The Wall Street Journal, yes, the Wall Street Journal, shined a spotlight on the shaving industry and discovered that gasp, using the internet is better and cheaper than following King Gillette.
The online market for razorblades barely existed a few years ago, yet Americans have taken to it quickly: Web sales of men’s shaving gear in the U.S. have nearly doubled in the 12 months through May to $263 million, according to estimates from Slice Intelligence, a market research firm.
That is about 8% of the roughly $3 billion market and a big surprise to people who follow the market.
“It’s kind of incredible that happened all in a year,” said Tim Barrett, analyst at Euromonitor International, a research firm.
The pace continues to quicken. In the first five months of 2015, online sales amounted to $141 million, more than double that a year ago, according to Slice.
The shift in shopping habits has caught market leader Gillette off balance. The brand’s U.S. online sales are rising quickly, but rivals are growing faster. ....
The Procter & Gamble Co. unit commands more than 60% of the much bigger but contracting retail market. In the growing online market, it controls just a fifth of the pie.
The mismatch is forcing a number of adjustments at Gillette. Among them, Gillette is now trying to compete on value, a shift for a business that has long pulled in premium prices for its five-bladed cartridges and swivel-head razors.
The online leader is Dollar Shave Club. Three years ago the company was an untested startup with provocative videos in which CEO Michael Dubin said, “Our blades are f------ great.” But it has built an audience for its monthly mailings of blades in plain cardboard envelopes with the promise that subscribers will save money over the leading brands.....
P&G has responded by ramping up promotion of its Gillette Shave Club’s online subscription plans.
It claims men can spend significantly less on its razorblades—around $5 a month for its priciest Fusion ProGlide blades, compared with $9 a month for Dollar Shave’s top plan, which includes shipments of four cartridges with six blades each.
But Gillette’s math presumes users change cartridges only once a month, with an average of three to four shaves a week. Otherwise, its blades are a lot more expensive—around $5 apiece for its top of the line, five-bladed Fusion ProGlide compared with $2.25 for Dollar Shave Club’s six-bladed Executive....
Rob Springer, a 37-year-old who works for a granite company in Atlanta, said he shaves three or four times a week and used to buy Gillette Fusion five-bladed cartridges before he signed up for a Dollar Shave Club subscription last October.
“The Gillette razors were wonderful, but the problem was that they were around $20 for a pack of four,” he said, adding each blade lasted him only a week. “It’s done in a week, no matter what brand I use,” said Mr. Springer, who sports a beard and shaves his head and neck. He now pays $6 monthly for a set of four cartridges..... Rest of article.
Kingfish note: No kidding. Use a Merkur safety razor. The classic version is $25. The razor will last for years- nothing like good German steel. Merkur or Feather platinum blades are $6 to $7 for a box of ten on Classicshaving.com and they are better than the Gillette razors that resemble souped-up Sopwith Camels.
16 comments:
So, Brett Favre is right after all!
Get a good Norelco (Phillips) electric and be done with it.
I went to the Kingfish plan a couple of years ago and now I kind of enjoy shaving. I paid a little more and got the adjustable Merkur, but could have done the basic version. Vintagebladesllc.com is my source.
I tried 'em all many times. Never satisfied. Along came Harry's. Tried it. Love it. Best shave ever. Blades are cathedral cut and honed. Very close shave, no nicks and you don't spend a bundle! Harry's applies the right amount of pressure at the correct angle. Harry's blades last well over 2-3 weeks shaving every day. Also super service. These people are serious about high quality, fast service at a very reasonable cost.
I agree....Harry's is the way to go. Great product and service at a very reasonable price.
ItalianBarber.com has the best DE razors I have used at great prices.
KF, try the Astra Platinum blades. I find they shave far smoother than Feather and last a heck of a lot longer. They are also about 9 bucks per 100 off Flea Bay. Now I'm hoping you are using a good shave soap and brush? Nothing beats Arko shave soap sticks from Turkey!(eBay) Nothing. Paired with a decent brush it's out of this world. I assume you finish off with an alum block and some Clubman Pinot?
What will you little boys discuss next? The best bath houses? Pastel underwear? Nail salons?
@12:36 Astra Keramic (that is how they were spelled) were even better than the platinum blades, but they no longer make those.
I started shaving in 1970. Bought a Wilkinson for $2.50. It had a $3 rebate, so they paid me fifty cents to take it. That was a great little razor. Smooth, no cuts. About 5 years later they stopped making the blades. Don't know why, they were great. Then I paid what seemed like a great sum $8 for a Trac II. Forty years later I still use it every day. The blades cost $1.50/ea and last me about two weeks. Looks like the online thing is taking off because many people were paying too much for blades, but they did not have to. I don't.
Did Dollar Shave Club and wasn't impressed, but Harry's is the real deal. Much nicer blades, handle, etc.
The Harrys handle I bought is too slippery to use.
I saw this on CBS Sunday Morning last year: When you finish saving, rinse the razor thoroughly in hot water, dry it with a towel, then put in back in the holder upside down (blades facing up). Blades will stay sharp for months. Believe it or not, this really works. I have been using the same Gillette Fusion blade since January.
Trust me on this: Go to Harry's website and order their $15 special. Blades made in Germany.
And also buy a top-of-the line Braun electric razor with a self-cleaning base. Forget everything else. (I've been shaving for a looong time
P.S. Buy a bottle of Williams' Lectric Shave to use with your electric razor.
12:36, you are right! I have about 50 I have ratted away.
REAL men groom with REAL blades and it shows, 8:31 AM. Now go drown your dateless angst in another half gallon of Rocky Road.
If you want a better value than Dollar Shave Club, look at ordering directly from Dorco. DSC buys their blades from Dorco, brands them, and sells them at a markup. You can get them absurdly cheap at Dorco and can usually use an online promo code to get them even cheaper.
Finally! I think the Dork-Oh post says it all. Men who have nothing more to do than pull their puds and sit in a sauna discussing razors are just right for Belhaven and Fondren.
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