Nicole Leinbach Hoffman | STIMULATE Founder
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Whether a seasoned attendee of STIMULATE or attending for the first time, join this kick-off session to learn was to optimize the STIMULATE experience presented by show Founder Nicole Hoffman. Attendees can also look forward to a snapshot of the state of sexual wellness.
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Soon to Be Announced
Ashlin Hadden, Founder + CEO Essence Insurance
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
From lubes to latex, gummies to glass toys. If you’re selling it, you’re liable for it. Whether you’re a retailer, wholesaler, or running a DTC empire from your home. One slip (literally or legally) can take you from thriving to be sued faster than you can say “uninsured.” Join us for a no-BS breakdown of how to protect your pleasure brand, your assets (wink), and your peace of mind.
Valerie Martin, LCSW, CST | Founder + Clinical Director, The Gaia Center (Moderator)
Jenna McClelland | Founder, E’Leurre Naturals
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Consent isn’t just for the bedroom—it can start at the first customer conversation. In this panel hosted by Certified Sex Therapist Valerie Martin, we’ll explore how sexual wellness retailers can play a key role in normalizing and supporting sexual consent and communication in a way that is appropriate to their setting. From recommending conversation games to framing products in ways that promote connection (rather than “fixing” sexual problems), panelists will share practical tools and inclusive language that empowers customers of all identities and relationship styles. Whether you’re helping a nervous first-time buyer or a couple looking to deepen their intimacy, this discussion will offer simple, actionable ways to champion healthy sexual communication on the retail floor.
Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn | Sex + Relationship Expert, Author, TV Host, Professor + Luv Bites Podcast Host
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Join Dr. Tara as she shares how she transformed taboo topics into a thriving social media empire rooted in honesty, education, and empowerment. In this dynamic keynote, Dr. Tara takes the audience behind the scenes —from launching her platform to becoming a leading voice in sexual wellness and education. With unfiltered insights, Dr. Tara reveals the highs and lows of building a personal brand, crafting impactful content, navigating controversies, and leveraging press opportunities. She also offers a candid look at her reality TV and various media experiences. This is a not to miss session that all attendees of STIMULATE can look forward to attending!
Jessica Drake | Marketing + Product Development, Wicked Sensual Care (Moderator)
Matthew Hennessey | Founder, Eversense Toys (Panelist)
Greta Herrin | Co-Founder, Toolbox Collective (Panelist)
Artemis Truini | Co-Founder, Toolbox Collective (Panelist)
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
If you want to better serve your store, begin by better servicing all your customers. This panel discussion will welcome a variety of perspectives to support consumers within the LGBTQ+ community, while also bringing visibility to the values, products and customer care. Expect to be educated, surprised, inspired and ultimately, prepared, to return to your stores with a heightened understanding of best practices when it comes to supporting this important consumer audience.
Heather McPherson | M.A., LPC-S, LMFT-S, CST-S + Sexual Health Alliance Founder and CEO
Michelle Melville-Kashon, M.A. | Sexual Health Alliance Community and Content Director
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Want to turn curious shoppers into loyal customers? In this engaging session, you’ll discover how foundational sex education builds trust, boosts sales, and keeps customers coming back. You’ll leave with easy-to-use sex ed tips and conversation starters that create more informed—and empowered—buyers, whether you’re selling products, offering services, or building community. This session will help you build customer trust through education. Learn the sex ed insights your customers crave.
Georganne Bender | KIZER & BENDER (Moderator)
Dee Bertino | Attorney + Co-Owner, Fantasy Gifts + Co-Founder of SheEO Marketing (Panelist)
Alex Decker | General Manager, Fantasy Gifts (Panelist)
Brianna McKnight | Sexuality Educator, Social Media Coordinator + Community Events Consultant, Fantasy Gifts (Panelist)
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
As brick and mortar stores evolve to become more competitive with online shopping, one of our most important assets are our frontline staff. The sales staff are not only the face of our company, they are a direct conduit to our customers. No longer can sales staff simply ring up sales behind a counter. If you require more from your sales staff, they will feel like a more valued member of your team, regardless of their pay and whether they are full-time or part-time. This panel will explore how to best utilize your employees time so they are productive throughout their shift, set standards for your employees, how to train to make sure these standards are implemented, and how to make sure your employees are accountable and the standards are upheld. Don’t forget to bring your own questions, as well, for our retail panel!
David Dancer | President of Future Method
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
With over 30 years of marketing experience across a variety of service, product and retail businesses, David will share actionable insights and recommendations that you will be able to take back to your store to educate shoppers and customers on anal sexual wellness to drive product sampling, sales and repeat purchases to improve your “bottom” line.
Nicoletta Heidegger | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist + Sexologist (Moderator)
Natalie Johnson Annis | Co-Founder of Like A Kitten
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Details of session to be revealed soon.
Cynthia Plotch | Co-Founder, Winx Health
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
This panel will explore how retailers are partnering with sexual wellness brands to disrupt the traditional intimacy aisle with innovative products to meet modern consumers’ demands for education, inclustivity, discretion, and accessibility. Together, they will examine the $6B gap in sexual health retail and share insights on how reimagined product offerings, inclusive marketing, and de-stigmatized approaches are creating a new standard where nothing is “TMI” intimate care.
John Lawson | Author and AI + Retail Expert
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Selling in the sexual wellness space comes with a unique challenge: creating content that converts without getting flagged, banned, or shadowbanned. In this session, John Lawson, ecommerce expert, digital strategist, and AI marketing specialist, shares how top brands are using tools like ChatGPT to generate compliant content, streamline marketing, and build consistent visibility. You’ll learn how to automate messaging, work around restrictive algorithms, and train AI to match your brand’s voice — all while growing your audience and driving sales. Attendees can look forward to learning how to use AI tools to create high-converting, compliant content, reframe messaging to avoid platform restrictions and bans, scale social, email, and product content quickly and efficiently, train AI to reflect your brand voice and customer triggers, and increase visibility in a restricted category using ethical growth tactics. This is a keynote session you won’t want to miss!
Silvina Modolo | Cruise Sales Manager, Desire and Temptation Resorts & Cruises
Susana De La Peña | Boutiques + Jewelry Manager, Desire and Temptation Resorts & Cruises
Dr. Erica Corpening, Pharm.D. | Hidden Honey Homes
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
The twists and turns of customer connectivity to sexual wellness products is not always straight forward. There are many types of destinations in which these products can reach consumers, and this session will explore some of the non-traditional merchants that support pleasure products at retail. From cruise lines to resorts and more, attendees can look forward to understanding how to engage customers at a variety of intersections that meet their target audience of consumers. From marketing to merchandising, get ready for an action packed session on shoppertainment when it comes to sexual wellness.
Soon to Be Announced
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
Soon to Be Announced
STIMULATE+Educate Main Stage
From head to toe, young to mature, purpose to pleasure, STIMULATE connects retailers, spas, medical offices and more with vendors that support sexual wellness across categories that include men’s health, feminine care, pleasure products, novelty items and other inventory to support sexual well being.
©STIMULATE Sexual Wellness
Stay informed with industry insight, professional networking opportunities, brand, retail + medtail connectivity experiences + more!
