(Note: This story appears in the October 2022 issue of STOREROTICA Magazine)
As US companies are continually releasing new products for the adult novelty industry, it’s also important to keep up with what’s happening in Canada or “across the pond” in the U.K. and Europe. Who are the emerging brands our readers need to know about? This Special Focus narrows this list of companies down to the best of the best: The top foreign brands that are available to U.S. retailers today.
(Editor’s note: All answers are courtesy of company representatives)
So — what’s your story?!
ORION (Germany)
ORION Wholesale started in 1985 and is now one of the most successful erotic wholesale companies in Europe. But we are also active far beyond Europe and supply customers in almost 60 countries worldwide and have always been a reliable partner.
Kiiroo (Netherlands)
Based in Amsterdam, Kiiroo is a fast growing sex-technology company that produces high-quality, innovative interactive sex toys and solutions.
We have been leaders in the sex tech (teledildonics) industry since 2013, working at the intersection of technology and human interest. We are continuously innovating in order to keep people satisfied online.
What began as a project to change the way people connect from a distance (long-distance relationships) has now evolved into an entire array of products and platforms that do not only cater to long-distance relationships but also to webcam performers, interactive adult content viewers (2D and VR), and fans of our Feel Stars looking for more intimate connections.
KOKOS (South Korea)
KOKOS is an adult instrument manufacturer that has been pursuing its own path for the past 15 years with belief and persistence in the ever-changing adult-toy industry of a cutthroat competition with manufacturers from around the world in order to meet enormous supply and demand. KOKOS is the representative brand of Korea that specializes in manufacturing men’s masturbation silicon instruments.
WOW Tech (Germany & England)
Our company had an exciting milestone just last year. In 2021, WOW Tech and Lovehoney merged to form Lovehoney Group. Since joining forces, our B2B brand portfolio in the US has expanded to include Fifty Shades of Grey and Happy Rabbit, joining We-Vibe, Womanizer, ROMP, Arcwave, and pjur. The corporate origin stories for Lovehoney and WOW Tech are similar in which we value innovation and high-quality products. Lovehoney Group boasts professionals from more than 25 nations who focus on engineering, industrial design, sales, and marketing. In the US, we’re thrilled to make a branding transition to Lovehoney Group, and we’re looking forward to sharing our new look with retailers and distributors at upcoming trade show events.
Nexus (England)
Nexus is a British adult brand known internationally for producing innovative adult products for men and women. With an emphasis on design, Nexus is dedicated to producing functional, quality adult toys made from luxurious materials which guarantee optimum results time and time again.
Creative Conceptions (England)
Creative Conceptions Ltd., was founded in 2002 by Jane and Richie Bowles, as they wanted to start their own company to ensure they were able to fit their work around bringing up their two boys. Their first game, Monogamy – A Hot Affair… With Your Partner, was created because they found that sex went way down the agenda once they had two young children and thought, how great it would be to be able to sit down with a game and a couple of drinks after a long day and play something that reminded them why they were together in the first place?
Since then, the company has added many more innovative games and novelties to its collection and specializes in the creation of innovative products, all with an emphasis on encouraging fun and communication within relationships. Since 2006, Creative Conceptions has grown its offering further to provide the very best in cutting-edge sexual wellness consumables and intimate health care products under Skins Sexual Health. A complete sexual wellness brand – offering everything from condoms to lubricants and enhancements to sex toys – Skins Sexual Health is a multiple award-winning manufacturer renowned for creating unrivaled, high-quality products which promote and protect people’s sexual wellness, both now and in line with the broader demands of the future.
Deep Fantasies (Canada)
What began out of necessity as a response to pandemic job shortage in May 2020 has now evolved into a thriving home-based business. Deep Fantasies COO, Chris, spent close to a decade on passion projects designing and crafting cosplay costumes and props; so transferring those skills into a new niche was a fun and rewarding challenge. Chris partnered with CEO Debbie, who has a background in holistic health and human services — and is currently working on graduate studies in Sexual Health — in order to further grow a sex positive and inclusive business. Together, the goal is to support individuals by promoting healthy sexuality, and reducing stigma through quality, body-safe fantasy toys, and eventually, growing sexual education.
ElectraStim (England)
Cyrex Ltd (trading as ElectraStim) was founded in 2001 by Andy Smith, our CEO and lead product designer. With a background in engineering neuro-muscular stimulation devices for the medical industry, Andy was already familiar with the powerful therapeutic benefits of electro-stimulation, but was surprised by reports from users of pleasurable sensations. He realized there was a gap in the market for high-quality, innovative and safe electro sex toys, so ElectraStim was born.
Exsens (France)
We are a small cosmetics laboratory in the south of France and we have been making private label products for almost two decades. In 2014, the laboratory was bought by a much larger company which gave our CEO, Nathalie Vernin, the opportunity to develop her own brand. She found that the packaging and the products being developed by her clients were not really interesting for women, and when she created Exsens (a name that is a mix of “EXquisite” and SENSations” in both French and English), she did it with an eye on clean ingredients, fun packaging and intimacy. Since then, the line has grown into body care and feminine hygiene, as well as sexual wellness, but our core values remain. We at Exsens strongly believe intimacy and wellness are deeply connected and we try to bring products to market that help women and couples nurture that connection.
