So I've only been on this wonderful website for a day now and it's just incredible how many true followers there are! Also so many of you are real toy enthusiasts, so I thought it'd be fun to open a discussion about where I work...the dildo factory Anyone ever wondered what it's like?? Any specific questions?? Anything you've always wanted to know but never knew anyone to ask?? Well ask me!!!
Working at a dildo factory!
Tera Topco (no longer active)
08/10/2009
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Please, please, please tell me you get to try all of your company's products for free. Cause if that's true, I'm quitting school and running off to join the sex toy industry.
08/10/2009
What kinds of weekly meetings and stages do you have for any given product? I think it would be very interesting if you talked about the life cycle of a product at Topco. From conception to shipping, perhaps?
08/10/2009
Quote:
Agreed!
Originally posted by
Backseat Boohoo
Please, please, please tell me you get to try all of your company's products for free. Cause if that's true, I'm quitting school and running off to join the sex toy industry.
Do you guys get like.. dildo shaped everything? Cell phones, key chains, pens?
08/10/2009
I'm curious to know what process you use when coming up with new dildos. I imagine that you consider which previous products sold well, then sit around a table to decide how to design new ones. I would love to be in on those meetings. Then prototypes are made and lucky employees (or others?) get to test them and give initial feedback.
Am I on track? How do you choose who gets to test and provide feedback. Maybe its not employees because they may not want to discuss details of using dildos with their coworkers.
Do tell!
Am I on track? How do you choose who gets to test and provide feedback. Maybe its not employees because they may not want to discuss details of using dildos with their coworkers.
Do tell!
08/10/2009
I'd like to know about the actual assembly process. Do you have automated machines? How much is by machine vs. how much by hand?
08/10/2009
I am a big fan of different types of toys and am always interested to hear how other manufacturers assembly their toys and come up with great new toy designs. I think you guys at Topco are extremely creative!!!
08/10/2009
Quote:
That's what I've always wondered too. I mean, how many of us have used a toy and then said "Oooh, this one would be perfect if they had just done..."
Originally posted by
Tuesday
I'm curious to know what process you use when coming up with new dildos. I imagine that you consider which previous products sold well, then sit around a table to decide how to design new ones. I would love to be in on those meetings. Then
...
more
I'm curious to know what process you use when coming up with new dildos. I imagine that you consider which previous products sold well, then sit around a table to decide how to design new ones. I would love to be in on those meetings. Then prototypes are made and lucky employees (or others?) get to test them and give initial feedback.
Am I on track? How do you choose who gets to test and provide feedback. Maybe its not employees because they may not want to discuss details of using dildos with their coworkers.
Do tell! less
Am I on track? How do you choose who gets to test and provide feedback. Maybe its not employees because they may not want to discuss details of using dildos with their coworkers.
Do tell! less
It would be awesome to work in a position where you could influence that process!
I've also wondered; what do they do with their 'discards'? Meaning, the ones that don't pass final inspections and such.
08/10/2009
Quote:
I just noticed I need to use spell check more!
Originally posted by
Laura Ricklin
I am a big fan of different types of toys and am always interested to hear how other manufacturers assembly their toys and come up with great new toy designs. I think you guys at Topco are extremely creative!!!
08/11/2009
I am curious about the type of people that you find gravitating towards your work and the industry. From my experience it seems the industry, more than any other I have been involved in, is full of very creative individuals. What do you think?
08/11/2009
Tera Topco (no longer active)
Quote:
Sorry honey!! No free product We have almost 400 employees and 1300 products, that would be very expensive!! We do get a geat discount and it really makes it all worth it Stay in school but check us out when you're done...you could really have some fun!!!!!
Originally posted by
Backseat Boohoo
Please, please, please tell me you get to try all of your company's products for free. Cause if that's true, I'm quitting school and running off to join the sex toy industry.
08/11/2009
Tera Topco (no longer active)
Quote:
Each product is a little bit different. Some products we actually start on paper - designing every curve and detail. Some products are amazing new inventions from our vendors/molding dept/chemists. When the product is already done, then we sit and discuss the market for that item, create packaging and artwork and then order all the pieces and put it all together. After it's ready to sell, then we present it to our distributors who then sell it to the retailers and that's when you get to see it! It's really fun and exciting when you see your hard work out in the world and people are talking about it!!
Originally posted by
Victoria
What kinds of weekly meetings and stages do you have for any given product? I think it would be very interesting if you talked about the life cycle of a product at Topco. From conception to shipping, perhaps?
08/11/2009
Tera Topco (no longer active)
Quote:
Hahahaha! no not really The dildos are shaped like dildos and the pens are shaped like pens...hahah.
Originally posted by
Valyn
Agreed!
Do you guys get like.. dildo shaped everything? Cell phones, key chains, pens?
Do you guys get like.. dildo shaped everything? Cell phones, key chains, pens?
08/11/2009
Tera Topco (no longer active)
Quote:
Well I touched on our process a little on a reply to Victoria, but when it comes to product testing we typically only do this for items that are very unique and we need to know that everything really works the way we think it does. If we'e making a straight vibe, we already know that it does what it should do!! So, if it's really unique and we want to test it, then we hire an adult star. We'll typically do a photo shoot of them and the toy to use on the packaging and then let them go to town!! It's a 2 for 1, the product gets tested and the package pis are finished!!
Originally posted by
Tuesday
I'm curious to know what process you use when coming up with new dildos. I imagine that you consider which previous products sold well, then sit around a table to decide how to design new ones. I would love to be in on those meetings. Then
...
more
I'm curious to know what process you use when coming up with new dildos. I imagine that you consider which previous products sold well, then sit around a table to decide how to design new ones. I would love to be in on those meetings. Then prototypes are made and lucky employees (or others?) get to test them and give initial feedback.
Am I on track? How do you choose who gets to test and provide feedback. Maybe its not employees because they may not want to discuss details of using dildos with their coworkers.
Do tell! less
Am I on track? How do you choose who gets to test and provide feedback. Maybe its not employees because they may not want to discuss details of using dildos with their coworkers.
Do tell! less
08/11/2009
How green is the factory? We've all talked about eco-friendly toys, but what about their makers? Do you guys have solar panels, automatic lights or water faucets in the bathroom, to try to save energy and resources?
How much does 'being green' factor in when you think of new products?
How much does 'being green' factor in when you think of new products?
08/11/2009
Tera Topco (no longer active)
Quote:
This breaks down to type/size/shape of item. We have many automated machines and many hand run items. Each type of item has an automated way of assembling, but not every piece you make will fit that, so we'll do it by hand. It's really a tough question to answer!!! Like I said earlier, with 1300 products there's always an exception
Originally posted by
Sammi
I'd like to know about the actual assembly process. Do you have automated machines? How much is by machine vs. how much by hand?
08/11/2009
Tera Topco (no longer active)
Quote:
Thank you soo much Laura!! That's really nice of you to say Well I think I've answered most of your question in several replys I've already done, but I still wanted to say thanks! And I really love your product, it's very sexy!
Originally posted by
Laura Ricklin
I am a big fan of different types of toys and am always interested to hear how other manufacturers assembly their toys and come up with great new toy designs. I think you guys at Topco are extremely creative!!!
08/11/2009
Tera Topco (no longer active)
Quote:
Oh my yes!! We are all very creative, fun, energetic, extroverts Typically people who never wanted to wear a suit and tie to work!! Before I worked at Topco I was a chronic job hopper. Never could stay anywhere for too long. Nothing could keep my attention, but here it's totally different. Our office is family run and really feels like home and our industry is so warm and down to earth...there's no other job like it!!
Originally posted by
Delete My Account
I am curious about the type of people that you find gravitating towards your work and the industry. From my experience it seems the industry, more than any other I have been involved in, is full of very creative individuals. What do you think?
08/11/2009
Tera Topco (no longer active)
Quote:
Typically we send them back to the vendors/molding/chemis ts. Even though we didn't pass it or like it, maybe someone else somewhere else is looking for that exact item!! (just to clarify, these are the NON-tested NOT used pieces...anything tested/used gets taken home by the user)
Originally posted by
Alan & Michele
That's what I've always wondered too. I mean, how many of us have used a toy and then said "Oooh, this one would be perfect if they had just done..."
It would be awesome to work in a position where you could influence that ... more
It would be awesome to work in a position where you could influence that ... more
That's what I've always wondered too. I mean, how many of us have used a toy and then said "Oooh, this one would be perfect if they had just done..."
It would be awesome to work in a position where you could influence that process!
I've also wondered; what do they do with their 'discards'? Meaning, the ones that don't pass final inspections and such. less
It would be awesome to work in a position where you could influence that process!
I've also wondered; what do they do with their 'discards'? Meaning, the ones that don't pass final inspections and such. less
08/11/2009
Tera Topco (no longer active)
Quote:
We are going green!!! We have many many different energy/resource saving measures that we take at our factory and with our products. There are so many that it's hard for me to put it all in a reply, so please check out our green page on our website link Enjoy!
Originally posted by
Valyn
How green is the factory? We've all talked about eco-friendly toys, but what about their makers? Do you guys have solar panels, automatic lights or water faucets in the bathroom, to try to save energy and resources?
How much does ... more
How much does ... more
How green is the factory? We've all talked about eco-friendly toys, but what about their makers? Do you guys have solar panels, automatic lights or water faucets in the bathroom, to try to save energy and resources?
How much does 'being green' factor in when you think of new products? less
How much does 'being green' factor in when you think of new products? less
08/11/2009
Tera Topco (no longer active)
Quote:
Sorry! I screwed up that link... try this link
Originally posted by
Tera Topco (no longer active)
We are going green!!! We have many many different energy/resource saving measures that we take at our factory and with our products. There are so many that it's hard for me to put it all in a reply, so please check out our green page on our
...
more
We are going green!!! We have many many different energy/resource saving measures that we take at our factory and with our products. There are so many that it's hard for me to put it all in a reply, so please check out our green page on our website link Enjoy!
less
08/11/2009
Desiree Duffie
Quote:
We made an entire Commitment to Green a couple years ago and are known as the most environmentally-friend ly sex toy manufacturer. We strive real hard to reduce our carbon footprint of our products during manufacturing. Here's more details on the Topco Sales Commitment to Green: link
Originally posted by
Valyn
How green is the factory? We've all talked about eco-friendly toys, but what about their makers? Do you guys have solar panels, automatic lights or water faucets in the bathroom, to try to save energy and resources?
How much does ... more
How much does ... more
How green is the factory? We've all talked about eco-friendly toys, but what about their makers? Do you guys have solar panels, automatic lights or water faucets in the bathroom, to try to save energy and resources?
How much does 'being green' factor in when you think of new products? less
How much does 'being green' factor in when you think of new products? less
We are also working on a new "green" line of products, hopefully they will hit the market soon!
Desiree
08/12/2009
Quote:
I am very interested in the green line of products. Hmm!
Originally posted by
Desiree Duffie
We made an entire Commitment to Green a couple years ago and are known as the most environmentally-friend ly sex toy manufacturer. We strive real hard to reduce our carbon footprint of our products during manufacturing. Here's more details on
...
more
We made an entire Commitment to Green a couple years ago and are known as the most environmentally-friend ly sex toy manufacturer. We strive real hard to reduce our carbon footprint of our products during manufacturing. Here's more details on the Topco Sales Commitment to Green: link
We are also working on a new "green" line of products, hopefully they will hit the market soon!
Desiree less
We are also working on a new "green" line of products, hopefully they will hit the market soon!
Desiree less
08/12/2009
Hey! haha I have always wanted to work in toy manufacturing ;P
How do you guys get new employees? I've never seen an ad for it in the paper..
So yeah how does someone actually get into that? What are the credentials you guys look for in general?
Also- do you ever come home smelling like rubber/jelly/plastic/e tc? lol
How do you guys get new employees? I've never seen an ad for it in the paper..
So yeah how does someone actually get into that? What are the credentials you guys look for in general?
Also- do you ever come home smelling like rubber/jelly/plastic/e tc? lol
08/25/2009
Total posts: 24
Unique posters: 12