continue to utilize avant-garde technologies and develop some of our own as entrepreneurs and technologists,” she said.
“We want to see a world where we all lift one another up, endeavoring for equity, where more diverse people have their place in tech and business.”
