PHOENIX – October marks the 20th anniversary of adult products manufacturer PHS International.
Of more significance for founders Chuck Harnish and Jim Horne, October marks their 25th anniversary as life partners.
“We are absolutely delighted to be celebrating two decades as adult industry innovators together after 25 wonderful years as partners in business and in life,” Harnish said.
Horne and Harnish founded PHS in 1995, after an Arizona merchant requested a line of Pride jewelry. Word spread of the company’s colorful inventory, and its catalog quickly expanded from a handful of SKUs to more than 5,000 LGBTQ and BDSM items.
“The mainstream demand for Pride gear was huge, and retailers wanted everything from apparel to home décor. So, Jim and I set to work not only to stock stores fast but also to help [stores] create inclusive and welcome shopping environments,” Harnish said. “No longer delegated just to a single rainbow-colored corner, our Pride merchandise — now known as Gaysentials — is sold in every continent except Antarctica.”
Another 10 years passed before PHS entered the adult arena, which they said was in dire need of gay representation. Harnish and Horne decided to create a full line of products marketed specifically to gay men with packaging and a brand name that accurately reflected their target audience. The line became M2M — the first adult product collection to feature two men on the front of its packaging. M2M made history with its forward-thinking approach to marketing to the gay community. Today, the line remains a mainstay in adult stores around the world and offers a range of essentials, including BDSM and cock-and-ball products at competitive price points.
“We started the plan-o-gram approach with our 3′ x 8′ wall display, and the incredibly successful M2M launch paved the way for our other branded lines,” Harnish said. “Knowing that a lot of companies were manufacturing similar goods, we decided to create full-line branded goods with eye-catching packaging. We essentially treated packaging and merchandising as importantly as the manufacturing of the products themselves. And when we introduced M2M at our first ExpoMark show, industry vets were impressed by its quality and cohesive displays.”
Since then, PHS International has debuted more popular lines of products, including H2H (Heart to Heart) beginner BDSM gear marketed to heterosexual couples, Fresh! vegan fetish toys and vibes, Bijoux de Nip hand-beaded nipple clamps, and With Attitude novelties. Recent product releases include solid stainless steel cock rings in various colors and styles, Bijoux de Nip handcrafted pasties, and Ka-Pow Color! brightly colored leather gear.
“We have always been — and always will be — a small company, and to have made it so far in this competitive industry shows that PHS International holds a strong and respected position,” Harnish said. “We look forward to creating even more products and collections that speak to our loyal customers’ needs and wants.”
