SE On the Cover: Pipedream is 50 and fabulous!

(Note: This story appears in the August 2023 issue of SE Magazine) 

Like a truly classic car, industry veteran Pipedream Products reflects on how it has kept its motor putting after 50 consecutive years of service to the adult industry.

B

y the time this StorErotica issue is in store owners’ hands across the country, a party will be had at the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood in commemoration of an accomplishment almost completely unmatched: Pipedream Products is ringing in 50 years of continued service to the pleasure product and adult novelty industry. 

“Celebrating with friends and customers in town for ANME is the best way we could think of to mark our 50-year anniversary,” shares Kristian Broms, Chief Design Officer of Pipedream, one of the original ANME founders. “It’s a huge milestone for any company in any industry, but I think especially in this industry, in which there are very few who have stayed as long as we have.”

Looking in the rearview mirror

An anniversary as significant as 50 years provides the venerable Pipedream a rare moment in the rapidly-rushing business to reflect on where they’ve come from, what the journey has been and all the changes and challenges along the way. And celebrating at the industry tradeshow inaugurated by Pipedream’s first CEO, Nick Orlandino, offers the adult manufacturer an opportunity to express its appreciation for the industry which built it.

“Today, we are filled with joy and gratitude as we celebrate a significant milestone in Pipedream’s history — our 50th anniversary,” announces Barbara Cook, CEO of Pipedream. “It is with great pleasure that we extend our heartfelt thanks to our loyal customers for being such an important part of that success.”

Like Cook, Broms recognizes the community support for bolstering Pipedream’s prosperity, especially the committed customer base which has followed the innovator through various ventures, as the pleasure product industry itself has evolved alongside the manufacturer.

“The anniversary is also a time to express our gratitude for all the support that we’ve gotten from our friends, customers, competitors and even publications like StorErotica,” says Broms. “It takes a village, they say, and while we’re certainly proud of the 50 years, we recognize that the accomplishment has been with the help of a lot of people from within the industry, including our customers who have stuck with us through all our changes and shown amazing support and patience.”

You’re only as old as you feel 

In addition to its supporters, Pipedream acknowledges the steadfast work of the the whole dedicated company — its many moving parts, past and present.

“The team’s creativity and commitment to our mission has been instrumental in shaping Pipedream into a leader in the adult novelty industry,” comments Cook proudly. “Together, we have shattered stereotypes and championed the notion that pleasure and intimacy are essential aspects of a fulfilling life. This anniversary is a moment of reflection and gratitude for that incredible journey. Throughout the years, we have faced challenges, embraced change and adapted to this wonderful industry we call our home.”

A company with an entire adult life behind it, Pipedream began in 1973 as a small family-run organization, selling glass paraphernalia out of the back of a van. As it advanced, the assembly moved from the van to a garage to a small warehouse, eventually setting up at trade shows throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s. Broms explains that the history of Pipedream was subject to the times. Adult stores were less interested in health and wellness then; rather, there was a taste for gag gifts or bachelorette-type items, a niche in which Pipedream fit snugly, especially under the leadership of Nick Orlandino, Pipedream’s first CEO. The pipe company, which was started by two brothers, Bob and David Feldman, along with their father, Mr. Gene, shifted into adult novelty. But according to Broms, while the Feldmans were always the majority owner, it was Orlandino who really drove that transformation.

“And then one thing led to another: bachelorette goods led to customers asking about vibrators,” describes Broms. “But we’re talking about the ivory, seven-inch slim vibrators with two AA batteries, which were the only product you could buy at the time. This was the late ‘80s, when it was almost a non-existent industry with a few pioneers — all of the ANME founders plus a few other companies. We were all selling the same product, more or less, and we sold so much of it because it was the only game in town.”

“The team’s creativity and commitment to our mission has been instrumental in shaping Pipedream into a leader in the adult novelty industry. Together, we have shattered stereotypes and championed the notion that pleasure and intimacy are essential aspects of a fulfilling life. This anniversary is a moment of reflection and gratitude for that incredible journey.”

 

– Barbara Cook, CEO of Pipedream

You’re not “old,” you’re “classic”

Certainly, the world of adult retail was a very different place when Pipedream began. Now, there’s plenty of variety in vibrators, dildos, butt plugs, you name it. But to make it in the long game in pursuit of the decades of healthy business it ultimately obtained, Pipedream had to specialize in some way.

Humor has always been one of Pipedream’s greatest strengths: that there has recognizably been a little “tongue in cheek” about everything which carries the Pipedream name. Orlandino, who came from Forum Novelties and helped to establish this reputation, always took great pride in his joke and gag gifts and bachelorette-type items, according to Broms. 

“That was something very near and dear to his heart,” says Broms, reverently. 

Orlandino worked with Pipedream for 30 years and passed away at the beginning of this year, at age 54.

“Even after the business started to take off, and the gag was no longer necessary for its success, this element was still very dear to him,” Broms continues. “He also had a knack for cheeky product names and dedicated a now-unheard-of amount of time to inventing these.”

According to Broms, who has been involved with the company since 2005, Pipedream has always taken pride in its bravery to attempt products on the novelty side which no one else would consider.  

“Any business on this side of things has to be good at logistics,” says Broms. “There were a few years in which we lost our ways a bit in terms of priorities, or understanding what the core of the business is. One of the things that I think this milestone will mark for us is this: We want to feature the right mix of products that are quality products at a great price, and we’re getting back to that. I think it will be very obvious if you look at the next year and beyond.”

Fueling up for what’s to come

As for what’s to come still from the legendary product manufacturer, customers can look forward to a number of new releases which are expected to roll out this season. The items which are releasing contemporaneous to ANME includes an assortment of strokers.

“Our newest releases are largely designed for penis owners,” announces Broms. 

The first is the Max Boost, a manual penis pump designed for one-handed operation.“The Max Boost, coming out of our Pump Worx line, is a manual pump with a very cool piston action design, in which the top of the pump is the pump handle and creates the vacuum,” Broms explains. “By using the top of the pump cylinder as a vacuum trigger, the pump allows for one-handed operation and eliminates the excess of hoses and additional handles. It’s also built to be used both in and out of water, and can be used with water on the inside of the pump, as well. When you combine a vacuum cylinder with warm water and a great price point, I think it’s fair to say that we have a winner on our hands.”

Another stroker new from Pipedream, the Shower Therapy stroker coming out of the PDX Plus line has a discreet design which allows it to be hidden in plain sight.

“Our Shower Therapy strokers look exactly like regular shampoo bottles, so they could fit in any shower without anyone being the wiser,” says Broms. “Those come with a couple of tops, one which has a normal shampoo top which you would normally pour shampoo out of and in this case acts as an air valve, so if you have the bottle closed, it creates suction on the inside. The stroker also comes with a second top and a suction cup so the user can attach the device to any flat surface, such as the wall of the shower.”

Then there’s the Big Titty Torso, a large 19 lb mega masturbator which is made from dual density TPE, and which Broms says has “by far the most realistic breasts ever made on one of these products. They are soft and squeezable, and I think they’re going to draw quite a lot of attention. The Big Titty Torso is unlike anything else that’s out there.”

“One of the things that I think this milestone will mark for us is this: We want to feature the right mix of products that are quality products at a great price, we’re getting back to that. I think it will be very obvious if you look at the next year and beyond.”

 

– Kristian Broms, Chief Design Officer of Pipedream

One of Pipedream’s best-selling items, the Fuck-O-Matic, is getting a gender-neutral upgrade in the form of the Fap-O-Matic Pro. “The Fuck-O-Matic is already selling like crazy, and no one can keep it on their shelves,” shares Broms. “It has a bunch of functions that no one has put together in the same way. I think it was the first item in the market to have a really good intermittent suction on the inside, so it sucks the penis in and out. In addition to that suction, the device offers vibration internally as well as on the red tongue to tickle the balls. Its sibling product, the Fuck-O-Matic 2, available in a brown skin color, has all the same features but upgrades the ball tickler to a ‘hyper pulse’ motor for a completely new sensation. With all that innovation and quality we felt it only right to release an all-inclusive version.”

Last but not least: the ViewTube 2 (with spiral compression), the auto-stroking ViewTube Pro and a Pipedream-esque pun.

“The ViewTube is a perfect example of the tongue in cheek naming which Pipedream is best known for, without inviting trouble, the way Orlandino might have embraced it at another time. With taglines like, ‘Everyone wants to be a ViewTube star, and now you can, too,’ the pun is quite obvious. We’re releasing two new ViewTube items, which are crystal clear and allow the user to see themselves while they’re using them.”

Maintaining the engine — Pipedream 2.0

“Over the past five decades, our company has grown from a small startup (selling glass pipes) to a global industry leader,” Cook reflects.

While Orlandino’s way of running Pipedream has been great fun to carry on, the 50-year-old manufacturer has learned to balance the playfulness of this legacy with the responsibility of being an industry leader and veteran of an unprecedented status. Necessarily, the influential company has developed thoughtfully over time a strong sense of care for the direction of the sexual health and wellness industry which fostered its growth.

“Pipedream 2.0 will proudly use the legacy of what we’ve always been known for, while incorporating the knowledge available to us in this different world, which we have to do our part to improve, as well.”

 

– Kristian Broms 

“Times have changed, especially over the last decade, and we have really changed when it comes to inclusivity, social responsibility and environmental responsibility,” Broms shares. 

“And it’s something that we really haven’t talked about at all over the last few years, because our reputation traditionally has been quite on the contrary, but it is something that has been at the front of our minds and that we’ve been working very hard on, to transition to ‘Pipedream 2.0’,’” he continues. “Pipedream 2.0 will proudly use the legacy of what we’ve always been known for, while incorporating the knowledge available to us in this different world, which we have to do our part to improve, as well.”

“We have witnessed significant societal changes and evolving attitudes towards sexuality,” Cook agrees. “We have grown alongside these changes, adapting to cultural shifts, embracing diversity and promoting a sex-positive environment that celebrates individuality and consent. Looking ahead, we are filled with excitement and anticipation for the next chapter of our journey. We will continue to listen to customers’ needs and introduce groundbreaking products that empower and delight. We remain committed to fostering a community where open dialogue, respect and consent are embraced, cultivating an environment that encourages exploration and celebrates sexual wellness.”

“Environmentally, we embrace our role as industry leaders in the materials we use for our products, how we make them and using FSC Mix packaging, which is Forest Stewardship approved, so that our retail is environmentally-responsible,” Broms commits. “We’re doing that at-cost, because it’s the right thing to do.”

For more information, visit PipedreamProducts.com.