AITA – the Adult Industry Trade Association – is conducting research in order to create a valid and relevant ‘state of the industry’ report. The UK trade body has put together an online survey, designed by Love Bytes Research, a marketing research consultancy specialising in the adult sector, and it is asking all providers of adult goods and services, performers and even consumers to contribute.

AITA promise that the survey is completely confidential: “Your responses will not be attributed to yourself in anyway without your own explicit permission, as per the Market Research Society Code of Conduct. Only AITA and Love Bytes Research have access to the survey data, and you have our strict guarantee that neither your responses nor your email address will be passed on to any third parties.”

AITA says that it is vital, with the industry facing a variety of issues on a daily basis, that as many people as possible make their views on the industry known via the survey, which can be accessed for the next 14 days.

To take the AITA survey visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BXPDFSR or contact AITA via admin@aita.co.uk if you have any questions about the research.

Shots Media is running a special end of year promotion for retailers who place online orders with the firm. In addition to their existing discounts, retailers can claim an extra 10% discount across all brands (as long as the products are in stock and the products are shipped this year) and a further 10% is available for items in the company’s sale.

The closing date for the promotion – which does not apply to offline orders – is 20^th December and only one order per customer is allowed. Shots Media customers should use the discount code SMDEC12-92W9A74. For more information visit www.shotsmedia.nl or contact the Shots sales team via sales@shotsmedia.nl

Screaming O has launched three new multi-function couples’ vibes – MasteRing Bullet, Panty and OWow – which are operated by a remote control disguised as an ordinary finger ring.

The company says the MastRing Bullet sports 10 vibration speeds and can be operated from up to 50 feet away while the MasteRing Panty features a sexy black lace panty with a secret hiding place to tuck the Bullet inside. Finally, the MasteRing OWow is said to combine the erection-enhancement of Screaming O’s popular Big O with the vibration power of the 10-function MasteRing Bullet to create the ultimate couple’s toy with a remote-controlled twist – giving the erection enhancement he needs and stimulation she craves while offering the versatility of a removable bullet, letting couples experiment with two new kinds of power play.

“The MasteRing series lets customer be masters of pleasure and put the power of their new favourite sex toys literally at their fingertips,” Screaming O partner Keith Caggiano said. “The MasteRing Bullet, Panty and OWow are easy to use, fun to try, and the perfect introduction to power play for couples looking to spice things up. Retailers will love our eye-catching packaging, which shows the MasteRing in action and how its clever remote-controlled system will turn every consumer into the ultimate master.”

For more information visit www.thescreamingo.com or contact Screaming O’s UK distributor Creative Conceptions on 0845 3700377 or visit www.creativeconceptions.co.uk

Trade body AITA has announced that it has appointed Jason Maskell of JCaz as its interim chairman following the resignation of Jerry Barnett. Maskell’s tenure is scheduled to run until the end of March 2013.

A statement on the AITA website, posted 11^th December, read: “The AITA committee would like to thank Jerry for all his time and work he has put in to AITA during his time as a committee member and chairman and wish him well for the future and all his does.”

Carnal Creative, the adult web agency behind the ongoing redevelopment of Erotica UK, is expanding its services to include a range of off-the-shelf adult web stores in addition to its bespoke services. The firm formerly specialised in providing individually tailored adult website design, adult-friendly hosting and digital marketing solutions to suit the unique requirements of each project, but it says it discovered a high demand for a product to suit the budget constraints of the small and medium sized business.

“We were very pleased with the level of interest we received at the ETO Show where we exhibited for the first time in June,” said Adam Turnbull, sales manager for Carnal Creative. “Feedback was very positive but what we also took away from the show was that many visitors were seeking a simple and affordable, yet solid, solution. We have put together these off-the-shelf packages as a means by which we can answer the demand for a cheaper solution for smaller and start-up businesses in the adult industry, without sacrificing the core standards we offer as a reputable web design company.”

Prices for the new packages start at £2,500 for a basic ecommerce set-up, which is suitable for start-up businesses and single outlet adult shops looking to have an online presence. This includes five email accounts and 500 managed products through a Paypal or Google payment gateway. Upgrading to a premium package allows purchasing in multiple currencies with the addition of bank account integration, unlimited managed products, broader customisation options and an extra 20 email addresses. Facebook and eBay stores are also available on the premium and bespoke options.

Turnbull  added: “We are known for our versatility and these new fixed priced options offer a fantastic feature-rich solution that can be scaled up to suit the growing needs of a brand – from industry newcomer right through to ETO’s best.”

Carnal Creative was launched in May this year as an adult specialist branch of an existing web design company which had seen demand for reliable hosting and support from the adult sector. The firm says that hosting in particular is a widespread issue, with the majority of standard providers disallowing the content type or providing a substandard service for what are deemed less valued clients.

Carnal Creative claims to provide a simple and expandable solution for adult-friendly web hosting, design and related services which will be suitable for adult industry newcomers as well as established brands. Additional services offered, in addition to web design, include print advertising, marketing, branding, social media management, event hosting and content management.

Carnal’s off-the-shelf adult webstore packages will be optimised for use on mobile phones and tablets and be hosted on Carnal Creative’s personally monitored secure servers. Customers will have access to direct support from the in-house technical manager via email or telephone.

For further information contact Adam Turnbull at Carnal Creative on 01253 885773 or visit www.carnalcreative.com

Club CalExotics has launched a festive new contest – the 12 Days of Sex Toys. The theme is based around the idea of the traditional carol, “Twelve Days of Christmas” substituting the traditional gifts with featured sex toys.

Team members from sales, marketing, product development, and warehousing have each contributed to the contest, which spotlights a different toy every day from December 10-21, in a series of videos.

“The team at CalExotics had a blast shooting the daily videos,” said Susan Colvin, president and CEO of California Exotic Novelties. “Our goal is to make a fun, interactive, internet contest that will bring a smile to people’s faces this holiday season.”

Nichole Grossmann, California Exotic Novelties social media coordinator and administrator for Club CalExotics, said, “Members are asked to comment on the video to be entered to win all of that day’s toys. By the12th day there will be 12 toys, making one lucky winner very jolly this holiday season!”

Jackie White, vice president of sales for California Exotic Novelties, says, “Creative content, contests, and SEO tactics make the site one of the most popular up and coming sexual wellness online communities available. Club CalExotics has surpassed our expectations. It draws consumers from all over the world, all walks of life, and at all levels of experience, to a place they can feel comfortable discussing sex and intimacy. We couldn’t be more thrilled about its success!”

Desiree Duffie, director of public relations for California Exotic Novelties, adds, “The 1,000 members is a snap shot of the real reach of Club CalExotics. Our analytics shows that nearly four times that many people visit the site each month who aren’t members. People are looking, learning and exploring, and that’s very important, too. We understand that not everyone is ready to commit to membership, having them as ‘unique views’ is an additional, vital component of the site’s success.”

The Expert Advice Board feature is also a big draw for visitors, according to the company, as it allows people to pose anonymous questions to CalExotics resident sex experts.

To view the Club CalExotics Christmas campaign or to join in the conversations and contests, visit ClubCalExotics.com.

In a Sanction Notice posted to the Ofcom.org.uk website on December 7th, news of a £60k fine levied against Strictly Broadband Ltd. of London was made public.

For breaches of ATVOD statutory rules for providers of On Demand Programme Services – specifically not having an ATVOD-approved Content Access Control (CAC) system in place to prevent under18s from seeing adult material – ATVOD passed their findings to Ofcom, who’ve the power to fine up to £250,000.

According to the report: “R18 equivalent material [was] available to view free without registration. The homepage of the Service (which appeared without a warning page as the site’s content or other indication that the material was unsuitable for under a significant quantity of free material including a banner window showing scrolling large number of thumbnail stills constituting links to available videos and movie. These depicted R18 equivalent unsimulated sexual activity in explicit detail viewed without registration or payment (i.e. there was no CAC System).”

The report is also critical of Strictly Broadband’s policy of allowing purchases to be made by premium SMS message and Debit card, as it was felt by ATVOD that these were insufficient age verification. Ofcom agreed, saying in the sanction, “[we] considered whether the breaches are sufficiently serious, deliberate, repeated and reckless as to warrant the imposition of a statutory sanction on the Service Provider in this case. It concluded that the imposition of such a sanction was warranted.”

The report continued: “Having regard to the serious, repeated and reckless nature of the breaches and Ofcom’s penalty guidelines, Ofcom decided it was appropriate and proportionate in the circumstances to impose a financial penalty of £60,000 on Strictly Broadband (payable to HM Paymaster General).”

In the latter part of the notice – points 40 to 44 – the nature of the closing of Strictly Broadband in the UK is discussed, with the following being of particular note: “Ofcom notes that its understanding is that the Service Provider is or was claiming to be about to stop providing an ODPS as that is defined in the Act prior to entering liquidation (although it may continue to provide an on-demand service subject to the laws of another country). Specifically, in section 368A(1) of the Act, all of which must be fulfilled for states, “that person is under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom Audiovisual Media Services Directive” (section 368A(1)(e)). Ofcom same as “transferring editorial responsibility”. The reference making the service available under section 368A(1)(d), and read in parallel with Article 2 of the Audiovisual Media Services that the location where editorial decisions are taken is only one.” In short, moving an adult VOD service off-shore and relinquishing any editorial control may not be enough to avoid investigation by ATVOD or penalties from Ofcom. Penalties which, in this case, are based on guesswork of Strictly Broadband’s profitability. Points 49, 55 and 61 of the report make it clear that while penalties should be proportionate to a business’ income (up to 5% of it), Strictly Broadband’s 2010 figures were the latest available for them to make a decision on.

When ETO spoke to a shellshocked Jerry Barnett [pictured], former owner of Strictly Broadband, on December the 8th, he wanted time to prepare a statement. It is unclear at this stage who – if anyone – will pay the fine as the company is no longer trading. In the conversation Barnett confirmed he is not a director of the US business which took over the running for the StrictlyBroadband.com and Anywhere.XXX sites, but does provide hosting and technical services to them.

You can read Ofcom’s full summery at http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/vod-services/Strictly-Broadband.pdf

The December and New Year issue of ETO is available to read online now. Key features include a look ahead to what the UK’s leading retailer of adult goods will be doing in 2013, a company profile of B Swish, our review of the year and show organiser Jonathan Kirk starts the countdown to the 2013 ETO Show. Plus, Nigel Hughson of House of Eros argues that we could serve our customers better by introducing them to authentic BDSM equipment, Nymphomaniac Ness looks at the benefits of setting up a sex toy review programme, Emily Dubberley offers advice on planning a PR strategy for Valentine’s Day and Stu Nugent looks back at 2012 from an Ann Summers’ point of view.

Simply click on the ‘Read the latest issue’ link on the top right of the www.erotictradeonly.com home page to access the December and New Year issue of ETO online now.