DVDEmpire.com
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Online retail |
| Founded | August 18, 1997 in Pennsylvania, United States |
| Founder | Jeff Rix, John-Michael D’Arcangelo |
| Headquarters | Warrendale , United States |
| Products | DVDs, adult DVDs, subscription streaming, Video on Demand, sex toys |
Number of employees | 60 |
| Website | dvdemipre |
DVDEmpire.com is a privately held online retailer specializing in DVD sales, based near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Established in the mid-1990s, the company operates several websites such as AdultDVDEmpire.com, AdultEmpire Unlimited, AdultEmpire.com, GayDVDEmpire.com, AdultEmpireCash.com, PornStarEmpire.com, and UsedDVDEmpire.com, providing a wide range of both mainstream and adult video content.
History
Jeff Rix and John-Michael D’Arcangelo, both computer programmers, founded DVDEmpire.com on August 18, 1997, under the corporate name Right Ascension, Inc. in Pennsylvania with an initial investment of $6,000. They prioritized creating an intuitive website that allowed customers to personalize their orders and were among the first to introduce DVD pre-ordering, setting a strong foundation for their business model.
By late 1997, the company ventured into adult DVD sales through the launch of AdultDVDEmpire.com, timed with Vivid Studios' inaugural adult DVD release. Originally located near Mars, Pennsylvania, DVDEmpire.com moved to a more spacious facility in Warrendale, Pennsylvania in August 2000 to accommodate its expanding operations.
Competition
The company’s strategy centered on superior customer service and efficient order processing rather than aggressive advertising or competing on price alone. While many competitors reduced prices across the industry in 2000, DVDEmpire.com maintained higher pricing but safeguarded profitability by cultivating customer loyalty and operational excellence. This prudent approach allowed the company to endure the dot-com crash that forced rivals such as Reel.com and DVDExpress.com out of business.
In October 2015, Adult Empire entered into a strategic alliance with TLA Entertainment aimed at broadening its market reach and diversifying its product selection.
Expansion
December 2006 saw Adult DVD Empire become the pioneering adult retailer to offer high-definition titles by releasing Wicked Pictures' Camp Cuddly Pines Powertool Massacre on HD DVD. By March 2007, it further led the market by introducing Blu-ray titles starting with Vivid's Debbie Does Dallas ... Again.
In June 2007, Adult DVD Empire was among the first to distribute adult content compatible with the iPhone, collaborating with Digital Playground to provide full explicit scenes. The company enhanced its digital footprint by launching a fully responsive website in August 2015.
September 2014 marked the launch of Adult Empire Films (later rebranded as AE Films), the company’s production division. This new label rapidly gained acclaim within the industry, earning several nominations at both AVN and XBIZ awards by 2016.
Closing of games division
In February 2007, DVDEmpire.com announced it would discontinue its video game division due to perceived neglect from the industry, absence of price guarantees, and substandard game quality. The company criticized preferential treatment afforded to larger retailers and voiced dissatisfaction with market conditions. Two weeks following this announcement, the gaming segment was officially shut down, with leftover stock donated to charitable organizations.
Currently, DVDEmpire.com employs approximately 60 personnel and manages websites that attract up to 2.5 million distinct visitors each month. Its distribution center ships over half a million packages domestically and internationally annually. The firm has expanded its adult product range to include subscription-based and individual DVD rentals, streaming and downloadable Video on Demand services, sex toys, as well as a subscription streaming platform known as AdultEmpire Unlimited.
Awards and recognition
AdultDVDEmpire.com has been honored with the Adult Video News Best Retail Website Award on several occasions (2000, 2004–2008, 2010–2012, 2016–2018, 2020). Additionally, it secured the XBIZ award for Adult Site of the Year (VOD) consecutively from 2015 through 2020. The company's founders, Jeff Rix and John-Michael D'Arcangelo, were featured in AVN's July 2007 list titled "50 Under 40: The Most Influential People In Porn," which acknowledged their visionary leadership and significant contributions to the sector. DVDEmpire.com was distinguished as one of only four online retailers recognized for its market influence and expansion.
Further reading
- "Online Retailers See Jolly Holidays in Software Sales", Video Business Online, 6 December 1999 (PDF file)