Launch Spotlight: Interview With Nicole Leinbach, Owner and Founder of STIMULATE: A B2B Sexual Wellness Trade Show

August 29, 2023

About 18 months ago, Nicole Leinbach, founder of Retail Minded and co-founder Independent Retailers & Sellers Conference (IRSC), decided to launch her first trade show, aiming to fill a void in the retail and wholesale sexual wellness space that she saw and wanted to support. 

The sexual wellness market in the U.S. was valued at $11 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $20 billion by 2030, according to a report by statista

On July 24 and 25, STIMULATE: A B2B Sexual Wellness Trade Show debuted in Nashville with about 200 attendees and more than 40 vendors.

While this was her first trade show launch, Leinbach is no stranger to events. She produces IRSC, a conference held twice a year at ASD Market Week, an Emerald trade show that brings together more than 40,000 attendees and 1,800 vendors in the wholesale merchandise industry. The events take place biannually in the winter and summer in Las Vegas and are listed among the top 20 of TSNN’s Top 250 Trade Shows.

TSNN caught up with Leinbach to find out more about the launch. She shared:

  • Insight into her background
  • Why she decided to launch a sexual wellness trade show now
  • How she selected Nashville
  • An inside look at the top vendors
  • Who the key buyers were at the show
  • Highlights at the event
  • The scoop on where she landed financially

Listen to our interview with Leinbach here.

Event Highlights

Education. The event featured 21 sessions, sponsored by Esquire Advertising, that supported retail and eCommerce operations, product knowledge and sexual wellness insight from industry leaders that included Senior Editor Claire McCormack from Beauty Independent, Dr. Evan Goldstein from Bespoke Surgical and Future Method and Author and Somatic Wellness Coach Pamela Madsen — to name a few.

Networking. Social experiences included a VIP media, speaker + retailer evening on Nashville’s Honky Tonk bus. Nashville music artist Aly Cutter took the stage for a two-hour STIMULATE+Afterhours experience, sponsored by Eldorado Trading Company, one of the nation's largest distributors of pleasure products and novelty goods.

Buyers. The event attracted retailers that included CVS Pharmacy, Lions Den, Hustler Hollywood, various independent stores, marketplace sellers and many more.

Exhibitors. The trade show floor featured products that support young-to-mature, head-to-toe sexual wellness — from feminine care and men’s health to pleasure products and novelty items, such as greeting cards, candles and more. Each day, the show featured three fashion product shows to highlight its vendors.

STIMULATE will return to Nashville Aug. 5-6, 2024.


Don’t miss any event-related news: Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter HERE, listen to our latest podcast HERE and engage with us on TwitterFacebook and LinkedIn!

Add new comment

Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.    Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.   The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.    MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.     MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.