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Mia
05 October 2010 @ 06:05 pm
In a nutshell (or a small meluna?)
In a couple of days I'm going to be on TV promoting cups. I have 1 minute to say my bit...what do you think are the top topics to cover?

I have a host who can direct the piece with questions, so key questions would also be good.

*sigh* The more I work on this, the more I think I should just pay the extra money and get a 3 minute slot instead.

EDIT: I think some context is in order.

I'm going to be on TV, on a local show that is promoting businesses that will be exhibiting at a women's lifestyle expo. I'm there promoting my business EnvironMenstruals. I will also be doing two 15 minute seminars in which I can say everything. The TV appearance is the opportunity to bring the idea of cups to a very wide, very mainstream audience (it will play a few times over the next week or so). Most of these women will have no idea that cups exist. (I did another expo 2 weeks ago in another city, and introduced THOUSANDS of women to the idea of cups - there were rather well received too).

In 1 minute (or 3, which is sounding more and more reasonable at this stage), not rushing, I have to explain what cups are and overcome all of the issues that people have with them so they'll go to my website or come to my expo stand.

So what were YOUR biggest concerns about cups pre-cup?
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neek_loveneek_love on October 5th, 2010 05:22 am (UTC)
I would definately touch on the issue of hygene/cleanliness, as I think the idea of them being gross/bad for you/likely to increase infection/other BS is a big turn off for some women. Right the wrongs!
Good on you for putting the word out! If you had three minutes you'd be asking for five; there's a lot to be said on this topic! :D
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Kat: purple cupetimodnar on October 5th, 2010 06:10 am (UTC)
I think the ickiness of dealing with blood should be addressed, personally. This could be just me, but I'm not entirely comfortable with my own menstruation. Though using a cup is sorta forcing it on me ;)
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Katrinakatrina_splat on October 5th, 2010 07:40 am (UTC)
Cheap. Easy to clean. Environmentally friendly. Available in a range of brands that you can buy off the shelf (so they're not 'weird' hippy products that only 'weird hippies' would use).

Emphasise the cheap -- say you might spend $30 on a cup which can last years compared to X amount people spend on menstrual products in the same span of time.

How much do they cost? Answer with range of costs, compare to disposibles.
But, how do you clean it? Actually easy to clean, you can use soap and water or other products if you like.
Are they easy to use? Yes, with a bit of practice they are no harder to use than non-applicator tampons, and many people find them easier as they don't scratch your insides with bleachy papery-ness.
Where can I get them? Online via their stores, or ebay. Direct them to menstrualcups.org (links to this community) for support and further info.

:)
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Katrinakatrina_splat on October 5th, 2010 07:44 am (UTC)
Oh emphasise that there are people from 13 year old virgins to 40+ year old women with children who use cups :).
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(no subject) - smallvillefics on October 7th, 2010 11:40 pm (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - ankhst on October 5th, 2010 07:47 am (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - katrina_splat on October 5th, 2010 07:49 am (UTC) (Expand)
saraf3msaraf3m on October 5th, 2010 09:30 am (UTC)
For a 1 minute blip I image something like...
1. Think of a product you use that is good for you (your health)
2. Think of a product that you use that is good for the environment
3. Think of a product that is good for your wallet

Is this the same product? Shouldn't it be? And what's more feminine then to use a product that is as kind and gentle to your natural cycles as it is to Mother Earth? The curves of a cup are a lot sexier then the chemicals in a tampon, and definitely better then the feel of the diaper like disposable "sanitary" napkin. Technology has now made a cup for every woman, and just like women come in all shapes, sizes, colors and characters; and every woman deserves to have a cup.
Think on it...would you rather risk a little spotting learning to use a cup, or TSS?
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m03m on October 5th, 2010 11:41 am (UTC)
More feminine? That would put me off... a lot! I don't care if using the angle grinder, the laptop or the cup I use is 'feminine'... they're tools. And is being environmentally friendly a feminine act now?

Sorry, I don't mean to be dismissive. I just want to tell why this approach would not work for me. I do think that the three elements health, environment, and cost are good selling points.

To answer the question: my main concern about cups was messiness, especially when away from home.
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(no subject) - saraf3m on October 5th, 2010 04:31 pm (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - m03m on October 5th, 2010 10:11 pm (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - saraf3m on October 6th, 2010 03:30 am (UTC) (Expand)
Kai: pic#84732488kuradi8 on October 5th, 2010 12:44 pm (UTC)
I got many wonderful replies at http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/2069973.html so look through there. And don't forget peri-menopausal women too. Just like those who have irregular or unpredictable cycles, they benefit from (unlike tampons) being able to pop the cup in if they're crampy, on-and-off spotting or just paranoid. Cups are ideal for that "uncertain" time of life.

My biggest concern was, "Is this really going to work?" And yes, as long as you get a cup that fits. There are several size charts here on this List and elsewhere online. As http://community.livejournal.com/menstrual_cups/1285963.html says, they are NOT "one size fits all."
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organicchef on October 5th, 2010 12:46 pm (UTC)
My biggest concern was: as an internal reusable product, is it safe/hygenic,meaning would my gyno consider it safe/hygenic? (I did ask my doctor, and her answer was absolutely yes). Could even mention that the FDA has approved the ones sold in the US (just ask Lunette!)

I wouldn't mention leaking at all in your 1 minute ad, save that issue for when you have more time. If I were a potential consumer, and I heard you say leaking in reference to something I was already curious about but wary of, I wouldn't bother waiting for the 15 minute explanation.
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Kai: pic#84732488kuradi8 on October 5th, 2010 12:54 pm (UTC)
Oh, good point. When I've told my friends, many have reacted by saying, "Ewww, you REUSE it!" I haven't come up with a good reply yet but "Restaurants reuse cutlery... and that goes in your MOUTH" usually gives them pause to think.
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(no subject) - mousebebe on October 5th, 2010 02:48 pm (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - ankhst on October 5th, 2010 11:11 pm (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - smallvillefics on October 7th, 2010 11:44 pm (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - magdalene74 on November 5th, 2010 04:47 am (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - ankhst on November 5th, 2010 06:46 am (UTC) (Expand)
Serpentserpent_849 on October 5th, 2010 01:15 pm (UTC)
my biggest concern was whether i'd be actually able to use it although i'm a virgin. i knew the companies say yes but i wanted to hear from actual people.
and here i am, using a large ladycup :)

other women in my family are worried about infection risk, especially since i'm not tidy - but what exactly the mess in my room has to do with how well i wash my hands and cup? XD
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Serpentserpent_849 on October 5th, 2010 01:17 pm (UTC)
oh and i'm from russia and in the ussr times there were only self-made cloth pads so everyone i told it about here is ok with the reusable factor.
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(no subject) - serpent_849 on October 5th, 2010 03:44 pm (UTC) (Expand)
Lianatezliana on October 5th, 2010 01:57 pm (UTC)
Since this is going to be a TV spot, make use of visual! When I first saw a cup I was a bit concerned about size. Take your prettiest cup and fold it up to show how small it is for insertion.
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Miaankhst on October 5th, 2010 11:04 pm (UTC)
Yeah, I try to always have a cup on me for showing random people(I have an old meluna ringstem on my keyring). I think I'll use the small, blue ladycup on screen because it looks very little and friendly (and soft).
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(no subject) - magdalene74 on November 5th, 2010 04:51 am (UTC) (Expand)
Angela, the not-so-teenaged dementor: Alice - blinking cheshirecrazykitties03 on October 5th, 2010 03:13 pm (UTC)
Oh man, what to focus on in 1 minute?

Pads and tampons were always letting me down, so for me the main issue was a better choice! I was getting so angry at wasting all that money on products that leaked. I didn't want to throw money out in the garbage. I wanted something better. Better because of higher capacity, safer, clean, easy, affordable, worry-free protection, supportive community of cup-users, and so much less waste.

Yep, I know that is way more than 1 (or 3) minutes worth of stuff.

The one major factor for me was money. Next, capacity. Next, no risk of TSS.
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putting the jew in judicialquackington on October 5th, 2010 05:16 pm (UTC)
1. Cheaper over time
2. Environmentally sound
3. Great for travel (one little pouch with no waste, as opposed to loading up on pads/tampons! Or, throw it in your bag so if you are surprised, you don't have to spend $6 on a 12 pack of tampons that have been sitting there for who-knows-how-long at the gas station)
3a. No need to worry about disposing properly while traveling - that was one thing I always felt embarrassed about was trying to figure out what to do with a bloody pad or tampon at someone else's house.
4. Feels cleaner!



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putting the jew in judicialquackington on October 5th, 2010 05:16 pm (UTC)
Unrelated, and feel free to delete:

I found a typo on this page: http://www.environmenstruals.co.nz/store/product_info.php?products_id=91&osCsid=9237d602524c49834ba87c1f44db3a58 on the first line
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(no subject) - ankhst on October 5th, 2010 11:12 pm (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - magdalene74 on November 5th, 2010 05:01 am (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - ankhst on November 5th, 2010 06:50 am (UTC) (Expand)
Beanbean668 on October 6th, 2010 12:05 am (UTC)
Nobody mentioned this, but I had a huge reduction in cramps too.

YOu coudl throw in, "some women even notice their cramps lessen"
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smallvillefics on October 7th, 2010 11:47 pm (UTC)
Out of curiosity - were you using tampons? Before my cup I relied mostly on pads, since tampons for me caused discomfort. Low on pads I made a conscious choice to try tampons again, hoping I could make them work.

I always got cramps with tampons. Literally, I'd take that sucker out and they would disappear. Knowing my body a bit better now, I wonder if the tampons were bruising my cervix.
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happytree923 on October 6th, 2010 04:53 am (UTC)
My first thought was something along the lines of "OMG HOW THE F DO YOU GET THAT UP THERE". I didn't realize they were flexible, so demonstrating that they do bend is probably a good idea. The environmental factor is what sold me on them a couple years later, but if you're trying to persuade people that they're not just for granola-eating hippies focusing on sustainability is probably not the best way to go. It does deserve a mention, though.
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Miaankhst on October 6th, 2010 05:02 am (UTC)
Thunking about the demographic for this TV channel, I think the money aspect would be more popular than enviro.

I'm going to do a display with 1 month supply of disposable and the equivalent value of chocolate..."which would you prefer to spend your money on?" *

I just timed how long it will take to do my fold, insert, remove, rinse, repeat and decided to go with 3 minutes. Once I've demonstrated how to use it I'd on;y have time for 1 quick questions, which isn't enough for an audience that's new to the idea.


*The grammer, it burns, but the correct sentence sounds silly.
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(no subject) - pieke on October 6th, 2010 11:37 am (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - m03m on October 6th, 2010 01:16 pm (UTC) (Expand)
(no subject) - magdalene74 on November 5th, 2010 05:06 am (UTC) (Expand)
saraf3msaraf3m on October 7th, 2010 09:44 pm (UTC)
The Daily Grommet did a 3 minute vid for just the Lunette:

http://www.dailygrommet.com/products/456-Lunette-Menstrual-Cup-Silicone-Menstrual-Cup-Tampon-Alternative
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smallvillefics on October 7th, 2010 11:39 pm (UTC)
Number one: congrats & props on this business solution. My favorite kind of business - the one people don't yet realize they need! Best of luck on your presentation.

My biggest concerns about cups pre-purchase, or concerns from non-cup users I've spoken with:
- That it would be uncomfortable, or painful.
- That it would be messier/gross.
- That it could be unhygienic, harboring germs leading to infections.

What convinced me to switch

- The discomfort & smell with pads
- The discomfort, pain, & leaking that occurred with tampons. One would think that cups, as an insertion method would hurt the same, but I've never encountered that.
- The fact that there are no accounted cases of TSS with cups, and they can be left in for a maximum of 12 hours vs 8 with pads. I think about my period less, and I get more beauty sleep at a time I need it most.


I would touch on the fact that this product uses less *chemicals* than pads & tampons. Green effects are threefold: less disposable waste, less money in the long run, and better for your health.
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