Day 2 at ILS: It'€™s All About Being Unique

LAS VEGAS—Attendees of the latest fall edition of the International Lingerie Show at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas couldn’t escape the fact that there was something unique at almost every turn. While it’s not unusual for exhibitors to showcase new lines or collections or products—both in the apparel and pleasure product realms—it seemed this time around there were many items that have never been seen before and they were resonating with buyers. “The Svakom Gaga is really doing well for us these days,” said Jeff, a rep from adult distributor Eldorado Trading Co. “Many people initially show interest because it’s so different from anything they have seen, but then it really does seem to be selling well, maybe because of that uniqueness.” The Gaga is one of the first vibrators of its kind: It has a camera built in at the tip so it can help women keep an eye on their physical health while also providing sexual pleasure. The new technology aims to help women learn what is normal for them, and look out for any abnormal changes, which could imply a health problem or STI. The Gaga can also be controlled by another person using its wireless app. Another best-selling item for Eldorado is the We-Vibe 4 Plus, which has made headlines for its increased power over previous versions, as well as an app that can control the couples’ toy from any sort of distance. “The We-Vibe has long been a best-selling toy, and this one just takes that up a notch,” Jeff said. Over in The Screaming O booth, reps had a variety of new products to show off to retailers and distributors, including the new FingO vibes and their holiday kits for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. “The Christmas stockings are three years old, but they are selling better than ever,” said Conde Aumann, rep for The Screaming O. “We sold 8,000 of them the first year, and another 8,000 last year. As of today, we have sold 14,000 for this season. “When we had them at the ANME Show (in July) we had already sold 4,000 units. When we started telling people that we were 50 percent sold out, they really started to order them even more,” she continued. “It’s unusual for people to buy for Christmas that early, but we sold out our initial order and were forced to increase by 6,000 units.” Bedroom Kandi—a line of pleasure products created by Kandi Burruss, a Grammy Award-winning artist and former cast member on The Real Housewives of Atlanta—in its partnership with OhMiBod released several new items, including bath and body products and new vibrators. “One of the items that is really getting attention is the Rock It vibrator,” said Avi Raccah, a rep for the manufacturer. “It’s a bullet vibe, but it is extremely powerful and offers some intense vibration patterns.” Lingerie manufacturer Coquette also displayed several new pieces to various collections, many of which featured unique twists. Among the new items in the holiday collection are chemises, babydolls and bra and panty sets that resemble Santa suits. But rather than be pieces that can only be sold and worn during the holiday season, the belts and maribou detailing are removable. Additionally, since the pieces are available in red or black, so they can sell well during the Valentine’s Day season as well, noted Erin Sue, director of marketing and public relations for Coquette. “Holiday-themed lingerie is such a niche market,” she said. “Retailers don’t always like items that have a specific holiday theme, since it might not sell, and if it doesn’t you have to wait another year to put it on the floor. And even then, you need to put it on clearance since it is from last season.” By making the items that mark the pieces as holiday specific removable, Erin Sue said, they are not only more versatile for retailers, but customers as well. ILS continued through Sept. 17 at the Rio. Check AVN.com for continued coverage. Pictured above from left: The Screaming O; the Gaga vibrator at Eldorado Trading Co.; the Coquette booth. Photos by Hew Burney.