In a recent episode of Women in Motion, hosted by Lee Kantor, we were introduced to Melanie Cristol, the founder of Lorals. Lorals is revolutionizing the sexual wellness industry with its innovative products designed to enhance intimacy for women.
The Birth of Lorals
Melanie Cristol had been dreaming of Lorals for several years before bringing it to life. With a background as a sex educator during her college years and over 15 years of experience in sex education, Melanie noticed a gap in the market. Many women experienced intimacy primarily tailored to their partners’ needs, often neglecting their own desires and satisfaction.
Realizing that foreplay is crucial for women to fully enjoy intimacy and reach climax, Melanie dedicated herself to creating a product that focuses on this aspect. Lorals, short for “Love Oral Always,” is a line of ultra-thin, incredibly stretchy latex lingerie. These products allow women to experience the full sensations of oral sex while providing protection against STIs and addressing concerns related to scents, taste, and textures.
From Idea to Market
Bringing Lorals to market was a challenging journey that took about three years. Melanie’s initial inspiration came from the concept of dental dams, which have been on the market for around 30 years. However, dental dams had several limitations—they required manual holding, lacked proper marketing, and weren’t designed with intimacy in mind.
Melanie wanted to create a hands-free, beautifully designed product that felt like fun lingerie. After extensive research, she realized that manufacturers with experience in making latex products like condoms and gloves would be ideal for producing Lorals. This led her to Malaysia, the world’s largest producer of condoms and gloves. Through numerous trials, prototypes, and factory visits, Melanie finally found the right partner to bring her vision to life.
Challenges and Successes
The journey from idea to product was filled with challenges. Melanie shared that it took about three years to bring Lorals to market, a timeline she initially found disappointing. However, after learning that a recent condom innovation by a large company took seven years to develop, she felt proud of her accomplishment.
Melanie’s transition from a corporate litigator to an entrepreneur was a bold move. She had saved money from her previous job, which she used to fund Lorals. Additionally, she brought in investors to support the venture. Melanie emphasized the importance of going all-in on her idea, as she believed dividing her attention between lawyering and entrepreneurship would not do justice to either.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Melanie offered advice for those considering a leap from a secure corporate job to entrepreneurship. She encouraged them to evaluate their values, daily life goals, and the resources they need to feel secure and happy. Creating a weighted analysis of different career options can help in making an informed decision.
She also recommended testing the market to ensure there is genuine interest in the product or service. Conducting surveys and customer interviews helped Melanie understand that Lorals had a much larger potential market than she initially thought. Transforming a niche product like oral dams into sexy lingerie significantly broadened the market appeal.
Community and Support
Melanie’s involvement with WBEC-West has been instrumental in Lorals’ growth. A mentor from JP Morgan recommended getting diversity-related credentials certified by organizations like WBENC. This certification opened doors to partnerships with large buyers who value diversity in their vendor relationships. Melanie proudly shared that Lorals is certified as a woman-owned, LGBT-owned, and disability-owned business enterprise.
Future Goals
Looking ahead, Lorals aims to expand its market reach and retail partnerships. With a strong presence on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, the brand continues to grow its audience. Melanie highlighted the importance of packaging that clearly communicates the product’s benefits and makes customers feel comfortable purchasing it.
Connect with Lorals
For more information about Lorals, visit their website at mylorals.com or follow them on social media @mylorals. You can also reach out directly via email at hello@mylorals.com.
Through Melanie’s ability to address a significant gap in the sexual wellness industry, Lorals is empowering women to embrace intimacy on their terms. As Melanie continues to break barriers and expand her brand, her story serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere. Listen to her full journey on Women in Motion using this link: https://businessradiox.com/podcast/women-in-motion/lorals/
About Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West (WBEC-West)
WBEC-West is a regional partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a coalition of corporations, WBEs, and regionally focused women’s business organizations. As an affiliate organization, WBEC-West implements the certification standards of WBENC throughout Arizona, Colorado, Southern California, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Hawaii, and Guam. WBENC is the largest certifier of women’s business enterprises in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs. WBENC certification is nationally recognized and accepted by more than 10,000 major corporations. We also support corporations in their efforts to include WBENC Certified WBEs in their supply chain.
