Barrister and Mann

Will, thanks for a clear, well-reasoned explanation of marketing realities in the world of shaving soap. I concur that art should be special and if everyone had it, it wouldn't be as special. Everyone who managed to get the 2015 Hallows, admit it, you felt that little extra bit of happiness that you were able to get it when so many others weren't I'm just nursing my 2014 tub along hoping it lasts until I can take a shot at getting another one.

As for Fougere, I used it (Aromatique) this morning and it was wonderful. For those of you who haven't got it and, since its permanently discontinued, won't ever get it, you have no idea what you're missing.

Thanks Will.
Mark

I will admit I'm a little sad to see that Le Grand Chypre isn't making a return.  I missed it this year.  Once scent I would really love to try.  That 42 sounds intriguing as well.

I feel the same way. I also wish artisans would stop with the LEs. Why can't LEs be seasonal so that all the loyal customers that enjoy their products have a chance to purchase it. If you miss out on a seasonal product then you didn't want it obviously, but if you miss out on an LE it's likely because you weren't at your computer the minute it released, or didn't have the funds to buy it on day 1 or 2. That's my 2 cents anyway. I look forward to Le Grand Chypre but I think that one could sell out even faster than LGC because it is only $11.00.

Sometimes art should be special. Also, the problem with LEs, at least in our case, is that they're generally very expensive to design and make. There comes a time when everyone who wants one of these expensive soaps has one, so we sit with the rest of it. That's what happened with the final release of our fougère soaps (and thus why they will not EVER be made again). Starting with 42, all LE soaps (which we're scaling back overall) will be either limited runs of 1000 soaps or made for a set period of time (like Arctique).

What a lot of our customers don't understand is that, because the market is now SO glutted with soap makers, we need LEs in order to capture public attention. Otherwise, business drops basically to nothing as people move on to the next new shiny thing. If there were only 10 artisan soapmakers out there, or even 30, it would be very different, but we currently estimate the market to be closer to 400 manufacturers, so it's a problem. For that reason, there are a few projects that are NOT on the list that represent our attempts to redraw the market. More info will be released as they approach completion.

Thanks for explaining. I guess I just prefer the seasonal because the run is longer. I believe you made 500 LGCs if my memory serves me correctly. Hopefully when you increase it to 1,000 it will provide more time for everyone who wants the LE to purchase it.

Will, thanks for a clear, well-reasoned explanation of marketing realities in the world of shaving soap.  I concur that art should be special and if everyone had it, it wouldn't be as special.  Everyone who managed to get the 2015 Hallows, admit it, you felt that little extra bit of happiness that you were able to get it when so many others weren't  I'm just nursing my 2014 tub along hoping it lasts until I can take a shot at getting another one.

As for Fougere, I used it (Aromatique) this morning and it was wonderful.  For those of you who haven't got it and, since its permanently discontinued, won't ever get it, you have no idea what you're missing.

Thanks Will.
Mark

I'm sure I would have enjoyed the B&M Fougere, but MdC is filling that slot just fine. Perhaps I will find the B&M on a BST though.

Will, thanks for a clear, well-reasoned explanation of marketing realities in the world of shaving soap.  I concur that art should be special and if everyone had it, it wouldn't be as special.  Everyone who managed to get the 2015 Hallows, admit it, you felt that little extra bit of happiness that you were able to get it when so many others weren't  I'm just nursing my 2014 tub along hoping it lasts until I can take a shot at getting another one.

As for Fougere, I used it (Aromatique) this morning and it was wonderful.  For those of you who haven't got it and, since its permanently discontinued, won't ever get it, you have no idea what you're missing.

Thanks Will.
Mark

I'm sure I would have enjoyed the B&M Fougere, but MdC is filling that slot just fine. Perhaps I will find the B&M on a BST though.

That's what I've been doing, looking onbhe BSTs for them to pop up. The bad part is they get bundled with unbreakable lots.

Will, thanks for a clear, well-reasoned explanation of marketing realities in the world of shaving soap.  I concur that art should be special and if everyone had it, it wouldn't be as special.  Everyone who managed to get the 2015 Hallows, admit it, you felt that little extra bit of happiness that you were able to get it when so many others weren't  I'm just nursing my 2014 tub along hoping it lasts until I can take a shot at getting another one.

As for Fougere, I used it (Aromatique) this morning and it was wonderful.  For those of you who haven't got it and, since its permanently discontinued, won't ever get it, you have no idea what you're missing.

Thanks Will.
Mark

I'm sure I would have enjoyed the B&M Fougere, but MdC is filling that slot just fine. Perhaps I will find the B&M on a BST though.

That's what I've been doing, looking onbhe BSTs for them to pop up. The bad part is they get bundled with unbreakable lots.

Yep. The bundling is a stopper for me. I've been guilty of it too but I usually offer options to mix and match. However, I had the chance to trade for LGC when it first came out and passed for some dumb reason. I was selling someone a new SV Tundra with aftershave and he asked if I would take a new LGC on partial trade and I passed because I had just spent $80 on soaps and $115 on a brush and wanted to recoup some of the money by selling the Tundra. Live and learn I guess. I will just buy the ones I want as soon as they release and pass on the ones I don't.

I will admit I'm a little sad to see that Le Grand Chypre isn't making a return.  That 42 sounds intriguing as well.

Agree to that. Le Grand Chypre was the first BM I bought and almost the only one I have used since. It has a great aroma that stays with as good post-shave feeling. Now I have bought another two (Fireside and the DFS) that are on the way over to Sweden and I have also added the release dates in my calender to not miss them. 42 looks very promising indeed.

I will admit I'm a little sad to see that Le Grand Chypre isn't making a return.  I missed it this year.  Once scent I would really love to try.  That 42 sounds intriguing as well.

I feel the same way. I also wish artisans would stop with the LEs. Why can't LEs be seasonal so that all the loyal customers that enjoy their products have a chance to purchase it. If you miss out on a seasonal product then you didn't want it obviously, but if you miss out on an LE it's likely because you weren't at your computer the minute it released, or didn't have the funds to buy it on day 1 or 2. That's my 2 cents anyway. I look forward to Le Grand Chypre but I think that one could sell out even faster than LGC because it is only $11.00.

Sometimes art should be special. Also, the problem with LEs, at least in our case, is that they're generally very expensive to design and make. There comes a time when everyone who wants one of these expensive soaps has one, so we sit with the rest of it. That's what happened with the final release of our fougère soaps (and thus why they will not EVER be made again). Starting with 42, all LE soaps (which we're scaling back overall) will be either limited runs of 1000 soaps or made for a set period of time (like Arctique).

What a lot of our customers don't understand is that, because the market is now SO glutted with soap makers, we need LEs in order to capture public attention. Otherwise, business drops basically to nothing as people move on to the next new shiny thing. If there were only 10 artisan soapmakers out there, or even 30, it would be very different, but we currently estimate the market to be closer to 400 manufacturers, so it's a problem. For that reason, there are a few projects that are NOT on the list that represent our attempts to redraw the market. More info will be released as they approach completion.

Thanks for the insight Will. No chance of another fougère being made in a few years? Once those already out there are used up?
Either way, I look forward for more info on the Night Music listed on the release schedule and those not listed to recapture the market.

I will admit I'm a little sad to see that Le Grand Chypre isn't making a return.  I missed it this year.  Once scent I would really love to try.  That 42 sounds intriguing as well.

I feel the same way. I also wish artisans would stop with the LEs. Why can't LEs be seasonal so that all the loyal customers that enjoy their products have a chance to purchase it. If you miss out on a seasonal product then you didn't want it obviously, but if you miss out on an LE it's likely because you weren't at your computer the minute it released, or didn't have the funds to buy it on day 1 or 2. That's my 2 cents anyway. I look forward to Le Grand Chypre but I think that one could sell out even faster than LGC because it is only $11.00.

Sometimes art should be special. Also, the problem with LEs, at least in our case, is that they're generally very expensive to design and make. There comes a time when everyone who wants one of these expensive soaps has one, so we sit with the rest of it. That's what happened with the final release of our fougère soaps (and thus why they will not EVER be made again). Starting with 42, all LE soaps (which we're scaling back overall) will be either limited runs of 1000 soaps or made for a set period of time (like Arctique).

What a lot of our customers don't understand is that, because the market is now SO glutted with soap makers, we need LEs in order to capture public attention. Otherwise, business drops basically to nothing as people move on to the next new shiny thing. If there were only 10 artisan soapmakers out there, or even 30, it would be very different, but we currently estimate the market to be closer to 400 manufacturers, so it's a problem. For that reason, there are a few projects that are NOT on the list that represent our attempts to redraw the market. More info will be released as they approach completion.

Great explanation, thanks!

I feel the same way. I also wish artisans would stop with the LEs. Why can't LEs be seasonal so that all the loyal customers that enjoy their products have a chance to purchase it. If you miss out on a seasonal product then you didn't want it obviously, but if you miss out on an LE it's likely because you weren't at your computer the minute it released, or didn't have the funds to buy it on day 1 or 2. That's my 2 cents anyway. I look forward to Le Grand Chypre but I think that one could sell out even faster than LGC because it is only $11.00.

Sometimes art should be special. Also, the problem with LEs, at least in our case, is that they're generally very expensive to design and make. There comes a time when everyone who wants one of these expensive soaps has one, so we sit with the rest of it. That's what happened with the final release of our fougère soaps (and thus why they will not EVER be made again). Starting with 42, all LE soaps (which we're scaling back overall) will be either limited runs of 1000 soaps or made for a set period of time (like Arctique).

What a lot of our customers don't understand is that, because the market is now SO glutted with soap makers, we need LEs in order to capture public attention. Otherwise, business drops basically to nothing as people move on to the next new shiny thing. If there were only 10 artisan soapmakers out there, or even 30, it would be very different, but we currently estimate the market to be closer to 400 manufacturers, so it's a problem. For that reason, there are a few projects that are NOT on the list that represent our attempts to redraw the market. More info will be released as they approach completion.

Thanks for the insight Will.  No chance of another fougère being made in a few years? Once those already out there are used up?
Either way, I look forward for more info on the Night Music listed on the release schedule and those not listed to recapture the market.

Of the fougères we've already produced, only Beaudelaire will ever return. Fougères Imperiale and Aromatique are permanently discontinued.

Of the fougères we've already produced, only Beaudelaire will ever return. Fougères Imperiale and Aromatique are permanently discontinued.

I knew there was a good reason I bought spares of each.