CEO Sam Manning of AlphaOmega Chats with Keith Witchka
By: Keith Witchka, Staff Writer
Keith@JRLChartsOnline.com
SAN DIEGO, CA – I am pleased to bring you one of the Top Entrepreneurs of the Gay Adult Entertainment Industry today. President and CEO of AlphaOmega Distributors, Sam Manning has taken on the Gay Adult Industry by storm.
Manning started his career back in 1996 working as a performer and as a production assistant while also working on main stream projects while going to college. Manning began doing videography and along the way Rick Ford from All Worlds Video, gave him his first directorial debut.
Manning then went on to create his first production company in 1998 which Gay porn veterans will remember as Boiling Point Productions. Since he first embarked on the Gay Adult Film Industry 13 years ago, Sam Manning has directed for several studios and has produced 50 gay adult film productions.
Sam told me that after a decade of being in the Gay Adult Film Industry marketplace, he had always felt underrepresented in the Wholesale market so, he then created his own Distribution company with his former business partner and began distributing many of today’s most popular gay porn labels including Chaos Men, Flava Works, Eurocreme Entertainment, Fresh SX Entertainment, XY Studios, and more under the company name 1Distribution.
After he and his business partner decided to go in different directions, Manning established AlphaOmega Distributors which is now responsible for the distribution of gay porn labels Jean Daniel-Cadinot, LATBOCON Entertainment, Man’s ART Studios, Street Boys Entertainment, New Meat Productions, Michael Steel Productions, and Latino Boys Entertainment.
He has also picked legendary gay porn labels Matt Sterling Entertainment, Hornet Pictures, Skater Boys Studios and the classic New Meat series. Further more he has expanded his reach into the Gay marketplace by distributing his own Organic Lubricant the continues to fly off the shelves in boutiques. Manning has also begun to distribute the irresistible Men’s JOCKO Underwear and Swimwear collection that continues to get major heat in retail boutiques across the country.
Please welcome to JRL CHARTS, President and CEO of AlphaOmega Distributors, Mr. Sam Manning.
Keith Witchka: Sam thank you for taking out the time of your hectic schedule to do an interview with us here on JRL CHARTS.
Sam Manning: It is my pleasure..
Keith Witchka: Currently your distribution company AlphaOmega Distributors has been growing with impressive Gay Adult Film studios as well as tapping into the sexy Men’s Underwear and Swimwear. How did you come up with your business model?
Sam Manning: Once upon a time you could be just a DVD distributor however, we serve the adult industry as a whole. This encompasses many products in addition to DVD’s. When our customers order from us we want them to be able to fill more of their shelves than just the movie shelf. It makes us more attractive as a supplier if we can meet the multiple needs of our retailers.
Keith Witchka: You are responsible for the United States and Canada regions for distributing Jean Daniel-Cadinot Gay porn films as well as LATBOCON Entertainment, Man’s ART, Street Boys, Latino-Boys and BerlinStar Film. Not only that, you are also exclusively distributing the brand new Big Budget Gay porn film “The Secrets of College Life” [2011] which is produced by Michael Steel Productions and Hornet/STG Pictures. How do you go about choosing the brands and goods to distribute under the AlphaOmega empire?
Sam Manning: We have been very fortunate to establish the business relationships we currently have. Jean Daniel Cadinot is one of the all time best production companies that the world has ever known and we are truly fortunate to represent the FrenchART gay porn label here in the United States and Canada region.
The gay porn labels we represent range from XY, LATBOCON, Mans Art, Street Boys, Latino Boys and the multi-award winning Berlin Star gay porn labels. They are at the top of their game and fill a wide variety of needs and genres in the Gay adult film world.
I have had a long time friendship and business relationship with Rene Bolinski of XY Distribution and through this we have trust and mutual desire to bring these great films to North America. Rene Bolinski, Rene Escobar and the folks at the Berlin Star Film gay porn label along with myself are all in sinct on continuing to offer high quality gay porn film productions.
Michael Steel of Michael Steel Productions who is responsible for the production of our brand new release “The Secrets of College Life” [2011], is one of the most talented young directors to come along in quite a while. He has worked tirelessly to create The Secrets of College life [2011] and hone it to perfection. This film will awe gay consumers worldwide once they get their hands on it. We will see great things coming from Michael Steel this Fall Season. That is something retailers and gay consumers can take to the bank!
Keith Witchka: With the economy is a state of upset for many distributors and with retail stores stocking catalog heavily over the Summer Season – Do you see New Releases picking up for the Fall Season?
Sam Manning: Yes most certainly. Sales always pick up during the cooler months as folks are spending more time finding entertainment inside. The economy has been no friend to any industry but sex will always be in demand, Gay consumers demand fresh product with fresh faces. Also as someone who has lost data to computer crashes over the years, my view of DVD’s is”Downloading is fast but DVD’s last forever.” If your hard drive crashes say goodbye to your collection of adult films.. if you have DVD’s you can reload them and watch them at anytime.
Keith Witchka: How has it been for AlphaOmega’s sales during the hardest Summer Season of all time in the Gay Adult Entertainment Industry?
Sam Manning: Sales are always down in the summer and we all know the economy is terrible. We have worked with our studios to bring prices in line with the market so that we can remain competitive and allow our customers to still enjoy entertainment which they so deserve in these hard times. We have also as you mentioned, added other products to our line up and have a more rounded and robust sales forecast. Our new line of hand made leather cockrings are doing great and have offered stores a great profit margin.
Keith Witchka: We are finding many stores are being extremely selective on what they are stocking in their New Release section as well as in their preview booths. What is your secret in getting retailers to make sure that your Top Sellers are always on their shelves?
Sam Manning: There are still many stores we would like to work with. But the best is that the end consumer asks for the titles we carry because they are that good. I am not bragging—its just a fact! When customers know our studios they ask for them.
North Americans had been waiting for years for the Jean Daniel-Cadinot collection to become available here. They new that his gay porn titles were produced and distributed in France and retailers were having a hell of a time getting their hands on his titles. If you have great products which are not the same ol’ same ol’ form the cookie cutter, consumer will takes notice.
Keith Witchka: Customer Service is always a top priority for retailers when it comes to special orders. How does AlphaOmega handle retail vendors and, what can new retail vendors expect in regards to service from AlphaOmega Distributors?
Sam Manning: Absolutely top priority. AlphaOmega Distributors strive to have everything in stock at all times for our vendors. This means the day your order comes in, it is shipped out. We hate it when vendors and consumers have to wait for their orders. AlphaOmega stands behind our product and quality of our productions.
Keith Witchka: What is your sales team telling you about the climate of the Gay Adult Entertainment Industry?
Sam Manning: These are not the 80′s nor the 90′s but DVD’s are still selling, novelty sales are doing great, perhaps with the bad economy, part of customers staycations involves great sex. It also seems consumers want something tangible when they spend their hard earned dollars. So having a DVD, cockring, jock or novelty brand that you can hold and use rather than a signal downloaded over the internet, seems to be coming back in vogue.
It should also be noted by retailers that although everyone has been hurt by the economy, gay consumers still have more disposable income and often dual income with no children.. be sure you are catering to the needs of customers who can and will spend at your stores.
Keith Witchka: Let me move from Gay Adult DVDs over to your apparel line. After reviewing your apparel line Sam, I have to say that you have a proven line of sexy swimwear and underwear that consumers will and are going crazy over. How did you come up with the concept of this line of sexy swimwear?
Sam Manning: Sell what you use or in this case wear. I love JOCKO—-the fit of the design is everything! These are designer jocks, underwear and swimwear by an American designer which are a fraction of the cost of other designer underwear labels.. In a bad economy, you will always want to take care of your customers.
Keith Witchka: Apparel has been a huge mover in Adult Boutiques this year. What styles do you have coming for the Fall/Winter Season?
Sam Manning: We are sticking with the classics Keith…you can only go so far with mens underwear. You have to ask yourself…are you a brief, boxer brief or jock strap guy? If it aint broke don’t fix it. I love a man in sex masculine underwear myself.
Keith Witchka: You have recently moved your warehouse down to San Diego. Tell us about the new warehouse of AlphaOmega.
Sam Manning: With all of our new product we needed more space and a change of scenery. San Diego fit the bill with a large warehouse and office space that we are still settling into. We are continuing to add new products all the time. We love San Diego. We loved LA but San Diego makes sense right now.. more space less overhead.
Keith Witchka: Can Retailers and Gay Consumers expect to see Video productions of your fantastic organic lubricants that are truly a pleasure item for all consumers to try.
Sam Manning: Our lube line is 95% organic and made in the USA. The manufacturers are great guys and a portion of all sales go to AIDS charities. I think once we are settled in here in San Diego, we will be producing several commercials for all of our products.
Keith Witchka: Tell us about the AlphaOmega official website?
Sam Manning: Alphaomegadist.com is a site where we keep it basic. It has all of our product lines and suggested retail prices. Although I would like to think of it is an attractive and easy to navigate site as well for both retail vendors and consumers.
Keith Witchka: Sam I wanted to get your opinion on the way the wholesale market has been performing over the past 3 quarters of 2011. Many distributors have cut back on products to carry for their retail vendors. Mainly do to a lack of reorders on particular brands and with special orders not being fulfilled. How do you stay on the competitive edge to reach retail vendors with your products and services?
Sam Manning: This is something we are constantly working on. It is an area of business where we must remain flexible. I wish there were a magic wand we could wave to get all retailers nationwide to try working with us because once they do, they will find themselves ordering from AlphaOmega Distributors for their product needs at all times.
I also wish more retailers felt comfortable with expressing their needs to us so that we could find a suitable business relationship to satisfy their needs. Too often buyers seem to have a preconceived notion of what to expect from us and do not speak freely on what works for them.. you know the old adage you never know until you ask. So until the magic wand comes along we rely on great advertising sources like JRL CHARTS.
Keith Witchka: Sam we thank you for the plug on that one! There are many producers who send JRL CHARTS their screeners to be covered in order to reach the top distributors in the LGBT Adult Entertainment business. What can you tell producers on how to approach AlphaOmega Distributors with their productions?
Sam Manning: Just get in touch with us. We don’t bite. If We make money then the producer will make money. Thats how the world goes around. We will give producers honest, open information on the industry and the process of what to expect. Sending screeners to AlphaOmega is a great way to start as we will then begin teasing the marketplace with their brand to see consumers reactions.
Keith Witchka: I want to definitely cover the Cockrings and Roughneck Leather Sex Toy items that you exclusively distribute. Tell us about these two items…
Sam Manning: Roughnecks Leather is a new venture of hand crafted top quality Leather cockrings with stitching in the various colors of the hanky code. Roughnecks is a great addition to this line along with other fine hand crafted leather products we distribute. By the way, these are not from China and they are truly made by craftsmen in Mexico and are made to last a lifetime.
Keith Witchka: Adult Novelties, Gay Adult DVDs, jocks, underwear, Lubricants…..what is coming next from AlphaOmega Distributors?
Sam Manning: The name of the game nowadays is flexibility and quality. We here at AlphaOmega Distributors are open to whatever quality exclusive products we can bring aboard. Again it comes back to our desire to offer our customers as many options as possible.
Keith Witchka: You are currently exclusively distributing 10 Elite Gay Adult Entertainment production studios What can Gay Consumers expect from your Flagship gay porn labels this Fall?
Sam Manning: They can expect fresh New gay porn titles from all of our flagship gay porn labels. We have held off on new releases for the summer knowing sales are slow and while everyone was on vacation and enjoying the nice weather. But now, that the Fall Season has begun, independent distributors, retail vendors and gay consumers can look forward to some amazing new gay xxx films starting this month with Michael Steel Productions “The Secrets of College Life” [2011]. Also be on the look out for the North American premiere release of more classic Jean Daniel-Cadinot films which gay consumers have been begging to get their hands on here in the states.
Keith Witchka: Any shout outs to our readers?
Sam Manning: Yes, I want to say thank you to all of our customers and a big warm welcome to any potential new customers. We are all in this industry and this economy together. We all want to increase our sales and provide consumers the satisfaction they deserve. We have truly the best products to help you do that and, we have the desire and spirit to make it work.
Keith Witchka: Sam thank you for taking out the time to chat with me here on JRL CHARTS.
Sam Manning: Thank you Keith, it has been a pleasure. To everyone at JRL CHARTS, keep up the good work.
Keith Witchka: Retailers if you haven’t set up your wholesale account yet with AlphaOmega Distributors to get your hands on the Jean Daniel-Cadinot gay porn label as well as the LATBOCON, BerlinStar Film, Street Boys, Man’s ART and STG Pictures, then click over to AlphaOmega Distributors to set up your account.
Make sure that you get your order in for AlphaOmega and Michael Steel Productions brand new Big Budget Gay Porn Release “The Secrets of College Life” [2011] which is now shipping nationwide. Stay tuned to JRL CHARTS for more on AlphaOmega Distributors.
Again we want to reach out to the Publicity Department at AlphaOmega Distributors for helping to secure this interview here on JRL CHARTS.
