As the ANME Founders Show was held at the very time we were going to press with our July issue, here’s a look back at this summer’s big show, plus complete photo coverage of the 2023 SE Award Winners!
(Note: This story appears in the October 2023 issue of SE Magazine)
I
t wouldn’t be July without the annual ANME Founders Show. This year, the industry’s best-known adult novelty convention went off without a hitch: three days of industry business dealings reconvening in beautiful Burbank, California with familiar faces, capped off by Tuesday evening’s convivial presentations of the 16th annual STOREROTICA Awards.
“This year’s show was in particular very special to STOREROTICA, not only because we enjoyed a new location within the Marriott ballroom, but also a new face — our wonderful hostess, Kit Richardson, who issued the warm accolades to everyone in attendance,” says Kristofer Kay, STOREROTICA’s Marketing & PR Director. “Once again, SE is indebted to the generosity of Susan Colvin of CalExotics; Elliot Schwartz of Nasstoys; and Ron Braverman of Doc Johnson who provide us with such a glamorous and warm setting for our awards. This show was a tight 60 minutes for comradery and good will celebrating the best of our industry over the last year.”
Highlights of the Awards ceremony included Lovehoney Group’s taking home two awards: Pleasure Product Company of the Year and Male Pleasure Product of the Year for their Arcwave Voy. In addition, SE had the pleasure of adding to our Hall of Fame Dennis Paradise, formerly head of Paradise Marketing, who joined us over video for acceptance. In the evening, most specially, Michael Moran, CEO & Founder of the Lion’s Den chain of stores, accepted the second induction of the event into SE’s Hall of Fame.
“The opportunity to recognize luminaries like Michael and Dennis is SE’s privilege to pay respects to the industry that we love so much,” beams Kay. “This show wouldn’t have been possible without them. The continued kindness led by Valerie Jones and her ANME staff was, once again, greater than we could ask for. And our new hostess Kit Richardson, certified sexpert and Head of Retail at the Museum of Sex in New York City, performed flawlessly. Richardson was a natural on stage, and, if it’s up to me, she will be hosting SE Awards from now until the wheels fall off.” – Kristofer Kay, SE’s PR and Marketing Director
The ANME Show and SE Awards 2023
Pleasure Product Company of the Year: Lovehoney Group
Distributor of the Year: Nalpac/Entrenue
Lubricant Manufacturer of the Year: M.D. Science Lab
New Product of the Year: Obsession Lover by CalExotics
Product Packaging of the Year: Sportsheets (Saffron Collection)
2023 STOREROTICA Award Winners
LGBTQIA+ Company of the Year: Fort Troff
Sexual Enhancement Company of the Year: Shunga
Foreign Company of the Year: Shots
Boutique Brand of the Year: The Screaming O
Retailer of the Year (Boutique): Museum of Sex in NYC
Retailer of the Year (Chain): Lion’s Den
Brand Ambassador of the Year: Mona Madrigal, Pipedream Products
Businessman of Year: Preston Garland, Eldorado
Businesswoman of the Year: Bonnie Feingold, Honey’s Place
Male Pleasure Product of the Year: Arcwave Voy
Fetish/BDSM Company of the Year: XR Brands
STOREROTICA Hall of Fame
Michael Moran, Lion’s Den
Dennis Paradise, Paradise Marketing
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