Adult Concepts & Lifestyle Expo 16,000 Visitors Lap Up Erotica Expo

New Zealand's first'adult concepts and lifestyle expo' recently took the 'adult' industry out of the backstreets and into the mainstream for thousands of Kiwis. The primary motivation for Erotica - held over the first weekend in August - was to have the adult industry viewed in a new way, say organisers Fiona Gibb and Steve Crow.

With a real passion to change people's perceptions about the adult industry, the couple started planning Erotica two years ago, after visiting Australia's successful Sexpo exhibitions - on which Erotica is modelled.

"New Zealand and Australia are closely related in terms of attitudes, culture and behaviour," says Fiona. "After watching how powerfully the Australian Sexpos have helped demystify the adult sex industry - we believed it was important to do the same in New Zealand. "By bringing sex into the light we are removing the dark shadows that have attached themselves to the adult industry." However, Fiona says Erotica was slightly tamer and more 'wholesome' than Sexpo and targeted a wider lifestyle base of exhibitors. "Erotica was not only about sex. "The aim of the event was to provide adults with access to frank, accurate information and direct exposure to a wide range of quality products and services looking at all aspects of adult health, sexuality and lifestyle. "For example, our exhibitor base included retailers of spa pools, DVD technology, lingerie, art, jewellery, aromatherapy products and adult products as well as service providers like tattooists, body piercers, skin care advisors, Glamour photography studios and a qualified doctor and physiotherapist.

"So there were a huge number of exhibitors who used this expo to market their products in a more fun way. "Let's face it, everybody uses sex to sell and these exhibitors could do that unashamedly without offending anybody."

Fiona and Steve say the exhibition attracted 16,200 visitors to the Greenland Expo Centre, 45 per cent of whom were women. They believe it's hard enough to get sponsorship for a mainstream expo, let alone an expo that has never been done before and is of a risque nature which makes some people uncomfortable:

"So it was fantastic that Radio Hauraki got behind us in a huge way and gave us their support. "They were willing early in the piece to put their name and logo alongside ours, whereas a lot of other companies were going: 'Mmm I'd rather wait'," enthuses Fiona. "There was a lot of fun involved working with the station.

"We went to functions together and they took part judging the Miss Erotica pageant. "When we took Vivienne, the adult actress, into the studio for an interview, the DJs were a real giggle to deal with and made us all relax instantly.

"They also handled it with a huge amount of professionalism. It's so easy in the adult industry for people, especially men, to come across as sleazy," she says. "Radio Hauraki - and Account Manager Todd Andrews - really put themselves on the line for us. "Everything they said they were going to do, they did and more. "They gave us a lot of extra plugs on the radio and we're now inundated with people who want to be involved next year. The 2001 Erotica is scheduled for November 8-11 at the Greenlane Expo Centre and adjoining Logan Campbell Centre and hall.