How Brian Sloan Built an 8-Figure Sex Toy Brand with 2 Employees and No Ads - The Shopify Growth Show (#19)

What happens when you build an 8-figure business in one of the most taboo industries - without a team, funding, or traditional ad channels?

Brian Sloan did exactly that. And in this episode, he reveals the unfiltered story behind his wild entrepreneurial path. Jim sits down with Brian Sloan, founder of AutoBlow, to unpack how he built a global DTC sex toy brand that now generates 8 figures annually - with a team of just two.

From eBay auctions to viral PR stunts, Brian shares how his unconventional path, deep product focus, and scrappy tactics helped him thrive in a space where Facebook ads and mainstream visibility were off-limits. This conversation pulls back the curtain on manufacturing, media manipulation, brand building, and what it really takes to scale when the rules don’t apply to your category.

Key Topics Covered:

• How Brian went from selling antiques to latex fetishwear to inventing AutoBlow
• The viral crowdfunding stunt that made him internet-famous overnight
• Why he ditched Amazon - even after major sales
• How to get on GQ, Playboy, Howard Stern, and more without a PR team
• The power of press-worthy product ideas
• Why focus (on just 2 SKUs) was his biggest growth unlock
• Building a lean team using a global network of niche freelancers

If you’re building in DTC and feel like you’re drowning in overhead or noise, this episode is a masterclass in focus, edge, and unconventional growth.

Resources:

• Autoblow
• Jim Huffman website
• Jim's Twitter
• GrowthHit
• The Growth Marketer's Playbook

 

Additional episodes you might enjoy:

• Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)
• Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)
• How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)
• Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)
• How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51)