From Communications to C*m Sponges: The Unconventional Journey of Awkward Essentials’ Frances Tang
Welcome to Be Nice or Leave, where we explore the power of empathy in business. In this episode, Frances Tang joins the podcast to discuss her journey and the importance of sexual empowerment. Frances is the mastermind behind The Dripstick, a medical-grade sponge that has revolutionized the personal hygiene space.
Frances shares her experience with product development and research, including how she leveraged existing solutions to create a unique and effective product. She also discusses the evolution of the market and audience, and the role of empathy in building a successful business. Listen in to learn more about Frances and the innovative products she has brought to market.
Key Takeaways:
- Frances Tang is the founder and CEO of Awkward Essentials, a company that makes personal solutions for hella personal problems.
- The Dripstick, a medical-grade sponge for post-sex cleanup, is one of Awkward Essentials’ most innovative products.
- Frances emphasizes the importance of empathy in business and shares insights into her product development process.
Interview with Francis Tang
Francis Tang was recently interviewed on the Be Nice or Leave podcast. Francis talked about her journey, the importance of sexual empowerment, and the future of Awkward Essentials.
In the interview, Francis discussed how she came up with the idea for the Dripstick, a post-sex cleanup sponge. She explained that the inspiration for the product came from baking, and how she thought about using a rubber spatula for her vagina. However, she realized that a spatula wouldn’t be the best or most hygienic solution, so she started looking at what already existed. She tested tampons, but they didn’t work, so she landed on the contraceptive sponge, which has bigger pores to absorb and grab viscous fluids.
When asked about how she did product research in a category where the topic is taboo, Francis explained that she leveraged work and research that had already been done by bigger companies. She also looked at forums and places where people were talking about the issue, and realized that there was a need for a product like the Dripstick.
Francis also talked about the rebranding of Awkward Essentials from Come and Gone. She explained that the new name allowed them to address other behind-the-bathroom-door problems that people feel self-conscious about but are too afraid to talk about. She emphasized that the Dripstick is not a pleasure product, but a utilitarian solution to a common problem.
Francis initially thought target audience for the Dripstick was someone who’s married in a long-term relationship, on birth control, and comfortable with letting their partner come in them. However, she realized that the audience was much broader than that, and that there was a need for the product across a wide range of people and situations.
Francis talked about the importance of sexual empowerment and how Awkward Essentials is working to break down taboos and stigma around sexual health and wellness. She emphasized that it’s important to have open and honest conversations about these issues, and that products like the Dripstick can help facilitate those conversations.
Francis’s interview provided valuable insight into the development of the Dripstick and the mission of Awkward Essentials. It’s clear that the company is committed to providing practical solutions to common problems and breaking down taboos around sexual health and wellness.
Origins of Awkward Essentials
Francis Tang, the founder and CEO of Awkward Essentials, began her journey in the personal hygiene space with the creation of the Dripstick, a post-sex cleanup sponge. The idea for the product came to her while she was baking and thought that a rubber spatula for her vagina would be useful. She then researched existing products and settled on the contraceptive sponge, which she modified to create the Dripstick.
Initially, the target audience for the Dripstick was individuals in long-term relationships who were comfortable with their partner ejaculating inside them and were on birth control. However, as the brand evolved and expanded its product line, the target audience also changed.
Awkward Essentials eventually rebranded from Come and Gone to better address other bathroom-related problems that people feel self-conscious about but are too afraid to talk about. The brand’s objective is to provide utilitarian solutions to these problems and to empower individuals to feel more comfortable and confident in their bodies.
The brand’s personality is loud and irreverent, which has helped it stand out in a crowded market of sex tech and femtech brands. While there are now more competitors in the space, Awkward Essentials remains a leader in the industry, thanks in part to its early entry into the market and its unique approach to product development and marketing.
Product Development and Research
Francis started her journey with the company back in 2019 when the brand was called Come and Gone. The company’s initial product was an after-sex cleanup sponge called Come and Gone, which was later rebranded as Awkward Essentials. The product was designed to help women with the aftermath of sex and to solve a problem that was not addressed by any other product in the market.
Francis did extensive research before developing the product. She leveraged the work and research done by bigger companies in the tampon industry to determine the average size and length of the product. She also researched different materials that could be used and eventually landed on the contraceptive sponge, which had bigger pores to absorb and grab a viscous fluid.
Francis also conducted research to understand her target audience. She initially thought that her target audience would be someone who is married, in a long-term relationship, on birth control, and comfortable with letting their partner come inside them. However, as the company grew, she realized that her audience was much broader than that.
To make the product more accessible and easy to use, Francis added a handle to the sponge. This was to ensure that people don’t put their pants back on and forget about the sponge, which could lead to health issues. She also made sure that the product was free of any additives, making it safe for use.
Francis’s research and product development process helped her create a unique product that solved a problem that was not addressed by any other product in the market. Her attention to detail and focus on customer needs helped her create a product that resonated with her audience and helped her build a successful brand.
Exploring the Dripstick
The Dripstick is a medical-grade sponge designed to help with post-sex clean-up. Initially, the target audience for the product was someone in a long-term relationship who is comfortable with letting their partner come inside them. However, the product has evolved to cater to a broader audience.
The sponge is soft, squishy, and about the length of a tampon. It has a handle to prevent it from getting lost inside the body. The product is designed to absorb and grab viscous fluids, making it an effective solution for post-sex clean-up.
The Dripstick is a utilitarian product that is not intended to be a pleasure product. The company’s objective is to provide utilitarian solutions to bathroom problems that people are often too afraid to talk about.
The product’s design was inspired by the contraceptive sponge, which has been in the market for a long time and is perfectly safe. However, the Dripstick does not contain any additives, making it a safer and more hygienic option.
The company leveraged the work and research done by bigger companies to determine the average size and length of the product. The handle was added to make it obvious that the product should not be left inside the body.
The Dripstick is not just for women in heterosexual relationships. It can also be used by anyone who wants to have a clean and comfortable experience after sex. The product is also helpful for people who experience incontinence or discharge.
The Dripstick is a unique and innovative solution to a common problem. The product’s effectiveness and safety have made it a popular choice among those who want to have a clean and comfortable post-sex experience.
Market Evolution and Audience
Initially Tang created the Dripstick product for a very specific audience – someone who is married, in a long-term relationship, on birth control, and comfortable with letting their partner come inside them. However, as the product gained popularity, the target audience has expanded to include a wider range of people.
According to Tang, the company’s personality is pretty loud, and they are one of the loud brands in the sex tech and femtech space. While there were a few other brands in this space when Awkward Essentials first launched, there has since been a groundswell of sex tech and femtech brands.
As the market has evolved, Awkward Essentials has also expanded its product line to address other “behind the bathroom door” problems that people feel self-conscious about but are too afraid to talk about. The company’s objective is to provide utilitarian solutions to these problems.
To gather customer feedback, Tang initially turned to online forums and communities where people were already discussing similar issues. However, as the company has grown, they have also conducted focus groups and surveys to better understand their customers’ needs.
Awkward Essentials has carved out a unique niche in the sex tech and femtech space by addressing a taboo topic with humor and practical solutions. As the company continues to evolve and expand its product line, it will be interesting to see how its audience continues to grow and evolve as well.
See you next time!
That’s it for today, folks, thank you for joining me and Frances Tang on this enlightening episode – tune in next time for another empowering journey at Be Nice or Leave and keep spreading the positivity!