So here’s a mind bender for you. Have you ever heard of Topco Sales? What about Penthouse, Wildfire, Rascal or Lex Steele, do those names ring a bell? If you’ve heard of any of the latter, and played with a toy from that line, then you’ve had contact with Topco Sales. One of the industry leaders – we’ve told you how they’re expanding in this turbulent economy – Topco Sales is a top notch producer of quality products that spice up your playtime. Now you get the chance to hear from Desiree Duffie, the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Topco, about some of the best selling and exciting toys on the market.
Sextoys – Topco Sales teams with some incredible companies to produce great sex toys. We’ve seen how your company works to meet market demand by producing toys that people can use in a variety of ways, from partnered play to time alone. Do you find that partnering with these companies and stars helps you to meet market demand better, or do you see market demand and seek out companies and stars with whom you can fill a specific need?
Desiree Duffie – It all depends upon the company or the star. Topco Sales partners with some of the most recognizable names because those names have value. Adam & Eve, Penthouse, Chi Chi LaRue’s Rascal Videos, Lex Steele, Joanna Angel’s Burning Angel, are some of our premiere licensed brands.

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Take the Penthouse Pet Collection for example; this is one of the most powerful and best-selling lines we manufacture because of the Pets’ huge fan base and the recognition of the Penthouse name. Add that to what Topco Sales brings to the table—which is molding the Pets’ bodies and then making the replica toys out of realistic CyberSkin material—and you have a ‘product cocktail’ that satisfies what fans ultimately crave. The fans want to be with a Penthouse Pet, the Penthouse Pet Collection makes that possible—well, as close to possible as you can get!
Every partner Topco Sales works with targets a slightly different demographic. Chi Chi LaRue’s Rascal Toy line, for instance, is a quintessential life-style brand. These toys are big. Really BIG. Freaking gi-normous, and they intimidate a lot of people. But there is a hard-core fan base that just can’t get enough of these robust babies. The line also includes a series of toys molded from the various gay porn stars from the Rascal videos. The striking black and red packaging, consistency in the products, and the Chi Chi LaRue Rascal name all make this a brand that targets the market for these types of toys.
As for how we select who we partner with, it happens in a variety of ways. Sometimes we seek out companies and people who we feel have a strong image and brand, and sometimes they seek us out. It is important for that name to be established as a brand. Take punk-rock princess Joanna Angel for example. She has done such an amazing job promoting herself and Burning Angel that creating a toy line was a natural extension of her brand. She is truly a woman who “gets it” and knows how to market herself and her company. That knowledge permeates into the toy line and is a part of its huge success.
Sextoys – One of the things about Topco Sales that we find amazing is the diversity of products you offer. From life-like dildos, to toys for men, to some incredible vibrators, your company seems to produce a wide array of sex toys. Was that something that developed as a function of demand, or did Topco Sales set out to produce a comprehensive catalog?
Desiree Duffie –Over the last 35+ years Topco Sales’ products have certainly developed as a function of demand. The development of CyberSkin was made to satisfy the consumer’s desire for toys that feel lifelike. The Virtual Girl was a response to the need for a light-weight and affordable full-size doll. Sex Tarts tangy lubricants were made for people who have a taste for tart flavors, and the list goes on and on.

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As Topco Sales grew so did the product lines, making them quite comprehensive. In the past several years Topco Sales has become known as a company that has a ‘family of brands’. Identifying niche markets, targeting specific demographics, and researching the latest technology means that we naturally developed that comprehensive catalog.
We mentioned some of our major licenses before, but Topco Sales is also known for in-house lines like Grrl Toyz, Climax, Wildfire, TLC, Fetish, My First, X-Rated Toys, Japanese Silk Love Ropes, Slim Line G, and many others. As we continue to grow the more comprehensive we will become. We constantly look for untapped segments in the market all in an effort to have a diverse and comprehensive selection.
Additionally, we really want to hear more from consumers. We invite people to share their thoughts and ideas with us because our ultimate goal is to make the most pleasurable sex toys on the market. We want to know what you want!
Sextoys – We’re always fascinated with the design process. Obviously, with the range of products that Topco Sales has to offer, it would take weeks to discuss all of the different design processes. We’ve noticed that Topco Sales produces some great dildos. What goes into the selection of a dildo’s design and what processes happen to bring it to the market?
Desiree Duffie –The masterminds behind our dildos and all our products for that matter, reside in our Product Development and Research and Development departments.
Within these departments we have creative people who constantly experiment with new shapes, styles and colors. They create a variety of molds and prototypes and are always pushing the envelope. Collectively we research trends and the market to find inspiration. In the Topco Sales’ FDA registered laboratory we formulate new and exciting personal care products and lubricants.
Martin Tucker, the founder of Topco Sales, constantly looks for ways to make innovative products. Right now he is experimenting with silicone in response to the demand for hygienic materials. We also partner with inventors to bring new products into the market. With over 1000 different items available, there are a variety of sources of inspiration for all the products.
Sextoys – What new products or designs can we expect to see in 2009?
Desiree Duffie –Well so far Topco Sales has released almost 90 new products for 2009.
Most of these products are just starting to hit store shelves now.
One of my personal favorites is The 69® Collection. There are three items in this fellatio-enhancing product line that are truly yummy!
The tingling oral sex gel called Arouse Her adds a ‘tingle’ for her and ‘taste’ for him. Comes in cherry and mint. Wet Head are flavored strips that dissolve on the tongue and induce extra salivation to aid with fellatio. Sugar-free, they come in cinnamon and lemon.
Another clever new product in The 69® Collection are the B4 Play Wipes. They are flavored intimate cleansing towelettes. Non-staining, not sticky, sugar and glycerin-free, they make fellatio a clean and flavorful experience and come in creamsicle and lollipop flavors.
There are some beautiful silicone additions to the Climax line. Check out the Wavy Shaft and the Ribbed G-Shaft. They both have a unique tie-dye look and include a Push-4-Play single speed bullet that is water-proof and easy to use.
Also new in the Climax line are a series of items with a new “Click” controller. Climax Clicks allow for seven functions of pulsation with the simple ‘click’ of a button and the controller has an innovative no-slip grip.
There are three new adult DVD games joining the popular Bumps and Grinds DVD game. The Bachelorette Party Game, Sex IQ, and Kinky Cards are all incredibly fun and work on your DVD player and with most gaming systems that have built in DVD players.
The Wildfire Celebrity Series continues to grow with products molded directly from the hottest stars in porn. Made out of CyberSkin so you know they feel amazingly real, the new items include pieces molded from: Allanah Starr, April Flores, Ashley Blue, Barrett Blade, Flower Tucci, Katie Morgan, Nautica Thorn, swingers Otto and Audrey and Ryder Skye.
The new Penthouse Mode vibes are incredibly attractive, too. As well, there are a lot of new products under the Adam & Eve Signature Toy line, Joanna Angel’s Burning Angel Toy line, and Chi Chi LaRue’s Rascal Toy line. And another batch is set for release this summer, too!
Sextoys – We were looking at your new glass dildos with silicone “Taffy” ticklers added for texture. That’s an interesting combination of materials and designs that we haven’t seen before. Do you see that kind of convergence as an experiment, or perhaps an evolutionary step with toys as technology makes those types of combinations possible?
Desiree Duffie –I think it is a natural evolutionary step. The concept behind Adam & Eve Signature Toy’s Silicone CyberGlass Taffy Tickers is to combine two incredible sex toy materials—CyberGlass and Silicone—because each has their own unique texture, yet they both have similar attributes.
CyberGlass is a type of glass that is extra resistant to chipping, is it is perfect for sex toys. Smooth and slippery, it really satisfies people who love glass toys.
Taffy Ticklers are little dollops of silicone and they feel incredibly soft. They add a unique sensation on various parts of the body. The tickling sensation juxtaposed with the smoothness of the glass is really a treat.
Additionally, CyberGlass and Taffy Ticklers are both hygienic and easy to clean. You can even put them in the top rack of the dishwasher for easy cleaning, or sterilize in hot water.
I’m excited about these products and I hope they sell well. If so, you can bet that you’ll see a lot more of them hit the market!
Read Part 2