Workshop Opening Session
1:00 PM
Led By STIMULATE Founder, Retail Professor, Author of Retail 101 | Nicole Leinbach Hoffman
Attendees can look forward to hearing from STIMULATE’s Founder and meet the STIMULATE+Workshop lead educator in this quick, kick-off session. At this time, attendees can also gain best practices on how to participate in the day ahead, explore the worksheets that will be used in the day ahead and gain some fun surprises to kick-start their day of retail learning, best practices in sexual wellness discussions + more!
Session #1
Retail Report Card
1:15 PM to 1:45 PM
Led By STIMULATE Founder, Retail Professor, Author of Retail 101 | Nicole Leinbach Hoffman
Led By Retail Expert, Consumer Anthropologist + Principal of KIZER + BENDER | Georganne Bender
In order to look ahead, we must first reflect on what has already been. Attendees of this session can look forward to some self-analysis of their existing store operations – or lack of them, including the opportunity for new store owners to benefit from – in preparation for the day ahead of learning. Retail data will be revealed to support the current state of retail, including specific data supporting sexual wellness businesses and a variety of variances between them. Additionally, attendees will be challenged to identify professional goals for their unique businesses with the intent to work towards the necessary steps to reach these goals.
Session #2
Generational Snapshot: You Can’t Connect with Customers If You Don’t Know Who They Are!
1:45 PM to 2:15 PM
Led By Retail Expert, Consumer Anthropologist + Principal of KIZER + BENDER | Georganne Bender
Let’s talk about customers! Each day, you interact with five distinct generations, each with a unique approach to shopping, trust, and relationship building. During this presentation, you’ll meet: Generation Alpha, the first fully digital generation of hyper-connected multi-taskers who don’t understand the concept of unplugging; Generation Z, the most diverse generation in history, who are socially conscious, whip-smart, and self-driven; the Millennials, who are tech-savvy, philanthropic, and experience-orientated; Generation X, the tech-smart sandwich generation that’s independent, skeptical, and all about work-life balance; and the Baby Boomers, who are mentally, physically, socially, and digitally active and still account for over 70% of US disposable income.
You’ll learn why what works for one generation is kryptonite to another, plus how to connect with every customer, delivering what they want, when they want it, the way that they want it! The ultimate goal, however? To help both you and your team support every customer that walks thru your store doors and increase sales!
Session #3
Sexperts at the Helm: Building Authentic Businesses with Insider Insight
2:15 PM to 2:45 PM
Led By Laura Desiree, Adult Industry Expert, Pleasure Educator + Certified Intimacy Coach
Led By Coral Osborne, Sex + Intimacy Coach
Sex educators and adult industry experts Laura Desiree and Coral Osborne are a powerhouse duo offering unparalleled consulting and brand representation in the realms of adult entertainment and sexual health wellness and education. With a combined wealth of experience spanning live event production, ethical intimacy coordination, on-camera performance, content and marketing strategy, partnerships, talent recruitment, program curation and sex education, Laura and Coral bring a uniquely holistic perspective to every project.
As trusted voices within the industry and respected advocates for informed pleasure and professional integrity, they are available for brand partnerships, consulting, public speaking, and media representation. Backed by an expansive network and deep-rooted knowledge of the industry’s evolving landscape, Desiree & Osborne bridge the gap between cultural credibility and commercial success.
Session #4
The Merchandising Challenge
2:45 PM EST to 3:30 PM
Led By Retail Expert, Consumer Anthropologist + Principal of KIZER + BENDER | Georganne Bender
PLUS! Supported by Surprise Merchandising Expert Guest
It’s time to show off… and show up! The Merchandising Challenge will get every +Workshop attendee out of their seats for an immersive, interactive retail display experience. Expect to be challenged, but also expect to learn, have fun + even win some prizes! Challenges will focus on in-store displays to help enhance customer engagement, consumer sales and overall store layout. Don’t forget to bring your most pressing merchandising questions, as well!
Session #5
Sexual Self-Esteem & the Retail Experience (Without Playing Therapist)
3:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Led By Valerie Martin, LCSW, RYT | Founder + Clinical Director of The Gaia Center for Embodied Healing
Sexual self-esteem plays a powerful role in how people engage with pleasure, yet many potential customers carry silent shame, body insecurities, and a fear of being “broken.” In this session, Certified Sex Therapist Valerie Martin will explore how body image, sexual challenges, and self-worth can shape the customer experience—and how retailers can support them with empathy, confidence, and appropriate boundaries. Learn how to recognize and respond to common desire myths, affirm body diversity in product representation, and offer language that uplifts without shifting into a therapist role. We’ll unpack how toys and other products can empower exploration without reinforcing a narrative of dysfunction—because supporting pleasure means honoring the whole person.
Session #6
Increasing The Average Unit Per Transaction: 5 Tips to Know
4:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Led By STIMULATE Founder, Retail Professor, Author of Retail 101 | Nicole Leinbach Hoffman
A distributor and retail relationship should be more than just the Rep, it should be a team collectively working together to see their retail partners find success. This Q+A session will reveal the questions retailers are curious about, distributors want you to know and unique perspectives on how to optimize retail and distributor partnerships. Attendees can gain a “proof of concept” with our panel from Holiday Products as their various team members all have different takes and perspectives under the umbrella of Holiday. Bring your questions to chime in during our open Q+A experience to truly help you kickstart 2025 and make it your best year yet!
Session 7
Vendor Best Practices: How to Optimize Vendor Partnerships to Strengthen Store Success
4:30 PM to 4:50 PM
Led by Retail Expert, Consumer Anthropologist + Principal of KIZER + BENDER | Georganne Bender
Supported by Select Vendor Reps to Be Announced Soon
End your day with authentic + deep-dive discussions with a few key vendors that help bring your store to life. Whether you want to know about how to boost specific product sales, need ideas on ways to communicate more effectively about core categories or have ideas to share with vendors, this is your chance to get all your questions answered… plus their chance to share what they really value from their best retail partners!
Session 8
Wrap It Up! Final Session of the Day
4:50 PM to 5:00 PM-ish
A huge thanks to Nu Sensuelle is well deserved as this final session of the day, as well as we look forward to to your feedback! Attendees can also gain best practices on the next days ahead of STIMULATE + learn about all their VIP bonuses included in their show attendance as a STIMULATE+Workshop attendee!
1:00 PM
Led By STIMULATE Founder, Retail Professor, Author of Retail 101 | Nicole Leinbach Hoffman
Attendees can look forward to hearing from STIMULATE’s Founder and meet the STIMULATE+Workshop lead educator in this quick, kick-off session. At this time, attendees can also gain best practices on how to participate in the day ahead, explore the worksheets that will be used in the day ahead and gain some fun surprises to kick-start their day of retail learning, best practices in sexual wellness discussions + more!
Session #1
Retail Report Card
1:15 PM to 1:45 PM
Led By STIMULATE Founder, Retail Professor, Author of Retail 101 | Nicole Leinbach Hoffman
Led By Retail Expert, Consumer Anthropologist + Principal of KIZER + BENDER | Georganne Bender
In order to look ahead, we must first reflect on what has already been. Attendees of this session can look forward to some self-analysis of their existing store operations – or lack of them, including the opportunity for new store owners to benefit from – in preparation for the day ahead of learning. Retail data will be revealed to support the current state of retail, including specific data supporting sexual wellness businesses and a variety of variances between them. Additionally, attendees will be challenged to identify professional goals for their unique businesses with the intent to work towards the necessary steps to reach these goals.
Session #2
Generational Snapshot: You Can’t Connect with Customers If You Don’t Know Who They Are!
1:45 PM to 2:15 PM
Led By Retail Expert, Consumer Anthropologist + Principal of KIZER + BENDER | Georganne Bender
Let’s talk about customers! Each day, you interact with five distinct generations, each with a unique approach to shopping, trust, and relationship building. During this presentation, you’ll meet: Generation Alpha, the first fully digital generation of hyper-connected multi-taskers who don’t understand the concept of unplugging; Generation Z, the most diverse generation in history, who are socially conscious, whip-smart, and self-driven; the Millennials, who are tech-savvy, philanthropic, and experience-orientated; Generation X, the tech-smart sandwich generation that’s independent, skeptical, and all about work-life balance; and the Baby Boomers, who are mentally, physically, socially, and digitally active and still account for over 70% of US disposable income.
You’ll learn why what works for one generation is kryptonite to another, plus how to connect with every customer, delivering what they want, when they want it, the way that they want it! The ultimate goal, however? To help both you and your team support every customer that walks thru your store doors and increase sales!
Session #3
Sexperts at the Helm: Building Authentic Businesses with Insider Insight
2:15 PM to 2:45 PM
Led By Laura Desiree, Adult Industry Expert, Pleasure Educator + Certified Intimacy Coach
Led By Coral Osborne, Sex + Intimacy Coach
Sex educators and adult industry experts Laura Desiree and Coral Osborne are a powerhouse duo offering unparalleled consulting and brand representation in the realms of adult entertainment and sexual health wellness and education. With a combined wealth of experience spanning live event production, ethical intimacy coordination, on-camera performance, content and marketing strategy, partnerships, talent recruitment, program curation and sex education, Laura and Coral bring a uniquely holistic perspective to every project.
As trusted voices within the industry and respected advocates for informed pleasure and professional integrity, they are available for brand partnerships, consulting, public speaking, and media representation. Backed by an expansive network and deep-rooted knowledge of the industry’s evolving landscape, Desiree & Osborne bridge the gap between cultural credibility and commercial success.
Session #4
The Merchandising Challenge
2:45 PM EST to 3:30 PM
Led By Retail Expert, Consumer Anthropologist + Principal of KIZER + BENDER | Georganne Bender
PLUS! Supported by Surprise Merchandising Expert Guest
It’s time to show off… and show up! The Merchandising Challenge will get every +Workshop attendee out of their seats for an immersive, interactive retail display experience. Expect to be challenged, but also expect to learn, have fun + even win some prizes! Challenges will focus on in-store displays to help enhance customer engagement, consumer sales and overall store layout. Don’t forget to bring your most pressing merchandising questions, as well!
Session #5
Sexual Self-Esteem & the Retail Experience (Without Playing Therapist)
3:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Led By Valerie Martin, LCSW, RYT | Founder + Clinical Director of The Gaia Center for Embodied Healing
Sexual self-esteem plays a powerful role in how people engage with pleasure, yet many potential customers carry silent shame, body insecurities, and a fear of being “broken.” In this session, Certified Sex Therapist Valerie Martin will explore how body image, sexual challenges, and self-worth can shape the customer experience—and how retailers can support them with empathy, confidence, and appropriate boundaries. Learn how to recognize and respond to common desire myths, affirm body diversity in product representation, and offer language that uplifts without shifting into a therapist role. We’ll unpack how toys and other products can empower exploration without reinforcing a narrative of dysfunction—because supporting pleasure means honoring the whole person.
Session #6
Increasing The Average Unit Per Transaction: 5 Tips to Know
4:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Led By STIMULATE Founder, Retail Professor, Author of Retail 101 | Nicole Leinbach Hoffman
A distributor and retail relationship should be more than just the Rep, it should be a team collectively working together to see their retail partners find success. This Q+A session will reveal the questions retailers are curious about, distributors want you to know and unique perspectives on how to optimize retail and distributor partnerships. Attendees can gain a “proof of concept” with our panel from Holiday Products as their various team members all have different takes and perspectives under the umbrella of Holiday. Bring your questions to chime in during our open Q+A experience to truly help you kickstart 2025 and make it your best year yet!
Session 7
Vendor Best Practices: How to Optimize Vendor Partnerships to Strengthen Store Success
4:30 PM to 4:50 PM
Led by Retail Expert, Consumer Anthropologist + Principal of KIZER + BENDER | Georganne Bender
Supported by Select Vendor Reps to Be Announced Soon
End your day with authentic + deep-dive discussions with a few key vendors that help bring your store to life. Whether you want to know about how to boost specific product sales, need ideas on ways to communicate more effectively about core categories or have ideas to share with vendors, this is your chance to get all your questions answered… plus their chance to share what they really value from their best retail partners!
Session 8
Wrap It Up! Final Session of the Day
4:50 PM to 5:00 PM-ish
A huge thanks to Nu Sensuelle is well deserved as this final session of the day, as well as we look forward to to your feedback! Attendees can also gain best practices on the next days ahead of STIMULATE + learn about all their VIP bonuses included in their show attendance as a STIMULATE+Workshop attendee!