Xandria was one of the largest distributors of

sex toys A sex toy is an object or device that is primarily used to facilitate Sexual stimulation, sexual pleasure, such as a dildo, artificial vagina or Vibrator (sex toy), vibrator. Many popular sex toys are designed to resemble human genitals, and ma ...

and

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, books and novelty items in the

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. It began as a catalog of sexual aids for people with disabilities at a time when the

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was in its infancy. Xandria was also one of the first companies to sell sex-related items online. The business closed in 2016 when Lawrence Research Group, Inc., which operated the business, filed for dissolution with the

Nevada Secretary of State The secretary of state of Nevada is a statewide elected office in the State of Nevada. The Secretary of state (U.S. state government), secretary of state post is common to many U.S. states. In Nevada, it is a constitutional office (i.e., it is man ...

History

Xandria was founded in 1974 by Gaye Raymond, a

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physical therapy professor, and her husband,

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founder Roy Raymond. Gaye Raymond's philosophy was that people with disabilities should be able to enjoy as much of life as possible, including an active sex life. Xandria began as a catalog-based distributor of sexual aids for people with physical and

developmental disabilities Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions, comprising mental or physical impairments that arise before adulthood. Developmental disabilities cause individuals living with them many difficulties in certain areas of life, espe ...

. The original Xandria Collection offered mostly educational adult videos and books, as well as vibrators and

that were easier to grasp and maneuver by people who had physical impairments due to an

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or illness. The company's guarantee of

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, product quality and personal satisfaction helped it develop a following among the general public, especially among those who didn't want to be seen entering their local porn shop. Xandria's products were shipped in discreet packages that did not bear the company's name. Customers could request a refund within 60 days if they were not satisfied with their sex toys for any reason. Gaye and Roy Raymond sold the Xandria Collection in 1984 and the company's inventory was expanded to appeal to the general public. In addition to a catalog for people with disabilities, the company began selling

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, dildos, lubricants, vibrating cock rings, triple crowns, penis pumps,

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aids, and other sex-related products. In 1999, it also began carrying explicit sex videos distributed by sister company 1st Skin. The company's new owners also created an advisory board of health and sex experts. Members included sex educator, activist and author

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; journalist and author Michael Castleman, who penned the

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Advisor from 1991 to 1995; and clinical psychologist Louanne Cole, who now serves as resident expert for

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's "Sex Matters." Xandria was initially headquartered in

. It moved to

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, California in 1993 and to its final location in the

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in 2005. In 1997, the company launched Xandria.com, one of the first online stores dedicated to selling sex toys and adult videos. The site and the company itself have generated positive press from well-known publications such as Playboy,

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, Hustler, and

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. In its final phase, customers could order items through the mail and by calling a

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, but most of the company's sales were generated through its website. Xandria did not have a physical store. Xandria.com carried a long list of sex-related items, as well as articles on sexual health written by well-known authors. Several sex toys from the Xandria Collection were featured in the 2007 film ''Stash'', an indie comedy starring

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and

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. The film is about "Discreet Removals," a company that will remove people's stashes of

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and sex toys after their death, so that unsuspecting spouses and family members can "concentrate on grieving". Stash won the 2007 Gold Remi Award for excellence in the category of Mature Audience Narrative Feature"Stash
at the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival.

References

External links

*{{official, http://www.xandria.com/ Sex shops Assistive technology Online retailers of the United States Companies based in Paradise, Nevada Sex industry in Nevada

History

See also

References

External links