Lola

LOLA is a consumer brand offering period care, sexual wellness, vaginal care and postpartum products sold directly to consumers through its own online store. Its period range includes tampons with compact plastic applicators, pads with wings, pantyliners, cleansing wipes, heating patches and PMS-oriented items, all marketed as made with 100% GOTS certified organic cotton; sexual wellness items include personal lubricant, condoms and a mini vibrator. Customers can customize assortments by absorbency (Light, Regular, Super, Super+) and can purchase on a subscription basis, with account management and subscription tools available on the site.

The company frames its positioning around ingredient transparency, defining "clean" as safe, non-toxic and clearly labeled products made without synthetic fibers, fragrance, elemental chlorine, chemical additives or dyes, and stating it conducts more third-party testing than required. Alongside products, LOLA publishes health and wellness content and maintains a panel of expert contributors, including a family physician, to answer reproductive health questions. The brand also runs advocacy and donation programs, including partnerships with organizations addressing period poverty.

Founding story

The idea originated in 2014, when Jordana Kier was finishing at Columbia Business School and wanted a tampon that was transparent about its materials. She raised the concept with Alex Friedman, then working in tech and an acquaintance, and the two began developing it together, using internet research and SurveyMonkey-based surveys and informal focus groups with friends to understand purchasing behavior, since neither had prior knowledge of manufacturers in the category. They spent roughly 12 weeks defining the brand's look and voice, during which Friedman left her full-time job. The founders describe the venture as beginning as a passion project to test whether women would want a tampon made from cleaner ingredients.

Business model

Direct-to-consumer e-commerce with customizable product assortments and subscriptions managed through customer accounts on the company's website; products are also carried by retailers. Free shipping is offered on orders of $35 or more.

Revenue comes from sales of physical consumer products, priced per item or box (for example tampons starting at $9.50, pads with wings starting at $8.50, personal lubricant starting at $16.25, cleansing wipes pouch starting at $9.00, heating patch starting at $11.00 and a mini vibrator at $29.00), including recurring subscription orders.

Traction

The company states it has donated more than 6 million products to people in need and donates 1% of every purchase to a nonprofit chosen by the customer. Product listings show accumulated customer reviews, including 2,836 reviews for compact plastic applicator tampons and 1,511 for pads with wings. A 2018 profile described LOLA as a fast-growing startup with more than $11 million in funding.

Latest developments

The product line now spans period care, sexual wellness, vaginal care and postpartum care, with postpartum care presented as a newer addition; a mini vibrator is listed as sold out.