Hollow Tampon product development: A look behind the scenes!

At Beppy, we believe that menstruation should never get in your way. Our mission? To design menstrual products that offer women more freedom, comfort and convenience. So we are immensely proud of our latest innovation: the Beppy Hollow Tampon. For years, we’ve tested, experimented and listened to feedback from women around the world. The result? A tampon that redefines comfort and ease of use. In this blog, we take you behind the scenes. From the initial idea to the final launch. How did we strike the perfect balance between functionality and comfort? And what makes the Hollow Tampon so unique? Read along and find out for yourself!

The beginning of the Hollow Tampon

The Hollow Tampon product development began by listening carefully to the needs of our customers worldwide. We received recurring requests from women who needed:

• A smaller Beppy Cup
• A product that is easy to use from the start, with no learning curve
• A solution for a low cervix
• A product suitable for light menstrual flow
• An option that is user-friendly for young girls just starting to menstruate

At first we thought about a smaller Beppy Cup, but after creating a 3D prototype, we quickly realized that the unique benefits of the original cup would be lost. Instead of continuing to develop a smaller version, we chose to create something completely new. We took on the challenge of pushing the boundaries of what was possible. The result? The Hollow Tampon – an innovative product that improves the menstrual experience for women worldwide!

Back to the drawing board

We went back to the drawing board to sketch out different ideas for a smaller menstrual product that would meet the needs of our customers. The main questions we initially asked ourselves were:

1. Should it have a stem, cord or loop?
2. Should it have a flap, like the Beppy Cup, or something else?
3. How do we make sure it stays in place, despite its small size?
4. What does the vaginal canal actually look like?
5. What if we design a product that opens like a tampon, instead of a cup?

With these questions in mind, we began the prototype. We created several versions of the design and kept adjusting them until we found the right basic shape. Our goals were clear:

• An organic top so that the vacuum pressure can easily discharge.
• A thin membrane in the center that naturally extends to an oval shape (like a cotton tampon), rather than a circular shape (like menstrual cups).
• A significantly smaller size than any menstrual cup, but large enough to stay firmly in place.

The prototype and initial tests

After several modifications, we finally had a silicone prototype that could be tested. Fifteen people tried the first version. Although the product generally worked well, two major areas of improvement emerged:

• The angle had to be larger to provide more stability.
• The pull-out ring needed to be disconnected from the base so you can remove it more easily.

Further refinements:
We conducted a final test panel, followed by a test in Colombia. This resulted in the following final modifications:

• We added extra stability at the top so the product stayed open properly.
• The design was slightly enlarged to increase capacity.
• The technical aspects were optimized.

Packaging and presentation

When the product was finally ready, we started designing the packaging. We decided to make the packaging much more compact than that of the Beppy Cup, mainly for logistical reasons. The most important thing was that the product would be immediately visible as soon as the box was opened. Therefore, we designed a smaller inner box as a platform, keeping the cotton storage bag safely in place.

The name: Hollow Tampon

The name “Hollow Tampon” came from our research on how traditional tampons expand. Soon we knew this would be the first reusable tampon. Although we spent two months exploring alternatives, we eventually came back to the name “Hollow Tampon.” From the beginning, it was clear that this would be the name, and it would not change.

After three years of intensive development, the Beppy Hollow Tampon is finally a reality. This product is the result of our design team’s hard work, as well as listening to our customers’ wishes. We are proud of the Hollow Tampon and are confident that it will be a valuable addition for women looking for a flexible, reusable and easy-to-use menstrual solution.

At Beppy, we continue to innovate and listen to you, our customer. We look forward to supporting you in finding the best menstrual products that perfectly fit your body and lifestyle! Do you have any questions about our new product? Or about our other products, feel free to contact us!