Nasstoys embarked on its 45th year of business this year and reflected on how the company has grown, evolved and always held true to its core values. Nasstoys President Elliot Schwartz is currently leading an all-female sales team, continuing to expand the brand, and trying to navigate a rapidly evolving and highly competitive market.
Schwartz’s journey with Nasstoys is a testament to his commitment to persistence, loyalty and hard work. As a seasoned entrepreneur, visionary and one of the original founding members of this industry, Schwartz is no stranger to working in the previously male-dominated world of the pleasure product industry. However, instead of conforming to the status quo, he has actively sought to create a more inclusive workplace by assembling a team of talented women, including an all-female sales team.
“When you bring together individuals with different perspectives, experiences and skills, you create a dynamic environment where groundbreaking ideas can flourish,” says Schwartz. “Sometimes, when we have meetings, I can’t get a word in. I love to just sit back and watch them work together to solve a problem or get ready for a big show. I am constantly amazed by how creative, smart and persistent they all are individually, but as a group, they really are unstoppable.”
Schwartz’s decision to build an all-female sales team was not a mere accident, but a strategic choice. He and Nasstoys Co-Founder Teddy Rothstein handpicked a group of exceptional women who excel in their respective areas. The result? A small but mighty powerhouse team that consistently outperforms industry benchmarks.
“Even after 45 years, Teddy and I still believe that loyalty, relationships and customer service are paramount in this industry,” says Schwartz. “I know a lot of people think we are ‘old school’ at Nasstoys, but the reality is that we have just stayed true to who we are as a company. Our customers know they can pick up the phone anytime and reach whomever they are trying to on the team, including myself, and that’s what’s most important to me. We have stayed consistent with our bi-monthly releases, giving our customers six new sets of items per year and not overwhelming them with a hundred new SKUs at a time. Our methods might seem old school to some, but they have kept us in business and growing for 45 years.”
In an industry historically dominated by men, Nasstoys has emerged on the other side with a team of remarkable women who are playing pivotal roles in shaping Nasstoys, a legacy name in the world of adult pleasure products.
“Ellen, Kathryn (Hartman), Taylor (Means) and Suzy (Contreras) have each, in different ways, played critical roles in the success of Nasstoys at various times throughout the years,” praises Schwartz. “Combined, they have been around longer than the company, and individually, they have all shown their dedication since we started working together.”
The women of Nasstoys are more than just employees; they are trailblazers and thought leaders in their own right. Ellen, Nasstoys’ Office and Purchasing Manager, is a logistics genius and is really the unsung hero who holds the team and company together. Nasstoys has above a 96% fill rate, primarily due to her ability to foresee demands and market trends. Ellen has been with Nasstoys for over 15 years, and during that time, she has become an indispensable member of the team and a role model for others. During COVID-19, when many other companies struggled to get products, Nasstoys kept a 90% fill rate and had products in the warehouse ready to ship.
“Ellen saves the day on a daily basis,” Schwartz adds. “Her ability to multi-task, doing her job while still helping everyone else with whatever they need, is what helps keep everything running smoothly. If Taylor is on the road and has a problem, the first person she calls is Ellen. If Suzy needs someone to walk to the warehouse to check an order, she calls Ellen. Ellen is the very best at keeping us all connected, even when we are thousands of miles apart.”
Nasstoys’ Senior Sales Manager Kathryn Hartman has been with the company for over 33 years and has not only thrived in the industry, but has also paved the way for others to follow suit. Hartman has traversed the globe for Nasstoys, traveling millions of miles and seeing thousands of customers whom, over the years, have become friends. She has always set a high standard for professionalism, starting in the industry at a time when she was one of a handful of women who worked in any key role. Hartman has played a pivotal part in the growth of the Nasstoys brand and the company’s overall success since her first day with the company.
“I believe Kathryn is one of the most under-recognized leaders in the pleasure product industry,” commends Schwartz. “She has been an advocate for so many groups that have frequently been marginalized by society and this industry. Since the first day she came to work for us, Kathryn insisted we participate in pride events and charity events for various causes that weren’t necessarily widely accepted. Kathryn has dedicated her professional life to this company, and I don’t have the proper words to describe how much she means to me personally and to this company, which she has had such an important part in building.”
Suzy Contreras is Nasstoys’ West Coast and South American Sales Representative, and has been with the company for two and a half years. Nasstoys has many valued customers around the globe, but the increasing numbers over the years on the West Coast, in Mexico and in South America made it imperative to have a Spanish-speaking Sales Representative who could travel and visit customers. Suzy is organized, detail-oriented and a whiz with reporting and other strategic needs of the sales team. She is based out of Las Vegas and helps tremendously with tradeshows and the logistics of Nasstoys’ presence.
“Before coming to Nasstoys, I worked for over 20 years in adult manufacturing,” shares Contreras. “I was excited to move into sales, but I was nervous and unsure what to expect. The entire team at Nasstoys made me feel at ease and helped me in every way I needed. I appreciate Elliot and Teddy giving me the opportunity to showcase my talents, while traveling and still being able to spend most of my time at home with my family.”
As Nasstoys’ Brand Ambassador and Sales Representative, Taylor Means is not only the public face but also Nasstoys’ road warrior. She spends almost half the year traveling for Nasstoys, doing tradeshows, store trainings, events and visiting customers. Means has worked at Nasstoys since 2015 and has proven herself to be an outspoken leader for the brand. She has helped change public perceptions and promote a healthier attitude toward Nasstoys through educational campaigns, product training, building partnerships and personal relationships, while also driving the company into new territories.
“Taylor has grown so much since she first came to work for Nasstoys, nearly eight years ago,” says Schwartz. “I always used to joke and call Taylor my ‘problem child,’ but over the past several years, Taylor has taken so much initiative and shown so much pride in the Nasstoys brand, I could not be more proud of how far she has come, both personally and professionally. Taylor has spent years on the road doing what we think is most important: promoting brand loyalty, building relationships and providing the best customer service. More recently, Taylor has contributed to repackaging some of our best-selling flagship products and is taking Nasstoys into new territory with brand collaborations.’
“I have so much appreciation for how hard Elliot and Teddy, and the late Tony Sicilia, worked to build Nasstoys that I really strive daily to live up to their example and expectations,” shares Means. “Working for a brand with people who have truly helped shape the pleasure product industry in more ways than most understand makes me so grateful to be part of the Nasstoys family. At this point in my career, I could never imagine working anywhere else, and I am excited about some of our upcoming releases, along with collaborations I’ve been working incredibly hard on. I look forward to seeing the progression of the Nasstoys empire and will continue to help push the brand to new levels. More than anything, I appreciate that I have a job I LOVE that gives me the flexibility to be a parent. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to be there for my kids’ dance recitals, sporting events and school activities, while still having a fast-paced career. The Nasstoys team might be smaller than some, but we are truly a family who would do anything for each other.”
Nasstoys is a shining example of how women have not only succeeded, but thrived in an industry that was once a male stronghold. The dedicated women of Nasstoys have not only shaped a successful company but have also contributed to a more open and inclusive conversation about sexual wellness and female empowerment. If nothing else, we hope the story of Schwartz and his female dream team reminds us that diversity is not just a buzzword, but a key driver of innovation and progress in the 21st century.
Nasstoys Celebrates 45 Years Of Quality Service Lilly Jenner originally appeared in StorErotica.