How Is Lola Building a Lifelong Women’s Wellness Brand? | SALT Talks #119

TL;DR

Lola is building a lifelong women’s wellness brand by combining transparent reproductive-health products and content with expert advice, community support, and omnichannel access. Co-founder Jordana Kier explains how Lola expanded from feminine care into sexual wellness and launched across Walmart stores, while AF Ventures managing partner Jordan Gaspar discusses supporting high-growth consumer brands. Read on for their insights on product development, retail expansion, and making women’s health less lonely and confusing.

Transcript

hello everyone and welcome back to salt talks my name is john darcy i'm the managing director of salt which is a global thought leadership forum and networking platform at the intersection of finance technology and public policy salt talks are a digital interview series that we started during this work from home period with leading investors creato... Read More

Key Insights

• 😨 Natural personal care is experiencing rapid growth, as consumers prioritize overall well-being and seek transparency and sustainability in products.
• 👶 Companies like Lola are expanding into new categories, embracing an omnichannel approach, and building supportive communities.
• 😨 COVID-19 has accelerated the shift towards online shopping and increased interest in natural feminine care products.
• 👩‍⚕️ Men can play a crucial role in supporting women's health by engaging in open conversations and advocating for change.
• 👩‍⚕️ Policy changes, like Scotland's decision to make period products free, are essential for menstrual equity and destigmatizing women's health.
• 🧔‍♀️ Building a brand that lasts requires innovation, authenticity, and addressing the needs of women throughout their reproductive journeys.
• 😤 The pandemic has challenged businesses to adapt, prioritize supply chain and financial stability, and support their teams' well-being.

Questions & Answers

Q: How is Lola building a lifelong women’s wellness brand?

Lola provides transparent products, transparent content, and a supportive community throughout a woman’s reproductive life cycle. Its goal is to make women’s health less lonely and less confusing while continuing to expand its physical and digital product portfolio.

Q: What women’s health problem was Lola originally created to address?

Lola initially focused on changing how women thought about, purchased, received, and discussed feminine care products. The company saw opportunities to improve a reactive and vulnerable journey that many women experience monthly.

Q: How did Lola develop its feminine care business?

Lola developed its own intellectual property and built its own manufacturing operation. It also created content and conversations designed to help women feel informed throughout their reproductive journeys.

Q: Why did Lola expand into sexual wellness?

Lola entered sexual wellness to offer a more holistic set of resources for women’s reproductive journeys. Those resources include products and expert advice, supported by informative content and community.

Q: How does Walmart fit into Lola’s retail strategy?

Lola expanded into brick-and-mortar retail through a full-chain Walmart launch in March of the year discussed. The move supports Lola’s goal of giving women omnichannel access they can rely on.

Q: What is Lola’s mission for women’s reproductive health?

Lola aims to provide the transparent products, content, and supportive community that women deserve throughout their reproductive lives. Its broader mission is to make women’s health less lonely and less confusing.

Q: What is AF Ventures’ approach to supporting consumer brands?

AF Ventures takes an active, hands-on approach to working with its portfolio companies. It offers proprietary resources and experience in areas including financial construction, marketing, distribution, and supply chain.

Q: Why was Lola significant to AF Ventures’ expansion?

AF Ventures expanded beyond its primary food-and-beverage focus into personal care, pet, beauty, and wellness. Lola became its pilot investment in personal care, giving the firm an early position in that new vertical.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jordan Gaspar introduces AF Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in high-growth consumer brands, and discusses the proprietary resources and hands-on approach they offer to their portfolio companies.

• Jordana Kier explains Lola, a brand focused on providing transparent products, content, and a supportive community for women's reproductive health. Lola has expanded into sexual wellness and recently launched in Walmart stores.

• Gaspar and Kier discuss the changing landscape of the natural personal care space, the importance of transparency and sustainability, and the increasing demand for these products.