Name: Tali Sawicz

Pronouns: She/her

Day job: BITS

Location: Sydney

 

How did you get here?

My career has been in creator management, so I’ve seen how much brands pay influencers and how often those partnerships return $0 in sales. I wanted to combine that experience with a business idea I’d had in the back of my mind, which led to BITS.

It’s no secret that people are tired of being advertised to, and the typical influencer model is losing its impact. The BITS box is (hopefully) a more positive way to engage with ads, while also getting free tampons.

 

BITS sounds simple. What do people underestimate?

Scaling. Not just the cost side, that’s obvious, but getting brands to commit more than a couple of thousand samples is a mammoth ask. How do I reach more women without scaring brands off with the volume they need to commit? It’s tricky.

 

Did you think it would work at the start?

Yes and no. Brand-funded period care makes sense, but how do you prove return on investment for brands? I needed to figure out how to serve ads that are also beneficial to the advertiser.

My first idea was to have people sit through ads on a screen, then go to checkout to get free tampons. It’s funny, looking back, to think that would have worked. I’m glad that sitting on the idea for so long served me well.

 

Box 1 sold out fast. What did that prove?

I don’t think it proved there was demand for this type of service - that’s obvious. But it did prove that BITS is a brand women choose to engage with, rather than seeing one video and forgetting about it.

That feels really special. People always say it’s about community, but this proved it really is. So many women engaged with my videos, signed up, read my emails, and set alarms to be on the site at the right time. That’s influence, if you ask me.

What has come naturally in building this?

How to build brand partnerships that deliver real value. As a new brand, I have a lot to prove, so I try to give more than what’s typically expected for the fee I charge. And spending hours in the garage packing boxes. I love time alone, so I really don’t mind that part at all.

 

Biggest mistake so far?

Having to change my name from DRIP to BITS. Once I started my IG account, another company called Drip followed me, and I knew I was being watched. If I’d understood trademarks earlier, I would have done my due diligence. Instead, I engaged an IP lawyer to secure a new name. Lawyers aren’t cheap.

My partner still accidentally calls BITS “DRIP.” It feels a bit sad to correct him. It was such a good name.

 

Do people underestimate the cost of period care?

Majorly. But I’m very aware I can only speak from my experience, and I’m fortunate that I’ve always been able to afford period care. For me, tampons are like lip balm or bobby pins. You know you have them somewhere, but you can never find them when you need them. It’s a vicious cycle. I buy them, put them in my bag, forget which bag, and buy them again.

 

Most meaningful message you’ve received?

I received a message from a woman thanking me for her BITS box. She bleeds for up to half the month, so she goes through a large amount of period products. She said she can afford them, but that the BITS tampons helped reduce some of that cost.

It reminded me that periods are involuntary and we can’t control them. It feels unfair to have to pay for something you shouldn’t have to, especially when she needs more than the average person. It was a double whammy. I felt really grateful for her message.

 

What do you want BITS to change in the long term?

Two things. I want women to be more aware of how much we’re paying for period products, and for that to drive more advocacy for them to be free. And I want brands to have the option to allocate their marketing budgets toward something positive that gives back to the women who buy their products.

 

How has your own relationship with your period changed?

I got my first period on the school bus, the day High School Musical 3 came out on Disney Channel. My friends took me to the bathroom and showed me how to put on a pad.

I had such a positive first experience, and in my younger years, I remember laughing about syncing cycles with my friends. But over time, especially with dating and becoming sexually active, my period started to feel embarrassing, and I became avoidant when I had it.

It often felt like, for one week every month, I couldn’t put myself out there with men, and I missed fun opportunities because of that.

 

What do you stop doing when your period hits?

Sleeping naked. I’m a naked sleeper, but not when I have my period. I think that habit started when I lived at home and my mum did my washing. If I bled on the sheets, I felt like a nuisance. I should probably go back to sleeping naked now. I do my own washing, after all.

 

What actually helps with pain, energy or mood?

I think it’s about giving in to what you need at the time. Three days before my period, I’m a bottomless pit. I’ve accepted it and don’t feel guilty about eating six meals a day. Nurofen helps me a lot, along with a heat pack and taking deep breaths until the meds kick in.

 

What do people still get wrong about periods?

That it’s always a complete nuisance. At this stage of my life, getting my period is mostly a sense of relief and release. It tells me everything is working, and reminds me I’m not pregnant when I’m not trying to be.

 

Do you think we’ve normalised period pain too much?

Absolutely. It’s like saying you have a headache. There’s no weight to the statement, and that’s not fair.

 

What do you wish you had been told earlier about your body?

This is specific to me, but my advice is that everyone is different. Just because you share genetics doesn’t mean you’ll share body types. I look completely different to everyone in my family. I’m the tallest, even taller than the men. I have small(ish) boobs, while most of my family have considered breast reductions. You can blame certain things on genetics, but you might not get those traits at all.

 

If someone’s struggling, where should they start?

If the struggle is pain, try different methods and see what works for you. If it’s emotional, know that as you get older, you’ll become more comfortable with your body and feel more in control. Time can heal a lot. I truly believe that.

 

What still makes people uncomfortable about periods?

For me, it’s definitely clothing. I’m hyper-aware of what I’m wearing when I have my period. I’ve never leaked, never had blood on white pants, but I can’t shake the feeling that something’s there and everyone is looking at it.

 

If every woman listened, what’s your message?

What you think about your body will change through different seasons of your life. It’s always there, but what you worry about now won’t last forever.

 

MY CYCLE

• My period in 3 words: Inconsistent, hungry, release
• Period self-care toolkit: Heatpack, nurofen, black leggings
• Most underrated period hack: If you feel your most beautiful on your period (I tend to), take your hot selfies then! It’ll make you feel really good!
• Contraception of choice: Levlen (the pill)
• On day 1, you'll find me: Couch, Housewives, dog on my lap, light and tangy chips next to me
• Scarlet pick: rae Heat pad! No more smelly microwave heat pack