Moe Levy, founder of Holiday Products and a pioneer in the adult home party industry, has passed away at the age of 87. Levy established Holiday Products in 1985 and was instrumental in the creation of Classic Erotica.

Early Life and Business Beginnings

Born in 1936 and raised in the Bronx, New York, Moe Levy was an only child. He lived in the Bronx with his parents until he was 14 years old, when the family moved to Southern California in 1950. Levy's parents owned a store that sold cigars, cigarettes, and candy. From watching and working with his father, Levy learned business principles and developed his business savvy at an early age. His parents also instilled in him people-oriented values, which Levy stated continued to be a key tenet of his business philosophy decades later.

Levy's entry into the adult industry was inspired by an episode of Phil Donahue’s talk show. The episode featured a female home party entrepreneur from New York who conducted "home parties" to showcase sex toys and other products for women in their homes, described as a comfortable and safe setting. Levy found this concept to be a "wonderful idea."

Leveraging his business and sales background, Levy and his girlfriend assembled a collection of adult products and a presentation. They then began hosting home parties. Levy worked part-time in this industry for several years, honing his skills, before transitioning to his own full-time business. In 1985, Holiday Products was founded.

Growth of Holiday Products and Classic Erotica

As Holiday Products expanded, Levy trained "love consultants" across the country to conduct in-home presentations. In the same year, 1985, the company also began manufacturing its own products, leading to the establishment of Classic Erotica. Holiday Products was initially established primarily as a home party distributor.

Levy instilled a strong work ethic in his son, Loren Levy, who is now the president of the rebranded Classic Brands. Classic Brands manufactures pheromone-infused sensual body care and sexual enhancement products.

In 2009, Ken Sahn joined Holiday Products as president. Levy credited Sahn with being instrumental in transforming Holiday Products into "a much larger, stronger and diverse distribution force." This expansion included brick-and-mortar retail and internet commerce, in addition to the original home party distribution model. Holiday Products, which celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2020, is described as a supplier of high-quality products with a reputation for customer service.

Legacy and Final Years

In recent years, Moe Levy was semi-retired. According to Ken Sahn, Levy checked in with Loren and the business weekly. Levy's passion during his final years was traveling and spending time with his family. Sahn described Levy as a pioneer, mentor, and father figure to many in the industry. Sahn also noted that Levy's smile, laugh, and genuine lust for life would be missed by those who knew him.

Key Facts

  • Moe Levy: Founder of Holiday Products, passed away at 87 years old.
  • Holiday Products: Founded in 1985, a pioneer in the adult home party industry.
  • Classic Erotica: Established in 1985 when Holiday Products began manufacturing its own products.
  • Loren Levy: Moe Levy's son, currently president of Classic Brands.
  • Ken Sahn: Joined Holiday Products as president in 2009, credited with diversifying the company's distribution.
  • Inspiration: Levy was inspired to enter the industry by a Phil Donahue talk show episode featuring a female home party entrepreneur.