In a statement released on 13 March, Satisfyer announced that it would “pause participation” in international B2B trade shows, claiming that expos no longer reflect growth and partnership-building today.
The statement said that the move “reflects a strategic repositioning of the company’s partner engagement model, placing greater emphasis on direct collaboration with distribution partners and proprietary in-house industry events”.
Instead of attending trade shows, Satisfyer “plans to intensify collaboration with distributors through market visits, strategic workshops and joint business development initiatives”, according to the brand’s statement, which continued: “Distributors play a central role in the company’s global strategy by presenting Satisfyer products directly to their retail customers and driving market development locally.”
Sven Pelka, CEO of Triple A group, the company behind Satisfyer and Fun Factory, said: “This is not a withdrawal from the industry. It is a strategic evolution. Traditional B2B trade show formats no longer fully reflect how sustainable growth and meaningful partnerships are built today.
“By empowering our distribution partners and working more closely with them on local market development, we believe we can create stronger and more effective partnerships while driving sustainable category growth.”
Pelka went on to say that the frequency of trade shows in the sexual wellness industry “does not automatically translate into progress” and the company statement claimed that despite high numbers of international trade shows globally, the level of what it called “structural innovation across the sector” remained “comparatively limited”.
Satisfyer said that it will expand its proprietary in-house industry and partner events. The statement continued: “These curated formats are designed to provide a more focused environment for product innovation, strategic dialogue and international distributor exchange.” The brand also said that it would be expanding global visibility through “cultural integrations and placements in major streaming productions and entertainment formats, reaching hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide”.
The statement said that Satisfyer will continue to invest heavily in product innovation, global marketing and distributor partnerships as part of its long-term growth strategy.
“This move allows us to operate on a larger strategic horizon,” Pelka concludded. “Our commitment to our B2B partners remains stronger than ever – but the platforms through which we grow together are evolving.”
