A standing-room-only crowd at the 2026 SE Awards honored the industry’s top retailers, manufacturers and distributors during the ANME’s 30th anniversary show in Burbank.
The adult retail industry’s biggest night returned in style as the 19th Annual StorErotica Awards brought together the best and brightest manufacturers, distributors and retailers on July 14 during the ANME Founders Show at the Marriott Airport Burbank Hotel in Burbank, CA.
Presented by SE Magazine, the annual awards recognize the companies, products and individuals driving innovation, excellence and growth throughout the pleasure products industry. This year’s celebration drew a standing-room-only crowd inside the City Ballroom, where attendees packed the venue for an energetic, fast-paced evening hosted by COTR Director of Sales Kim Faubel.
With her signature humor, industry insight and effortless stage presence, Faubel kept the audience laughing and applauding throughout the breezy awards presentation, which honored achievements spanning product innovation, sales excellence, retail leadership and lifetime contributions to the industry.
“No pomp and circumstance, no opening dance numbers and no broken dinner reservations either. The StorErotica Awards have always been about celebrating the people who continue to raise the bar for our industry,” says SE Magazine Managing Editor, Kristofer Kay. “Looking around a packed ballroom filled with retailers, manufacturers, distributors and friends from every corner of the business was a reminder that this industry continues to evolve because of the passion, resilience and creativity of the people in it. Congratulations to every nominee and every winner for helping shape another remarkable year.”
Among the evening’s top honors, Nalpac/Entrenue was named Distributor of the Year, while Sportsheets earned Fetish/BDSM Company of the Year. COTR received Boutique Brand of the Year, and The Lovehoney Group took Pleasure Product Company of the Year.
Additional company awards included pjur as Lubricant Company of the Year, High on Love as Sexual Enhancement Company of the Year, Together as LGBTQIA+ Company of the Year and Creative Conceptions as Foreign Manufacturer of the Year.
Product innovation also took center stage throughout the evening. Paradise Pleasure Products’ Illumination Line earned New Product of the Year, while Pipedream Products’ Ass-gasm Taint-Alizer was recognized as Male Pleasure Product of the Year. XR Brands received this year’s Product Packaging of the Year award for Creature Cocks.
Individual achievement remained a hallmark of the StorErotica Awards, with Shon McLean of COTR earning Account Executive of the Year, Megan Swartz of Janra named Businesswoman of the Year and Austin Ferdinand of CalExotics taking home Businessman of the Year.
Retail excellence was also recognized as Smitten Kitten of Minneapolis, MN, earned Retail Store of the Year (Boutique), while Adam & Eve/TAF Distributing won Retail Store of the Year (Chain).
The evening concluded with the presentation of the StorErotica Hall of Fame Awards, recognizing individuals whose careers have left an enduring mark on the adult retail industry. David Eliason of Dick and Jane’s Naughty Spot was inducted into the Retail Hall of Fame, while longtime industry executive Tom Sherwood of ADI was welcomed into the Industry Hall of Fame.
Now in its 19th year, the StorErotica Awards continue to serve as one of the industry’s premier celebrations of achievement, recognizing the innovation, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit that continue to shape the future of adult retail.
“Awards are about more than trophies,” Kay went on to say. “They’re about recognizing the people who take risks, challenge convention and continue pushing this industry to new heights. Seeing a packed ballroom filled with competitors cheering one another on says everything about what makes this business special.”
2026 StorErotica Award Winners
Distributor of the Year
Nalpac/Entrenue
Fetish/BDSM Company of the Year
Sportsheets
Boutique Brand of the Year
COTR
Pleasure Product Company of the Year
The Lovehoney Group
Lubricant Company of the Year
pjur
New Product of the Year
The Illumination Line — Paradise Pleasure Products
Sexual Enhancement Company of the Year
High on Love
Male Pleasure Product of the Year
The Ass-gasm Taint-Alizer — Pipedream Products
LGBTQIA+ Company of the Year
Together
Foreign Manufacturer of the Year
Creative Conceptions
Product Packaging of the Year
Creature Cocks — XR Brands
Account Executive of the Year
Shon McLean — COTR
Businesswoman of the Year
Megan Swartz — Janra
Businessman of the Year
Austin Ferdinand — CalExotics
Retail Store of the Year (Boutique)
Smitten Kitten — Minneapolis, Minnesota
Retail Store of the Year (Chain)
Adam & Eve/TAF Distributing
SE Magazine 2026 Hall of Fame (Retail)
David Eliason — Dick and Jane’s Naughty Spot
SE Magazine 2026 Hall of Fame (Industry)
Tom Sherwood — ADI
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