Analyzing The Wet Shaving Market In 2019

Anybody else have thoughts in light of Gillette’s apparent early success with a $35 safety razor. (I acknowledge we don’t know exactly how many were sold. My guess, thousands.)


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At the risk of stating the obvious, it was thoughtfully named, well packaged, and well pitched - a good illustration of how effective these things can be.

On a not so obvious and more personal note, I am still wondering why I have successfully resisted buying one on the grounds that I don't need it.  Those grounds generally don't work well for me. 

Once the hobbyists are satiated, it will be interesting to see how it goes.


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Anybody else have thoughts in light of Gillette’s apparent early success with a $35 safety razor. (I acknowledge we don’t know exactly how many were sold. My guess, thousands.)


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There is a lot of interest in retro stuff and I'm sure many wet shavers will want this one in their stable just because.  Two questions in my mind, first how does it shave?  Second, will those that got one on a retro inspired lark or as a gift like it enough for it to serve as a gateway in to wet shaving.  The answer to the second will depend in a large part on the answer to the first.

Anybody else have thoughts in light of Gillette’s apparent early success with a $35 safety razor. (I acknowledge we don’t know exactly how many were sold. My guess, thousands.)


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There is a lot of interest in retro stuff and I'm sure many wet shavers will want this one in their stable just because.  Two questions in my mind, first how does it shave?  Second, will those that got one on a retro inspired lark or as a gift like it enough for it to serve as a gateway in to wet shaving.  The answer to the second will depend in a large part on the answer to the first.

As to the first question ... Correctly or not, I have surmised that it will shave mildly, and “as well or better than a cart” (whatever “as well or better” means to various customers).

It's the same head as the Muhle R89 so nothing groundbreaking here. Just another cheaply made chrome plated Zamak razor with Gillette's name slapped on the case.

It's the same head as the Muhle R89 so nothing groundbreaking here. Just another cheaply made chrome plated Zamak razor with Gillette's name slapped on the case.

That's not the way the target market see it.

It's the same head as the Muhle R89 so nothing groundbreaking here. Just another cheaply made chrome plated Zamak razor with Gillette's name slapped on the case.

That's not the way the target market see it.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It's the same head as the Muhle R89 so nothing groundbreaking here. Just another cheaply made chrome plated Zamak razor with Gillette's name slapped on the case.

That's not the way the target market see it.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I'm not trying to be contrary. Promise. I'm just trying to point out the perspective that I think Gillette is quietly targeting more "regular Joe's". They can't think on a hobbyist scale with a couple thousand units. They are a big monster that needs to be fed. I suspect that this is an experiment to get into 10's of thousands of units. Be patient with me. I'm really quite lovable.

It's the same head as the Muhle R89 so nothing groundbreaking here. Just another cheaply made chrome plated Zamak razor with Gillette's name slapped on the case.

Photos show that it's not exactly the same, but very damn close. Who knows, maybe it's a Merkur(?). One thing for sure, Gillette didn't make it. 

If the mods don't delete this here's the link to another forum with great photos:


https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/thr...ew.576968/

That's not the way the target market see it.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I'm not trying to be contrary. Promise. I'm just trying to point out the perspective that I think Gillette is quietly targeting more "regular Joe's". They can't think on a hobbyist scale with a couple thousand units. They are a big monster that needs to be fed. I suspect that this is an experiment to get into 10's of thousands of units. Be patient with me. I'm really quite lovable.

If, as HighSpeed says it will shave as good or better than carts and its targeted at regular Joes then there is a chance that it might be successful in getting those Joes to move into wet shaving and some of them will certainly move into the artisan wet shaving space so that is good news.  Notwithstanding the current trend in beards, men want and need to shave on a regular basis.  How they go about that is the question.  People will do the most expedient thing if its not too crappy so once they find that there is a less crappy or even pleasant way of shaving...who knows what can happen.  

Carts and canned foam were a product of that amazing time in history when convenience was king - sliced white "bread", instant coffee, TV dinners, permanent press.  The wonders of science and marketing all designed to get you as quickly and thoughtlessly out the door to your job as possible. Then people figured out that the emptiness they often felt in their lives was in part due to the fact that life is a journey and not just a destination to get to as expediently as possible (casket or urn?) and that the process of doing things was as or more important than just doing it.

 I'm hoping that this razor isn't a total bust because if it is it can do more harm than good to the wet shaving market.  I'm sure we all know someone who either at our encouragement or their own initiative decided to try wet shaving.  They went out and got all the wrong stuff for a novice and then concluded that it wasn't for them for one reason or another.  If they'd taken the time to seek out advice the outcome could have been different.