Huntington Beach, California – Innovative adult novelty and pleasure product manufacturer Sportsheets® has been inducted into Inc. magazine’s 2013 Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. This exclusive club features some of the top mainstream brand names in America, with past honorees including Zappos, Pandora and Microsoft. This year Sportsheets shares top honors with daily deals giant LivingSocial, durable phone case inventor OtterBox, and fashion-forward jewelry designer Alex and Ani.
And now, for the first time, Inc. 5000 honorees are joined by the award-winning developer of soft restraints and sexual positioning products designed for Keeping Couples Connected®, a tagline the company has done business by for more than 20 years.
“It’s incredibly exciting and inspiring to be recognized for our astounding business development alongside some of the most popular and successful mainstream businesses in the country,” Sportsheets CEO and founder Tom Stewart said. “Making it into this exclusive club is not an easy feat – the average inductee grew 468 percent with sales numbers maintaining constant inclines in a difficult economic climate. We are so proud of our team’s hard work and dedication to upholding this level of business excellence.”
Sportsheets sales numbers began an extraordinary climb since the introduction of the award-winning Sex & Mischief® collection and its clever marketing affiliation with society’s growing obsession with erotic fiction. And following last year’s sophisticated packaging revamp for Sportsheets’ namesake brand with consistent additions to its multiple top-selling lines, the company set a new industry standard for brand name recognition and began its steady ascent into the ranks of the prestigious Inc. 5000 list.
The product that started it all in the early 90s was the Sportsheet™ bondage bed sheet, a simple over-the-mattress Velcro® compatible fitted sheet. Velcro allows for easy attachment and removal of soft handcuffs, ankle cuffs and other fun restraint accessories.
“We launched out of our garage in 1993 with an idea for an easy-to-use soft bondage product and now have a lineup of specialty brands that couples enjoy around the world,” Sportsheets President Julie Stewart said. “And since then the momentum hasn’t stopped, and being inducted into Inc. magazine’s 2013 Inc. 5000 tells us one thing: Sportsheets is bringing the public what it wants: more exciting and better sex!”
Tom and Julie Stewart, brother-and-sister business partners, and their team received a personalized letter from Inc. Editor in Chief Eric Schurenberg congratulating Sportsheets for its inclusion and welcoming the company to this exclusive club.
“Congratulations to you and your team,” Schurenberg wrote. “You should be proud of all Sportsheets International has achieved to date. I wish you many more years of success.”
For 32 years, Inc. magazine has been the premiere print publication providing valuable resources, solutions and information to entrepreneurs and business owners. The organization introduced the Inc. 500 list in 1982 to showcase the nation’s fastest-growing businesses, and 25 years later the list was expanded to 5000 to provide a broader view of the nation’s ever-evolving entrepreneurial landscape.
The Inc. 5000 inclusion comes on the heels of Sportsheets being named one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies of 2012 by the Orange County Business Journal, which honored the family-owned-and-operated manufacturer for its stable growth since its launch two decades ago.
For more information about Sportsheets, please visit http://Sportsheets.com.
Huntington Beach, California, USA – Sportsheets has inspired a new trend in sexy accessories with a selection of crops, collars, paddles and more featuring stylish metal studding. Hot in mainstream fashion, studding has been added to a special series of Sex & Mischief soft bondage items to give each item a bold and stylish look that will be a must-have for every shopper’s BDSM wardrobe.
New with studded accents are the Studded Square Crop, Studded XO Crop, Studded Bow Tie Collar, Studded Mask and Studded Paddle. And following the astounding success of these first releases, Sportsheets plans to introduce even more studded and embellished products to the market.
“We loved and were inspired by stud fashion found on everything from headbands and shirts to shoes and handbags, so it was only natural that we’d find a way to translate that trend into the adult market,” Sportsheets President Julie Stewart said. “We sold out after our first debut at the recent ANME Founders Show and the positive response was overwhelming!
And these sexy studs feel as good as they look. Simply chill each item in the freezer to create an intensely enticing icy sensation that will leave a lasting impression – literally!
“Having metal included in your product allows for added sensations,” Stewart said. “You can put each item in the freezer to create an icy-cold feeling, which certainly makes for some ‘cool’ spankings!”
New studded Sex & Mischief items all fall within the collection’s signature economical pricing structure with each current item marked under $16.99 MSRP. All Sportsheets metals also are nickel-free and conform to current EU health standards.
“Sportsheets has always been an industry trendsetter and this is our most recent endeavor to bring mainstream-inspired styles into adult,” Sportsheets CEO Tom Stewart said. “Studding detail fits perfectly into our sophisticated design esthetic and we can’t wait to introduce even more to the world!”
For more information about Sex & Mischief, please visit http://sexandmischief.com/.
For more information about Sportsheets, please visit http://Sportsheets.com.
Huntington Beach, California – Sportsheets is bringing its entire sales team and a special 20th anniversary special promotion to this week’s ANME Founders Show to celebrate the brand’s next-level success. Featuring free giveaways and the debut of a new trend-setting product line, the Sportsheets booth is set to be a trade show hot-spot and the go-to place for all things erotic.
Most anticipated for the ANME Show is Sportsheets’ new Sex & Mischief Studded accessory collection. Following the latest fashion trend, a special series of Sex & Mischief soft bondage accessories now feature sexy studding to give each item a bold and stylish look.
“Sportsheets has always been a trendsetter and we’re capitalizing on what’s hot and ‘now’ in the fashion world, and that’s studding,” Sportsheets CEO Tom Stewart said. “This new collection fits perfectly into Sex & Mischief because the designs are gorgeous and sophisticated while priced below the brand’s $19.99 MSRP. Studs are on shirts, handbags and shoes – so why not on your sex toys?”
The Sportsheets team also is continuing their 20th anniversary celebration at ANME with Sportsheets and Sex & Mischief poster-sized calendars and Sex & Mischief playing cards featuring a variety of sexy and enticing images. Spice up any wall and take game night to an erotic level with Sportsheets’ signature style!
“It’s been a tremendously successful year following the debut of our new Sportsheets packaging, which has propelled the brand’s sales to incredible heights,” Sportsheets President Julie Stewart said. “Store clerks are reporting that shoppers stop to read the sexy fantasies printed on the backs of our boxes, which engages them at the point of sale and inspires them to create their own fantasies at home. The response to our new packaging has been amazing!”
Contact the Sportsheets team today to secure one of the few remaining appointments at ANME! Please email joanne@sportsheets.com or call (949) 939-0561.
For more information about Sportsheets, please visit http://Sportsheets.com.
Huntington Beach, California – Sportsheets and its popular Manbound collection of beginner restraints, positioning tools and accessories for men is headed to Chicago this weekend for the annual International Mister Leather (IML) event. Hosted by boutique distributor SLS Specialty, Sportsheets will be featured with on-site demonstrations and an arsenal of male models to show IML’s 50,000 attendees why Manbound is No. 1.
Fans can watch their favorite male models writhe in ecstasy with live demos of the popular BDSM tools and harnesses while gay porn super-stars Topher DiMaggio and Doug Acre model an array of popular sex gear. The SLS Specialty booth will be buzzing all Memorial Day weekend long and will be the leathermen event’s go-to source for sexy sales and a little bondage action.
“We’re proud to support SLS Specialty at International Mister Leather, one of the country’s most important events dedicated to members of the leathermen community and beyond,” Sportsheets President Julie Stewart said. “SLS Specialty is one of our key distributors and has a unique understanding of this market, which has been so valuable to us as we develop and promote the Manbound collection. We can’t wait to hear what happens this weekend and especially look forward to seeing photos!”
The 2013 International Mister Leather Fetish Event is celebrating its 35th anniversary throughout this year’s festivities, scheduled May 24-27 in Chicago. What started as an event for “hardcore” leathermen has evolved to include a wide variety of attendees, from the sexually advanced to the carnally curious.
“We have always teamed up with Sportsheets and Manbound, as the brands represent our strongest in the beginner restraint system category,” SLS Specialty CEO Shane Nelson said. “Sportsheets has been widely popular every year at IML, which has become one of the year’s most important fetish events dedicated to the products, apparel and – most importantly – men that support the leather lifestyle. We are happy to support Sportsheets and have planned a very exciting weekend!”
Products for sale at the SLS Specialty booth will include advanced fetish tools, sexual positioning straps and harnesses, stimulators, prostate massagers, BDSM accessories and more.
For more information about Manbound, please visit www.manbound.net.
For more information about Sportsheets, please visit www.Sportsheets.com.
Sportsheets International was featured in this weekend’s Orange County Register with a profile focused on the company’s positive impact on the local economy. Founder Tom Stewart and President Julie Stewart spoke with reporters whose curiosity delved into the world of bondage and how the duo’s hard work helped the company reach No. 93 on the Orange County Business Journal‘s list of top 100 fastest-growing companies in October 2012.
Reporter Barbara Venezia was genuinely impressed and intrigued by the brother-and-sister team’s story and how the two came together to launch and manage what now is one of the largest and most respected manufacturers in the industry.
“I’ve interviewed many successful entrepreneurs, but Tom, 57 and Julie, 42, who received her MBA in business from Pepperdine, are among the most interesting as is their success story,” Venezia wrote.
Inspired by a comedy bit on the David Letterman show, where David jumped onto a Velcro wall and stuck to it, Tom decided to create a product that would make it fun and easy for couples to tie each other up in the bedroom without worrying about knots and rope. After learning to sew and conspiring with his brother, Bob, Tom created the first Sportsheet bondage bed sheet and introduced the product at a swinger convention to see what the market thought.
“We were the hit of the convention,” Tom said.
From there Tom reached out to Julie to join forces and build the business as a family, later bringing their father on as a business consultant and even hiring each other’s spouses. Now Sportsheets International owns a 17,000-square-foot warehouse and office in the heart of Huntington Beach, Calif., and employs more than 40 employees.
“Sportsheets has been a fixture in the community since the beginning and with the success of our award-winning product lines business has grown exponentially – and the local media has taken note!” Tom said. “More than two-thirds of our 350+ product line is made in the U.S. and we make a point to source and employ contractors and talent from the area. Keeping operations as local as possible is a key part of our business model and we are proud to have that and our company story featured in such a respected publication!”
For more information about Sportsheets, please visit http://Sportsheets.com.
For ordering information, please email info@sportsheets.com, or call +1 (800) 962-4606.
Sportsheets was named 2013 Best Fetish Manufacturer at the 30th annual AVN Awards in Las Vegas. The specialty manufacturer was honored with the prestigious award for its dedication to developing easy-to-use and fun-to-try BDSM-inspired accessories, including restraints, sexual positioning tools, the groundbreaking Sex&Mischief collection, and the original Sportsheet Bondage Bed Sheet.
Sportsheets set a new precedent for fetish product design, development and merchandising this year, inspiring the industry to have a different mindset when marketing and selling BDSM-inspired products. The Sex&Mischief collection set record sales numbers with its matched set of simple restraint systems, blindfolds, harnesses, blindfolds and floggers designed for the beginner player or “vanilla” consumer. And for more advanced players the Sportsheets Premium collection brought retailers higher quality construction at a premium price point, allowing retailers to appeal to the widest customer demographic.
“The Sportsheets team would like to thank our friends and colleagues who voted for Sportsheets,” Sportsheets founder and CEO Tom Stewart said. “It’s an honor to be recognized for our hard work in this important product category, which has grown into a key part of every adult retail store. It’s been an incredibly successful year for Sportsheets and we couldn’t have done it without the help and support of our friends and colleagues.”
The 2013 AVN Awards took place Jan. 19 at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Hosted by adult superstars Asa Akira and Digital Playground starlet Jesse Jane, this year’s AVN Awards celebrated its 30th anniversary as the “Oscars of porn.”
For product or sales inquiries, please email info@sportsheets.com, or call (800) 962-4606.
For more information about Sex&Mischief, please visit http://sexandmischief.com/.
For more information about Sportsheets, please visit http://Sportsheets.com.
Sportsheets International is commemorating 20 years of outstanding success in business with a rich history filled with prestigious awards, one-of-a-kind product lines, and unparalleled customer service. Starting with the debut of the original Sportsheet bondage bed sheet and followed by landmark milestones, media acclaim, and innovation, Sportsheets’ 20th anniversary will be celebrated with new launches, big plans, and customer specials all year long.
After the Sportsheet first launched in 1988, mainstream media outlets including Penthouse and Men’s Journal recommended the bondage bed sheet to couples across the nation. After Sportsheets officially incorporated in 1993 the company developed a series of product lines that would become must-have retail mainstays synonymous with keeping couples connected – literally and figuratively.
“We started with an idea for an easy-to-use soft bondage tool and now have a lineup of specialty brands designed for couples to enjoy around the world,” Sportsheets President Julie Stewart said. “Over the last two decades editors at Details, GQ, INC, and TIME (to name a few) all have highlighted or recommended Sportsheets products and with society’s new and excited interest in soft bondage following the recent erotic fiction craze, Sportsheets is perfectly poised to continue bringing couples what they want: better sex!”
To kick off its 20th year, Sportsheets has revamped its signature packaging with a sophisticated and luxurious look that illustrates the quality and refinement that has made it a trusted and popular brand. The new packaging will make its industry debut at the upcoming 2013 ANME Founders Show along with a preview of the company’s newest product releases and merchandising plan-o-grams.
A full-color Sportsheets timeline will be featured in the brand new 2013 catalog and the company’s latest ad campaign to highlight some of the company’s – and the world’s – most memorable and noteworthy events. Check it out this month!
For ordering information, please email info@sportsheets.com, or call (800) 962-4606.
For more information about Sportsheets, please visit http://Sportsheets.com.
Sportsheets and the must-have Sex&Mischief collection have been named in two top categories for the upcoming 2013 AVN Awards. The company has been recognized for its outstanding manufacturing in the fetish and BDSM realms, lifting the taboo from this popular product category with sophisticated and quality gear designed for men, women and couples of all sexual lifestyles.
Sportsheets was named in the Best Fetish Manufacturer category for the groundbreaking Sex&Mischief collection, a matched set of easy-to-use restraint systems, blindfolds, harnesses, blindfolds and floggers designed for the beginner player or “vanilla” consumer. The award-winning brand uses high-fashion photography and high-impact marketing plans in a signature black-and-white motif that adds a touch of style to its outstanding sales reputation.
The Best Product Manufacturer – Large nomination went to Sportsheets for its exceptional product design, development and full-spectrum marketing of its top-selling collections. From the internationally acclaimed Sex In the Shower collection to the growing Sex&Mischief and Sportsheets Premium sexual positioning and restraint accessories, Sportsheets offers retailers an expansive range of products that appeal to the widest consumer demographic.
“The Sportsheets team would like to thank our friends and colleagues who nominated Sportsheets and Sex&Mischief for these two top AVN Awards,” Sportsheets founder and CEO Tom Stewart said. “It’s an honor to be recognized for our hard work in these important product categories. It’s been an incredibly successful year for Sportsheets and we couldn’t have done it without the help and support of our friends and colleagues.”
The 2013 AVN Awards is scheduled Jan. 19 at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Hosted by adult superstars Asa Akira and Digital Playground starlet Jesse Jane, this year’s AVN Awards will celebrate its 30th anniversary as the “Oscars of porn.”
For more information about Sex&Mischief, please visit http://sexandmischief.com/, email info@sportsheets.com, or call (800) 962-4606.
For more information about Sportsheets, please visit http://Sportsheets.com.
Sportsheets and its popular Door Jam Sex Sling were recommended in the Huffington Post Canada’s sexy holiday gift guide featuring sexologist Dr. Trina Read’s personal suggestions for spicing up the holiday season. Part of an “Adult Toys for Every Personality” column, Dr. Read urged the importance of foreplay and editors suggested the Sportsheets Sex Sling as an easy and safe sex aid that can help couples try new positions.
“Yes, we’ve all heard about Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s sex swing, but for those who have thought to themselves, ‘I bet that could create some pretty cool positions, this could be the gift for you,” The Huffington Post Canada described. “We particularly love that it’s so easy to put up and take down, meaning no awkward moments when the in-laws come over.”
The Sportsheets Door Jam Sex Sling lets couples take their sex lives to new heights– literally – with an adjustable system that fits any solid door. This Sex Sling features a soft seat that pivots for comfort and control with supportive foot straps and handgrips for instant leverage, allowing for new positions and deeper, more satisfying penetration.
“Our Door Jam Sex Sling has been flying off store shelves since its initial debut and remains one of our top-selling positioning devices – especially during the holiday season,” Sportsheets President Julie Stewart said. “We’re so pleased that this effective sexual enhancement tool was recognized by such a respected resource and to have one of our supporting retailers, Pinkcherry.ca, named as the place to find it!”
Dr. Read’s full article and accompanying holiday gift guide can be found online at http://huff.to/QAEGjf
For more information about Sportsheets® and the Door Jam SexSling, please visit http://www.sportsheets.com.
Sportsheets has been named 2012 Novelty Company of the Year by the Free Speech Coalition (FSC), which recognizes companies whose innovative business plans and practices set stellar examples within the adult industry and beyond. This year Sportsheets was recognized for its unwavering dedication to lifting the BDSM and fantasy taboo with quality products designed to bring couples closer together.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by an industry organization like FSC, a valuable resource and defender of adult companies’ who conduct fair business,” Sportsheets CEO and founder Tom Stewart said. “Sportsheets was built with integrity and quality at its forefront and we are proud to run a community-conscious company that creates must-have products that help change people’s lives.”
Each year, FSC selects a company within the sex toy realm that has demonstrated constant innovation and excellence and whose success not only benefits the business but the adult industry as a whole. FSC Executive Director Diane Duke and her board members selected Sportsheets for maintaining high quality standards and integrity while employing local contractors and proudly manufacturing more than two-thirds of its catalog in the USA.
“Year after year Sportsheets has demonstrated its ability to create quality products that are innovative and pleasing to consumers,” Duke said. “Tom and [Sportsheets President] Julie [Stewart] have always been solid supporters of the Free Speech Coalition and have consistently shared their knowledge and expertise with others in the industry. A sensationally successful company with strong good-hearted leaders, Sportsheets is a fine example of our industry’s best and brightest.”
Sportsheets has been a supporter of FSC and its efforts since the beginning, as both share similar values and ethics in business and beyond. Julie Stewart even acted as Treasurer from 2003-2004 and later FSC President from 2004-2005, further strengthening the company’s bond with the industry trade organization.
Sportsheets also was recognized for having navigated the recent “Fifty Shades of Grey” erotic novel phenomenon with poise and creativity, matching the grey theme with that of the company’s groundbreaking Sex&Mischief collection of BDSM fantasy restraints and sexy accessories.
“Sportsheet’s Sex&Mischief line has dovetailed beautifully with the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ craze that hit the novelty industry,” Duke said.
Sex&Mischief brought to the industry the first full collection of BDSM-related fantasy toys available in cohesive, wall-friendly packaging with high-fashion photography that highlights each product as a sexy accessory rather than a kinky plaything. The two must-haves have become perfect compliments and the Sportsheets team is proud to see how open and excited the world has become to the idea of using restraints and bondage in the bedroom.
For more information about Sex&Mischief, please visit http://www.sexandmischief.com.
For more information about Sportsheets, please visit http://www.sportsheets.com.