Team CalExotics: Susan Colvin on 25 Years of California Dreaming (AVN)

Read the full article by Iris Blocks at AVN.com

A quarter-century ago, when Susan Colvin decided to start her own business, vibrators were still known as “adult novelties.” But the biggest novelty introduced by her company, then called California Exotic Novelties, was the idea that sex toys should be colorful, fun and appealing to female consumers. These days, most adult boutiques are places where women can comfortably browse shelves that overflow with elegant pleasure products. But Colvin remembers a time when that wasn’t the case—and she’s proud of the role she and her team played in the transformation of an industry. CalExotics will mark its 25-year milestone at the July Adult Novelty Manufacturers Expo. The trade show will be held July 14-16 at the Marriott Burbank Airport. Below, Colvin answers a few questions about the company.

What’s planned for your 25th anniversary?

We wanted to bring our customers and friends together for a fun celebration, and what better time to do so than during the summer ANME show? Our celebration will take place at Universal Studios Hollywood. The party will begin with brunch and follow with a day to enjoy the rides and shows at Universal Studios. We are so excited to celebrate with everyone who has supported us throughout the past twenty-five years.

You’ve broken a lot of ground in the past. What do you think sets CalExotics apart the most in today’s marketplace?

We’ve had many famous firsts, some of which include releasing the first line of waterproof toys, offering manufacturer warranties, and having an all-female team of product developers. Our most notable famous first was the introduction of feminine colors to our pleasure products, including the first pink and purple vibrators. At the time, people thought we were crazy. Twenty-five years ago, most products came in plain, dull colors, with packaging that did little to inspire women’s desire. So it’s understandable why others in the industry considered it unthinkable to release products in vibrant colors like pink and purple.

Oh, how things have changed. Now everywhere you look, you can see pleasure products in pinks, purples and other bold colors. It’s incredible to see how one change made by CalExotics turned an idea into an industry standard. I am very proud of this. I knew our brand could make a huge impact in the marketplace if we tailored our products to be more inclusive. Twenty-five years ago, we set out to do just that.

What sets CalExotics apart from most companies today is our desire to bring happiness to people’s lives, our drive to always put our consumers first, and the amazing team we have at our company. The combination of these three is what’s made our business successful and what continues to help us thrive.