DVD Distribution question

[dknu247]

I was curious if anyone on here has dealt with the distribution process of adult DVDs into adult stores. My question is about what is the average price that adult stores buy dvds from distributors for? I know dvds can be replicated for as low as about $1 a dvd or less and they normally sell for over $30 each for new releases so I was curious about how much adult stores pay distributors per dvd.

Also I'm sure there are other factors and influences involved in establishing the distribution system so if anyone has info about how it works and feels like sharing some info I'm trying to learn as much as I can about it. Thanks for the help.

[StickyGreen]

you're like a mobile home cuz your trailer trash...

[The Ghost]

You really have to be specific for the type of content. Is is straight, signle girl, niche, gay???? It will affect the price and cost tremendously. From the pricing it sounds like a general straight release.

DVD distribution is a difficult game. Brick and morter stores have limited shelf space to sell an already completely oversaturated product. Not one time has an adult store said "Boy, where can I get more products .... there just aren't enough of these DVDs." Over 15000 adult titles are release each year, and that number has been steadly increasing since the turn of the century. And as more products are cross promoted (from the web to DVD and DVD to the web) that number will only continue to increase and saturate both areas.

Many stores will only buy from their current studios and distributors. They do not have the time in the day to pick and choose each title they carry. It is impossible. They will normally set up automatics and receive the product based on the needs of the store.

An average adult DVD will sell less than 1500 pieces over the course of a year. Ther are quite a few under a 1000. Most stores purchase their new release DVDs for under $12. There are 1000's upon 1000's of DVDs (especially compilations) that can be picked up for under $2. The highest end titles are the likes of Evil Angel, and those can sell in the $18 price range. But those are the exception. They also have a reputation of 15+ years of quality product.

You have 2 ways to try and market your product...

1) Find a reputable wholesaler and have them sell your product to distributors and stores. A wholesaler has built in sales, with already established areas of distribution. Some will buy the title rights from you outright, and others will charge a percentage (around 30%). It is negotiable for the payment of the product creation. If you are picked up by a big wholesaler, they can provide sales in the 3000-5000 range. Most wholesalers will move under 1000 pieces.

2) Be your own wholesaler and try to sell your product to distributors and stores. This requires ALOT of pounding the pavement and time on your end. Most places will not do business with you unless your product is revolutionary. More than likely whatever you have produced they are called about every single day from other companies they already have relationships with. You will spend a ton of money branding your product. Every year at the AVN Expo there are companies with dreams that the world has been dying to get their products... and they produce a ton of products that they end up having to blow out.

Having a stellar product will help you, but is in no way a guarantee. Again, there is TOO MUCH Product. It is a hard road ahead.... best of luck.

[Pornwolf]

It's not worth it. Digital & online disto is where it's at.

Nothing beats the time invested vs. money earned ratio of the web.

[Turf]

good answer... cleared a few things up for me.. thanx

Originally Posted by The Ghost

You really have to be specific for the type of content. Is is straight, signle girl, niche, gay???? It will affect the price and cost tremendously. From the pricing it sounds like a general straight release.

DVD distribution is a difficult game. Brick and morter stores have limited shelf space to sell an already completely oversaturated product. Not one time has an adult store said "Boy, where can I get more products .... there just aren't enough of these DVDs." Over 15000 adult titles are release each year, and that number has been steadly increasing since the turn of the century. And as more products are cross promoted (from the web to DVD and DVD to the web) that number will only continue to increase and saturate both areas.

Many stores will only buy from their current studios and distributors. They do not have the time in the day to pick and choose each title they carry. It is impossible. They will normally set up automatics and receive the product based on the needs of the store.

An average adult DVD will sell less than 1500 pieces over the course of a year. Ther are quite a few under a 1000. Most stores purchase their new release DVDs for under $12. There are 1000's upon 1000's of DVDs (especially compilations) that can be picked up for under $2. The highest end titles are the likes of Evil Angel, and those can sell in the $18 price range. But those are the exception. They also have a reputation of 15+ years of quality product.

You have 2 ways to try and market your product...

1) Find a reputable wholesaler and have them sell your product to distributors and stores. A wholesaler has built in sales, with already established areas of distribution. Some will buy the title rights from you outright, and others will charge a percentage (around 30%). It is negotiable for the payment of the product creation. If you are picked up by a big wholesaler, they can provide sales in the 3000-5000 range. Most wholesalers will move under 1000 pieces.

2) Be your own wholesaler and try to sell your product to distributors and stores. This requires ALOT of pounding the pavement and time on your end. Most places will not do business with you unless your product is revolutionary. More than likely whatever you have produced they are called about every single day from other companies they already have relationships with. You will spend a ton of money branding your product. Every year at the AVN Expo there are companies with dreams that the world has been dying to get their products... and they produce a ton of products that they end up having to blow out.

Having a stellar product will help you, but is in no way a guarantee. Again, there is TOO MUCH Product. It is a hard road ahead.... best of luck.

[DaddyHalbucks]

I'd imagine that the bricks and mortar route is pretty much closed to newbies.

If you can grow on the web, maybe you can ease your way into the stores..

[Lykos]

Am also interesed to know this,and actually if there is any european distribution who will like to work on 30% share please contact me,thanx

[sweetcuties]

Tried that game a few yrs ago... waste of time. I've got a few dvd's that I sell thru my sites... very little $$

[PornAddict]

Originally Posted by The Ghost

You really have to be specific for the type of content. Is is straight, signle girl, niche, gay???? It will affect the price and cost tremendously. From the pricing it sounds like a general straight release.

DVD distribution is a difficult game. Brick and morter stores have limited shelf space to sell an already completely oversaturated product. Not one time has an adult store said "Boy, where can I get more products .... there just aren't enough of these DVDs." Over 15000 adult titles are release each year, and that number has been steadly increasing since the turn of the century. And as more products are cross promoted (from the web to DVD and DVD to the web) that number will only continue to increase and saturate both areas.

Many stores will only buy from their current studios and distributors. They do not have the time in the day to pick and choose each title they carry. It is impossible. They will normally set up automatics and receive the product based on the needs of the store.

An average adult DVD will sell less than 1500 pieces over the course of a year. Ther are quite a few under a 1000. Most stores purchase their new release DVDs for under $12. There are 1000's upon 1000's of DVDs (especially compilations) that can be picked up for under $2. The highest end titles are the likes of Evil Angel, and those can sell in the $18 price range. But those are the exception. They also have a reputation of 15+ years of quality product.

You have 2 ways to try and market your product...

1) Find a reputable wholesaler and have them sell your product to distributors and stores. A wholesaler has built in sales, with already established areas of distribution. Some will buy the title rights from you outright, and others will charge a percentage (around 30%). It is negotiable for the payment of the product creation. If you are picked up by a big wholesaler, they can provide sales in the 3000-5000 range. Most wholesalers will move under 1000 pieces.

2) Be your own wholesaler and try to sell your product to distributors and stores. This requires ALOT of pounding the pavement and time on your end. Most places will not do business with you unless your product is revolutionary. More than likely whatever you have produced they are called about every single day from other companies they already have relationships with. You will spend a ton of money branding your product. Every year at the AVN Expo there are companies with dreams that the world has been dying to get their products... and they produce a ton of products that they end up having to blow out.

Having a stellar product will help you, but is in no way a guarantee. Again, there is TOO MUCH Product. It is a hard road ahead.... best of luck.

I just have to say that this post is pretty much dead on. I used to work for a pretty large distributor before I started shooting my own stuff and everything The Ghost posted, I pretty much lived through.

Back then, we were buying titles direct from the companies (such as Vivid, Metro, Video Team) and we were literally buying them for less than $3 per unit for catalog titles (not new releases... just as mentioned, they were around the $15-$18 mark).

We've always had calls from up and coming companies to sell their product, but they could never meet our price point. They wanted equal or near equal price for established companies like Evil and Elegant Angel, etc...

I also remember a time when this dude came to our warehouse trying to sell his product. He went by Big Daddy Redd or something. He left a couple samples for the owner to check out and thankfully, he passed on doing business with the guy. No more than a month later, the guy got busted for shooting underage runaway girls for his videos. Not all, mind you... but I think there were two or three girls. That was a tough time for the amateur companies around here because no one wanted to touch the unknown stuff after that whole fiasco.

I haven't been in the distribution game for years now, but it was hard for smaller companies to make money then, I'd imagine it's even harder now due to even more saturation. Plus, unless you're hooked up with a big distributor, good luck getting paid on your titles. For some reasons, smaller distributors are notorious for paying late (or not at all).

- PornAddict

[Barefootsies]

Yeah I agree. I do not know if it's worth the time investment when you weigh out your dollars or profit per time needed to get into all that shit.

I sell anywhere from $500-1000 worth of DVD's ($15-30 a piece) a month. But since it's pretty much all profit after the master copy is burned, then it's nice chunk o' change.

Sure, I would like to move 1000-1500 + pieces annually, but not if it means getting a bad deal, or a serious cut in my end. But that's just me. If I ever get out of adult, then I would license the masters, and wouldn't give a shit them. Just collect my royalty, or licensing etc. WTF would I care? I'd be 99% out.

As others have started, unless you are all the rave, or doing something noone else is, then you are probably going to spend a lot of time kicking in their doors only to end up with your hand.

[RevSand]

Great post by The Ghost! The man knows what he is saying.. I have seen the same thing when I was trying to push a DVD... Its really hard to make it worth it.

[directfiesta]

Originally Posted by Lykos

Am also interesed to know this,and actually if there is any european distribution who will like to work on 30% share please contact me,thanx

contact Melodie.

http://www.maskinternational.com

[Tam]

If you intend to send to individuals, which you may or may not have considered, you should be very careful. There are some states in the United States that you could land in serious trouble if sending to suerfers/customers on those states. There were 5 of these the last time I was told anything about it. Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama Mississippi, and I forget the other one. There may be more now. So be careful about this aspect of it.

Could be off topic, but those sending to surfers might be interested to know this. I found it out when I was running my own site and sent for an Adam and Eve Catalog and was told they couldn't ship to me because I am in one of the "No Distribution States". I am in Kentucky, so no sex toys or videos shipped to MY door. lol

[amacontent]

Juicy / Exquisite distirbutes my Pink Kitty lines and does VERY well. My Bad News Bitches 2 , Nauticas 1st Gangbang and Thanx For The Mammories have ALL past 2500 pieces sold. But they are picky who they pick up.

FOR SURE stay far away from Old Pueblo in Arizona as they rip off people left and right and have numerous lawsuits pending.

You will need to have a nice bankroll and or cashflow to rely on dvd money to work.

Basic prices for New Releases are 10 - 12 bux ea

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by Tam

If you intend to send to individuals, which you may or may not have considered, you should be very careful. There are some states in the United States that you could land in serious trouble if sending to suerfers/customers on those states. There were 5 of these the last time I was told anything about it. Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama Mississippi, and I forget the other one. There may be more now. So be careful about this aspect of it.

Could be off topic, but those sending to surfers might be interested to know this. I found it out when I was running my own site and sent for an Adam and Eve Catalog and was told they couldn't ship to me because I am in one of the "No Distribution States". I am in Kentucky, so no sex toys or videos shipped to MY door. lol

[sinclair]

Originally Posted by amacontent

Juicy / Exquisite distirbutes my Pink Kitty lines and does VERY well. My Bad News Bitches 2 , Nauticas 1st Gangbang and Thanx For The Mammories have ALL past 2500 pieces sold. But they are picky who they pick up.

FOR SURE stay far away from Old Pueblo in Arizona as they rip off people left and right and have numerous lawsuits pending.

You will need to have a nice bankroll and or cashflow to rely on dvd money to work.

Basic prices for New Releases are 10 - 12 bux ea

Listen to Joe on this one, stay away from Old Pueblo, they have spanked more than a few people.

I move about 1200-1500 pieces a year on my girl/girl stuff. Usually between $8-$12 a unit depending on quantity.

Best of Luck

Sinclair

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by sinclair

Listen to Joe on this one, stay away from Old Pueblo, they have spanked more than a few people.

Yeah. I've never come across them. But that's one company I've heard plenty about over the years. Aways associated with a scam, sham, fraud, or loss of loot.

[DWB]

Originally Posted by The Ghost

You really have to be specific for the type of content. Is is straight, signle girl, niche, gay???? It will affect the price and cost tremendously. From the pricing it sounds like a general straight release.

DVD distribution is a difficult game. Brick and morter stores have limited shelf space to sell an already completely oversaturated product. Not one time has an adult store said "Boy, where can I get more products .... there just aren't enough of these DVDs." Over 15000 adult titles are release each year, and that number has been steadly increasing since the turn of the century. And as more products are cross promoted (from the web to DVD and DVD to the web) that number will only continue to increase and saturate both areas.

Many stores will only buy from their current studios and distributors. They do not have the time in the day to pick and choose each title they carry. It is impossible. They will normally set up automatics and receive the product based on the needs of the store.

An average adult DVD will sell less than 1500 pieces over the course of a year. Ther are quite a few under a 1000. Most stores purchase their new release DVDs for under $12. There are 1000's upon 1000's of DVDs (especially compilations) that can be picked up for under $2. The highest end titles are the likes of Evil Angel, and those can sell in the $18 price range. But those are the exception. They also have a reputation of 15+ years of quality product.

You have 2 ways to try and market your product...

1) Find a reputable wholesaler and have them sell your product to distributors and stores. A wholesaler has built in sales, with already established areas of distribution. Some will buy the title rights from you outright, and others will charge a percentage (around 30%). It is negotiable for the payment of the product creation. If you are picked up by a big wholesaler, they can provide sales in the 3000-5000 range. Most wholesalers will move under 1000 pieces.

2) Be your own wholesaler and try to sell your product to distributors and stores. This requires ALOT of pounding the pavement and time on your end. Most places will not do business with you unless your product is revolutionary. More than likely whatever you have produced they are called about every single day from other companies they already have relationships with. You will spend a ton of money branding your product. Every year at the AVN Expo there are companies with dreams that the world has been dying to get their products... and they produce a ton of products that they end up having to blow out.

Having a stellar product will help you, but is in no way a guarantee. Again, there is TOO MUCH Product. It is a hard road ahead.... best of luck.

This may be one of the most valuable bits of info ever posted in GFY. Good job Marty.

There is a lot more to be said on this but you really need to think larger than DVD. If you OWN your content, you need to think DVD, broadcast, VOD, PPV, pay sites (your own or will you license it out?), cable rights, international rights and so on. It all adds up. To not also utilize these markets is like throwing money away.

Another option if you just want to make extra money with the content you have is to find someone to buy your scenes. Sell them certain rights to the content. Sell them ALL of the rights. Up to you.... but I think in the end it's better to own your content and exploit every market available to you. You will make a shit load more this way than the guy who just wants to make some DVDs.

Now for the bad news... GETTING PAID.

Your distributor may fuck you around, move product out the back door on you, claim you had lots of returns, or just flat out fuck you and not pay you a dime. Or maybe just pay you enough to give them the next title and string you along, never getting paid in full. It's an evil industry for sure.

IMHO getting paid is WAY more difficult than getting your product into the stores. I have been very fortunate to work with some great companies who pay me like clockwork but I know some guys who have been put through the ringer.

Best of luck to you.

[scotty2hotty1111]

hum........ some great info guys thanks