Today we’d like to introduce you to Keri Patterson.
Keri, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I never thought I would own a period panties company. My career actually started in accounting. I am a CPA who likes to create, decorate, celebrate and allocate. About six years ago, I started the YouTube Channel, VeriKeri, to tap into my creative side. The focus of the channel was budget-friendly home decor and party planning. One day I was talking to my middle school daughter about lady stuff. After the conservation, I decided to make her an emergency period kit for her school locker in the event she started her cycle while at school. After a failed attempt at creating a DIY project for a party, I was left with no video to post on my YouTube channel. So I crossed my fingers and decided to upload a video of the DIY period kit that I made for my daughter.
To my surprise, several hundred thousand people saw the video. Even more shocking was the amount of private emails I received from young girls who wanted me to cover more menstruation topics on my channel. Many girls had not had the “time of the month” conversation with their moms. Some were growing up without a mom. Others were just curious. After making more period-related videos, I decided to design a product that addressed some of the issues that I gathered from this impromptu focus group in addition to the issues my daughter and I were facing when it came to our monthly cycles. After 9-12 months of research, development, and prototyping, I released TOMIES, which stands for Time Of the Month + Panties. TOMIES are leakproof period panties with a pocket on the front which holds a specially designed disposable heating pad that soothes menstrual cramps while on the go.
Has it been a smooth road?
The struggle is real. The road has not been smooth. This journey had many learning curves. Several stories come to mind in terms of struggles. We spent a considerable amount of money and time prototyping fabrics and developing a design that met our core principles of being functional, affordable, and comfortable. We vetted a series of manufacturers before we found one that had the attention to detail and quality that we demanded. We had no idea about shipping and logistics from overseas when we started. We definitely made some mistakes but found a way to overcome them all.
Sometimes success has its own obstacles. TOMIES experienced a viral surge a couple of years ago when a customer posted her pair of TOMIES on Instagram and Twitter. We had to immediately ramp up production and staff. Luckily, the work we did on the front end by selecting the correct manufacturer paid off. They were able to increase volume and expedite shipping to meet the increased demand.
When I first envisioned the company, I thought my core customer would be preteens and young adults due to the number of preteens and teens that loved my menstruation videos. I quickly found out that women of various ages loved our product as well. We had to adjust the number of larger sizes to meet the needs of the customer. Again, choosing the right manufacturer saved us much heartache.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We sell the world’s greatest period system. TOMIES are leakproof period panties that have complete coverage. You are protected if you sleep on your side, back, or upside down. My daughter suffered from debilitating cramps during her cycle, to the point she would miss a day or two of school every month. I would fill the old-school red rubber hot water bottle with hot water to give her some relief. Unfortunately, she could not take the hot water bottle to school, so we had to create a disposable heating pad that would get just as hot as the water bottle and stay hot throughout the day. TOMIES come with three one-time-use heating pads that stay warm for 8-10 hours. The pouch on the panties hides the heating pad perfectly, and the soothing heat enables women to function normally. If you don’t have cramps, you can use the pouch to discreetly tuck away several pads/tampons. One of the biggest concerns from preteens was how to sneak a pad to the bathroom at school. TOMIES solved that problem also. In addition, the top of the panties has a wide band that pulls the tummy in a little to minimize bloating. Most importantly, the special blend of fabric makes the panties the most comfortable pair of underwear you’ll ever own.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Being a creative problem, solver is most important to my success. When you can solve peoples’ problems, you really don’t have to “sell” your product—it will sell itself. Another characteristic that I think will contribute to my long-term success is joy. I get a tremendous amount of joy being the “period mom,” a name my young subscribers affectionately call me. I love teaching and providing information that I believe every girl should have.
Pricing:
- Tomies Period Panty Kit $29.99, Includes 3 Panties and 3 Disposable Heating Pads
- 20 Pack Heating Pad Refill $19.99
Contact Info:
- Website: tomiesonline.com
- Email: keri@tomiesonline
- Instagram: @tomiesonline
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