Executive Summary
The restroom experience is recognized as critical to a successful venue, but one aspect is often overlooked. An unexpected period can ruin everything for the guest that has to leave because there are no products available, so it is essential to have a solution. Egal Pads on a Roll are dispensed right next to the toilet paper where they are needed the most. They are far superior to providing products out by the sink or in a vending machine, because they do not require a guest to get dressed again after discovering the need while in the toilet. Providing exactly what is needed right at that critical moment will result in huge gratification from guests.
But Egal pads are more than a luxury. They are a recognition that periods are just a natural, normal part of life that need to accommodated without shame or secrecy. It’s about time!
Submitting Organization: Egal Pads Inc.
Detailed Nomination
Overview:
Egal began as a call to action: one out five US students were missing class and falling behind, so over 20 US States have mandated that free period products be provided in the schools. A product was needed that addressed the specific needs of dispensing pads in bulk rather than from antiquated vending machines that often do not work or require a coin.
Innovation and Impact:
Each Egal pad is comfortable, highly absorbent, and individually wrapped. The rolls replace quickly and each has 40 pads. They are sold through janitorial supply distributors and can be dispensed out of existing toilet paper dispensers, or in the custom Egal dispenser.
More sustainable and without extra packaging, each pad uses one fifth the materials and volume of a boxed pad from a machine, and the tightly wound rolls take up half the shipping volume of any folded pad from the store.
The roll format has low capital costs (no vending machines costing $300-700), low labor costs (refills in under 30 seconds), and reasonable recurring cost.
Results and Success Metrics:
An initial push in to the education market has resulted in 1,700 schools in USA having installed Egal Pads.
Satisfied with their schools, cities like Fairfax, Hyattsville, Macon, and Dallas then decided to install in all the town offices. A company called Throne began installing in their portable restrooms that are located in public locations.
Meanwhile, airports, stadiums, theme parks, and museums have been exploring the concept of free pads. To help in the decision, Egal created pilot programs where a limited number of restrooms are stocked with Egal pads. This includes co-branded dispenser labels with a QR code for the venue to gather feedback on the user experience.
Denver International Airport (DIA) first started testing on their employees in June, 2024 (40K employees) and found the product was exceptionally well received. DIA’s adoption of Pads on a Roll similarly contributed to a more positive work environment, showcasing how such initiatives can significantly impact both employee well-being and organizational reputation.
Following the success in employee restrooms, the airport expanded to public-facing restrooms in September 2024, seeking to improve the traveler experience. The three month trial was cut short after 3 weeks because of the overwhelming response, and expansion to the entire airport was approved.
There have been hundreds of responses with positive feedback since implementing in the terminal restrooms, one testimonial says “Pads on a Roll is such a great idea! Having them right in the stall is incredibly convenient, especially when traveling.” Egal has had a 98% success rate of pilot to expansion.
In an industry where it is difficult to monitor the customer experience, and so much feedback is negative, this was an immediate validation that they had made an improvement. Moreover, because the employees were also receiving the benefit, there was little objection to the added maintenance work.
A senior executive from United Club Lounges was passing through Denver Airport and was impressed by the Egal Pads on a Roll product in the restroom stalls. They were eager to get started with installation of Egal pads in their club restrooms. They are now expanding to their lounges in airports across the United States.
Egal pads are now installed in the luxury boxes of Allianz Stadium Twickenham and Wells Fargo Stadium in Philadelphia – recognized as essential to the elevated custom experience.
Egal’s is a basic idea with a huge impact. There is a special moment when guests encounter our Pads on a Roll for the first time. With a co-branded label and QR code right there when this happens, the venue receives recognition for the perk while gathering wonderful customer feedback.
