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CHICAGO — Panty Fresh won the MMR Buyers Choice Award for its Emergency Panties and Briefs at ECRM’s Impulse, Front-End & Checklane Session held February in Chicago. Sober IP was the finalist for its Sober Self-Test sobriety testing strips.
Both products were selected from dozens of entries submitted by participating suppliers and displayed in the hospitality area of the session. Attending buyers evaluated each entry and cast their votes based on product packaging and innovation.
“Many successful impulse products are those that fulfill an immediate need or are good to have on hand in case such a need arises,” said Tony Giovanini, SVP of General Merchandise for ECRM. “An umbrella is a classic example of this – you either scramble to get one if you are caught in the rain, or else you purchase one in advance to be prepared for when it does. Our two Buyers Choice winners fill just such roles – whether the need is a fresh change of underwear or to make sure you are safe to drive after an evening out. In either case, they are great products to have ‘just in case.’ Congratulations to both winners.
Panty Fresh offers premium-quality products designed for today’s fast-paced, on-the-go consumers. Specializing in compact, travel-friendly 3-in-1 solution kits, its product line—including Emergency Panties for women and Emergency Briefs for men—is designed to help customers stay fresh, comfortable, and prepared for life’s unexpected moments. Whether dealing with accidents, travel mishaps like lost or delayed luggage, forgotten personal care items, or simply needing a quick refresh after a long day, its all-in-one kits provide everything needed for a complete refresh when away from home.
According to the company, the products are designed to fill a significant gap in the sundries, travel, and personal care sections where tampons and pads are commonly offered, but where customers' most-soiled item—underwear—is often overlooked. While tampons and pads address specific needs, they don’t provide a solution for changing underwear in these situations. Panty Fresh seeks to bridge that gap by offering a complete, on-the-go solution: premium-quality reusable underwear paired with a fresh wipe, empowering customers to confidently and comfortably navigate unexpected situations.
Each compact kit includes premium-quality reusable underwear, a fresh wipe, and a liner (for women), all packed into a discreet pouch small enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand. The pouch can also be used to store soiled underwear for later laundering. Available in two sizes—Small-XL and Plus Size (1X-3X)—the kits cater to a wide range of customers, including the plus-size community. Perfect for travel, daily use, and on-the-go surprises, these kits provide immediate convenience, encourage planned purchases and are packaged for a variety of channels, including mass retailers, hotels, cruise lines, airports, hospitals, and pharmacies.
Sober IP is the parent company of the Sober Self-Test, a 99% accurate sobriety self-test that allows those who regularly consume alcohol to make the responsible decision to always drive sober. Founder and CEO Tim Downey worked for 12 years to develop the Sober Self-Test’s proprietary formula and launched the brand in late 2023.
To take the test, a user simply swabs their mouth with the test strip, waits two minutes, and if the pad turns blue, it’s not safe to drive. Consumers can discreetly test themselves anywhere: bars, restaurants, restrooms, lobbies, or cars, and the product is ideal for any occasion where alcohol is purchased or consumed, including convenience stores, supermarkets, pharmacies as well as sports arenas, concert venues, and hospitality.
ECRM’s 2026 Impulse, Front-End & Checklane Session will be held February 3 to 5, 2026. Click here for more information.
