1983
Patty Brisben starts selling bedroom accessories for Fun Parties.
1984
Patty Brisben becomes one of Fun Parties’ top sales people.
1993
Fun Parties experiences financial difficulties leaving Patty, and 55 Consultants
below her, stranded.
Patty Brisben opens the doors to Slumber Parties out of the basement of her home.
1994
Slumber Parties moves to first warehouse - 800 square feet and does $1 million in
retail sales.
1995
Slumber Parties generates $1.2 million in retail sales.
1996
Slumber Parties moves into 2,600 square ft. combined warehouse and office space
and does $1.3 million in retail sales.
1997
Slumber Parties generates $1.4 million in retail sales.
1998
Slumber Parties generates $2.1 million in retail sales.
1999
Slumber Parties generates $3 million in retail sales.
2000
Pure Romance builds first Corporate Office and distribution center (at 10,000 sq.
ft.).
Patty's eldest son, Chris Cicchinelli comes aboard as Executive Vice President.
Pure Romance generates $5 million in retail sales.
Pure Romance is the first company of its kind to gain acceptance in efforts to launch
a national radio advertising campaign. The company advertises in conservative Southern
and Midwestern markets such as Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA and St. Louis, MO.
2001
FCC-regulated, Clear Channel allows the company to advertise on their stations nationwide.
National marketing campaign is released: 'We put the 'O' in Romance', while Brisben
and Cicchinelli begin executing aggressive 5-year grow strategy.
Pure Romance generates $9 million in retail sales.
2002
Pure Romance generates $20 million in retail sales.
2003
Slumber Parties begins to re-brand as Pure Romance.
2003
Pure Romance generates $26 million in retail sales.
2004
Pure Romance is recognized by FORBES magazine.
“Pure Romance” is born; company is officially re-launched under new name.
Pure Romance throws bachelorette parties to the stars - including Jessica Simpson.
Pure Romance launches its national College Tour.
Pure Romance generates $35 million in retail sales.
2005
Pure Romance officially launches its unique breast cancer program, entitled Sensuality,
Sexuality, Survival (SSS).
Pure Romance hosts party for Living With Fran for celebrity Fran Drescher.
Pure Romance moves to 47,000 sq. ft. Corporate Office and Warehouse in Loveland,
Ohio.
In November 2005, Pure Romance incorporates lingerie and sleepwear into product
line.
10,000th Consultant comes aboard in December, 2005.
Pure Romance financial reaches over $50 million in retail sales.
Chris Cicchinelli becomes first male President in Pure Romance's industry.
Patty Brisben appears on CNN’s “Paula Zahn Now” Show.
Pure Romance featured on VH-1’s “Celebrity Access”.
2006
Sneak peek of Pure Romance's new product packaging at the Silver Spoon's Golden
Globes Buffet in Los Angeles, CA.
Pure Romance sponsors Sex Week at Yale, with Patty Brisben giving two presentations.
Pure Romance is a title sponsor for Young Survival Coalition Conference in Denver,
CO.
Pure Romance throws bachelorette parties to the stars - including Nikki Cox/Molly
Sims.
Pure Romance launches the Patty Brisben Foundation, a non-profit organization serving
to strengthen, support and enhance the health services provided specifically for
women.
Patty Brisben appears as a guest for the ‘Hot Topic’ segment on “The View”.
Patty Brisben selected from over a hundred nominations as an Athena Award candidate.
Patty Brisben locally wins the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award.
Pure Romance selected by the Business Courier for the “Fast 55 Awards” (recognizing
the fastest growing, most successful businesses in Cincinnati).
Pure Romance generates over $60 million in retail sales.
2007
Deloitte and Touche recognizes Pure Romance as one of Cincinnati’s “Rising Stars” in revenue and company growth.
University of Cincinnati’s Goering Center recognizes Pure Romance as a finalist in the Family Business of the Year Awards Innovation category.
Pure Romance selected as a winner of Inc. Magazines “Inc. 5,000” fastest growing companies.
Pure Romance recognized by the Cincinnati Business Courier for the “Fast 55 Awards”.
Pure Romance wins for the top Women-Owned Businesses with 26 employees or more by the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce’s WE Celebrate Award.
Patty Brisben does a Sirius on-air party for “Sex and the City”, and “Lip Stick Jungle” author, Candace Bushnell.
Pure Romance generates $80 million in retail sales
2008
Pure Romance celebrates its 15-Year Anniversary!
E! Online cites Pure Romance as most interesting gifting suite booth at the Sundance Festival.
Pure Romance sponsors biennial Sex Week at Yale, with Patty Brisben giving two presentations.
Pure Romance Consultants featured on ABC’s Wife Swap and Fox’s Mike and Juliet.
Patty releases her first book, Pure Romance Between the Sheets.
30,000th Consultant comes aboard in August 2008.
Pure Romance recognized by the Cincinnati Business Courier’s #1 ranked female-owned business.
Pure Romance selected as a winner of Inc. Magazines “Inc. 5,000” fastest growing companies for second consecutive year.
Patty presents a Girls’ Night Pure Romance Party as part of Sex Week at IU.
Pure Romance selected by the Cincinnati Business Courier for the “Fast 55 Awards” (recognizing the fastest growing, most successful businesses in Cincinnati) for 4th consecutive year.
Company Sketch
Founded in 1993 by Patty Brisben, Pure Romance is an in-home party company which
offers an exclusive line of heighteners, lubricants and bedroom accessories for
relationship enhancement.
Pure Romance products are not sold in stores but may be purchased at in-home parties
or through a network of independent sales consultants. Currently, thousands of Consultants
nationwide from all 50 states, Canada, and the Virgin Islands are teaching the art
of romance.
In a little over a decade, Pure Romance has grown into a multi-million dollar company,
bringing in $43 million in retail sales during 2004 alone.
Based in Cincinnati with 80 full-time employees, Pure Romance operates out of a
state-of-the-art facility comprised of a 40,000-square-foot distribution center
and a 10,000-square-foot Corporate Office.
In addition to a full-time Customer Service Staff, the company also invested over
a quarter of a million dollars to provide a fully automated communication system
which offers Consultants 24 hour service and support. Other Pure Romance support
systems include an in-house Marketing Agency, National Training Department, Health
Education Department as well as a corporate interactive website.
The History of Pure Romance
In 1983, while on maternity leave from her job as a medical assistant for four pediatricians,
Patty Brisben took a break at home to watch The Phil Donahue Show. On that particular
day, it featured a company that was recruiting women to sell adult bedroom toys
in home party settings. Intrigued, Brisben realized she identified with these women.
As a divorced mother of four, she was always looking for a viable solution which
would provide for her family, yet still allow her to remain actively involved in
her children's lives.
Shortly after watching the show, Brisben signed up as a distributor and was so successful
after the first year, she left her medical assistant job to pursue her new full-time
career.
After years of profitably working with a multi-level marketing company, the company
folded leaving Brisben and her down line stranded. Determined to draw on her years
of experience and lead the way for her down line, Brisben decided to open the doors
to her very own in-home party plan, Slumber Parties, Inc.
In 1993, with only $5,000 and 55 Consultants, Patty self-funded and motivated the
launch of Slumber Parties. During the first years, Patty filled orders from the
basement of her home; now employees fill orders from a 40,000-square-foot distribution
center in Loveland, Ohio (a suburb of Cincinnati).
For years Slumber Parties led the industry for in-home party plans specializing
in relationship enhancement. In 2001, Brisben brought on her eldest son, Chris Cicchinelli,
to run the day-to-day operations. The two formulated a five-year plan that would
take Slumber Parties to a new level. Brisben and Cicchinelli realized that Slumber
Parties had become more than just a party plan; it had become a practical resource
for women who wanted to take responsibility for either their financial means or
their sexuality. Not only would Slumber Parties launch a national marketing campaign,
within two years the company would change its name to Pure Romance.
In the Fall of 2003, Brisben and Cicchinelli began the process of re-branding the
new name, first throughout the West Coast and Southwest, then moving on to tackle
the East Coast, and Midwest. The venture led to a total overhaul of over 60 markets.
By the beginning of 2004 - Pure Romance was in full swing, and took the nation by
storm. Currently in over 100 markets, Pure Romance has truly become America's number
one reason for a girls' night in.
Still leading the industry, Pure Romance continues to raise the bar with their fresh
designs, production of high-quality product, unique packaging as well as commitment
to providing a safe and comfortable environment for their Consultants and customers.
It continues to maintain a concept that emphasizes values and versatility.
Annually, Pure Romance spends over $3 million in advertising and training for the
company and its Consultants. As for Patty, all four of her children now share her
passion. Each hold distinguished positions within the company including President:
Chris Cicchinelli, Director of Operations: Nick Cicchinelli, Advertising Coordinator:
Matthew Brisben and Editorial Assistant: Lauren Brisben.
The company's financial projections for the fiscal year of 2005 are expected to
exceed over $50 million in retail sales.