Business
In this episode of Hashtag Influencer, Sherri confronts stigma head on to talk periods with Leesa Raab of Thinx, Inc. Leesa is a New York-based PR and communications professional with over 15 years of experience. She spent the majority of her career in boutique PR agencies focused on wellness, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle brands. In 2018, Leesa moved to an in-house PR position with Thinx, where she dedicates her time to helping continue to break the taboos associated with menstruation, and bladder leaks. Leesa shares valuable insights from her PR career as well as the value of working for a company with a mission you can get behind. Thinx has capitalized on the influencer space to push a game changing product but more importantly to educate a new generation all while promoting sustainability. Key Takeaways Leesa’s journey into PR. College at Ball State – after a trip to NYC, felt the need to live there and find a career that would lead her there. Honed her skills through internships His latest venture: Thinx Advice to someone venturing into PR Go to everything, meet as many people as you can. “Hone in on people that you are interested, either in the company they're working for or familiar with their work and don't be afraid to go introduce yourself. Write a LinkedIn message or find their email and introduce yourself.” (3:19) What is Thinx all about Thinx is a brand that sells washable period proof underwear as well as Speaks by Thinx, which is underwear for light to moderate bladder leaks. Discovered Thinx from a Subway campaign but also from personal experience following and loving the brand from afar. Having worked with period cup and vibrator brands, Leesa had carved a niche for herself. I love being part of a conversation that you know helps break taboos.” (8:40) What makes Thinx different: “we take a lot of pride in being a solutions company for periods and bladder leaks and making sure that we offered the best product that it's well made.(11:10) Sustainable manufacturing space, large variety of styles colors and prints, giving consumers confidence to wear and talk about them. Sustainability in period products “7 billion tampons that are thrown out in the US every year, and most of them 88% are sold with applicators. So it takes 500 years for a single use plastic applicator to decompose.” (12:15) So much waste coming from something that happens every single month for about 38 years. One Thinx pair can last up to two years or 24 wash cycles “it makes you feel good to have that thought.” Know your flow tool on the Thinx website - tells you not only what product suits you but it also tells you how much waste you're personally able to eliminate by switching. Give back initiatives Boys and Girls Club – Thinx between 15,000 pairs of Thinx Between donated across 19 of their chapters (14:22). Consistently partnering with organizations and non-profits Challenges Good news is it’s gotten better – Taboo is there but it’s more widely accepted to talk and advertise in this space. “Interesting to see where you know there has been some improvement, some progress, but there are other spaces where it's so continues to come up.” (17:20) Different for men – In some ways Thinx has paved the way for the expansion of this conversation and in many ways it continues to be easier to advertise for products related to men. “We definitely want to keep working to break that mold and make people realize it's OK to talk about it and you know we're all here because someone had a period.” (18:51) Social media & its impact Using...