Barrister & Mann AMA, July 17th, 2016

Hi Mark!

1) The bay farmers have gone on strike due to poor working conditions and unfair trade practices. Until the matter is resolved, bay will remain an uncommon and valuable commodity.

2) I doubt it will be quite that extreme, but it may force us to scale back production for awhile. People usually don't want to hear that the cost of ingredients is rising rapidly; they usually care only about how it hurts their own wallets, which I suppose is understandable. So we'll probably just make less of it until the supply stabilizes. It may push back our release of a matching aftershave, though.

Interesting, maybe we'll start seeing "fair trade" bay rum products next?

I'm happy to hear that Bay Rum won't be disappearing from your line up yet and I have secured sufficient supply of the original formula soap to ride out the labour issues I hope.  Does the aftershave require more bay oil than the soap does?

Also, how is the development of the new Kyovu going?  Can we expect to see it this year or next?
Thanks,
Mark

1) We might? That's not really my area, but I can check with the various buyers, if you'd like.

2) Not more of it as a percentage, but more overall because we sell so much aftershave. It would effectively triple our consumption of bay, which would not be sustainable at the moment.

3) Next year. Barrister's Reserve has proven to be even more complicated to bring to market than I thought and so is requiring a lot of time, money, and energy. However, we are going to be doing a full push for the launch and will be doing what my mother has christened a "whirlwind tour" of five cities in September: Seattle (we'll be at Seattle Shave Con), Chicago, Adrian, Toronto (my first time in Canada), and Boston. It's very exciting.

Thats one of the many things I love about Barrister and Mann, there is always something exciting on the horizon. I saw the info on the Seattle Shave Con and have ben considering taking a run out there as its only a day's drive from home. Is there a shaving event in Toronto as well or are you just swinging through as part of the whirl wind tour? I have to be going through Toronto at some point this fall and if there were a shaving event I might be able to coordinate.

Thanks for all your helpful information, I won't be making any push for fair trade products, however, I will be looking forward to new Kyovu.
Mark

Chuck are you an HR professional?

In a former life I was, yes.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Chuck are you an HR professional?

In a former life I was, yes.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

I won't hold it against you - I promise, no HR jokes as long as you promise no lawyer jokes

Interesting, maybe we'll start seeing "fair trade" bay rum products next?

I'm happy to hear that Bay Rum won't be disappearing from your line up yet and I have secured sufficient supply of the original formula soap to ride out the labour issues I hope.  Does the aftershave require more bay oil than the soap does?

Also, how is the development of the new Kyovu going?  Can we expect to see it this year or next?
Thanks,
Mark

1) We might? That's not really my area, but I can check with the various buyers, if you'd like.

2) Not more of it as a percentage, but more overall because we sell so much aftershave. It would effectively triple our consumption of bay, which would not be sustainable at the moment.

3) Next year. Barrister's Reserve has proven to be even more complicated to bring to market than I thought and so is requiring a lot of time, money, and energy. However, we are going to be doing a full push for the launch and will be doing what my mother has christened a "whirlwind tour" of five cities in September: Seattle (we'll be at Seattle Shave Con), Chicago, Adrian, Toronto (my first time in Canada), and Boston. It's very exciting.

Thats one of the many things I love about Barrister and Mann, there is always something exciting on the horizon.  I saw the info on the Seattle Shave Con and have ben considering taking a run out there as its only a day's drive from home.  Is there a shaving event in Toronto as well or are you just swinging through as part of the whirl wind tour?  I have to be going through Toronto at some point this fall and if there were a shaving event I might be able to coordinate.

Thanks for all your helpful information, I won't be making any push for fair trade products, however, I will be looking forward to new Kyovu.
Mark

Yeah, we're looking to do a meetup in conjunction with MenEssentials in order to promote Barrister's Reserve (though other vendors who have products at the shop will be welcome). I'm still in talks with Seth about it, but he seems pretty excited. Would probably be the last weekend of that month.

Hi Mark!

1) The bay farmers have gone on strike due to poor working conditions and unfair trade practices. Until the matter is resolved, bay will remain an uncommon and valuable commodity.

2) I doubt it will be quite that extreme, but it may force us to scale back production for awhile. People usually don't want to hear that the cost of ingredients is rising rapidly; they usually care only about how it hurts their own wallets, which I suppose is understandable. So we'll probably just make less of it until the supply stabilizes. It may push back our release of a matching aftershave, though.

Interesting, maybe we'll start seeing "fair trade" bay rum products next?

I'm happy to hear that Bay Rum won't be disappearing from your line up yet and I have secured sufficient supply of the original formula soap to ride out the labour issues I hope.  Does the aftershave require more bay oil than the soap does?

Also, how is the development of the new Kyovu going?  Can we expect to see it this year or next?
Thanks,
Mark

1) We might? That's not really my area, but I can check with the various buyers, if you'd like.

2) Not more of it as a percentage, but more overall because we sell so much aftershave. It would effectively triple our consumption of bay, which would not be sustainable at the moment.

3) Next year. Barrister's Reserve has proven to be even more complicated to bring to market than I thought and so is requiring a lot of time, money, and energy. However, we are going to be doing a full push for the launch and will be doing what my mother has christened a "whirlwind tour" of five cities in September: Seattle (we'll be at Seattle Shave Con), Chicago, Adrian, Toronto (my first time in Canada), and Boston. It's very exciting.

When are you in TO? I may be there at the end of Aug... =D

Men's Essential?

EDIT: To slow, Glory!

(within reason; I am not extending the discount to members of ISIS)

hahahahahaha

Hi Will, Thanks for doing this.

1. What is your take on the scent of Tabac? It is polarizing, and hard to describe, so I'd like to have your expert opinion and description, if possible.
2. Was Wonderbalm a sort of Reserve 1.0?

Hi Mark!

1) The bay farmers have gone on strike due to poor working conditions and unfair trade practices. Until the matter is resolved, bay will remain an uncommon and valuable commodity.

2) I doubt it will be quite that extreme, but it may force us to scale back production for awhile. People usually don't want to hear that the cost of ingredients is rising rapidly; they usually care only about how it hurts their own wallets, which I suppose is understandable. So we'll probably just make less of it until the supply stabilizes. It may push back our release of a matching aftershave, though.

Interesting, maybe we'll start seeing "fair trade" bay rum products next?

I'm happy to hear that Bay Rum won't be disappearing from your line up yet and I have secured sufficient supply of the original formula soap to ride out the labour issues I hope.  Does the aftershave require more bay oil than the soap does?

Also, how is the development of the new Kyovu going?  Can we expect to see it this year or next?
Thanks,
Mark

1) We might? That's not really my area, but I can check with the various buyers, if you'd like.

2) Not more of it as a percentage, but more overall because we sell so much aftershave. It would effectively triple our consumption of bay, which would not be sustainable at the moment.

3) Next year. Barrister's Reserve has proven to be even more complicated to bring to market than I thought and so is requiring a lot of time, money, and energy. However, we are going to be doing a full push for the launch and will be doing what my mother has christened a "whirlwind tour" of five cities in September: Seattle (we'll be at Seattle Shave Con), Chicago, Adrian, Toronto (my first time in Canada), and Boston. It's very exciting.

Where in Chicago, Merchant & Rhodes?

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Hi Will, Thanks for doing this.

1. What is your take on the scent of Tabac?  It is polarizing, and hard to describe, so I'd like to have your expert opinion and description, if possible.
2. Was Wonderbalm a sort of Reserve 1.0?

1) I think it's a lovely old-school leather scent that doesn't get the love that it deserves. It's very much in the same vein as Caron Tabac Blond and Knize Ten.

2) No, Wonderbalm was a very different idea. Reserve was really its own animal.

Interesting, maybe we'll start seeing "fair trade" bay rum products next?

I'm happy to hear that Bay Rum won't be disappearing from your line up yet and I have secured sufficient supply of the original formula soap to ride out the labour issues I hope.  Does the aftershave require more bay oil than the soap does?

Also, how is the development of the new Kyovu going?  Can we expect to see it this year or next?
Thanks,
Mark

1) We might? That's not really my area, but I can check with the various buyers, if you'd like.

2) Not more of it as a percentage, but more overall because we sell so much aftershave. It would effectively triple our consumption of bay, which would not be sustainable at the moment.

3) Next year. Barrister's Reserve has proven to be even more complicated to bring to market than I thought and so is requiring a lot of time, money, and energy. However, we are going to be doing a full push for the launch and will be doing what my mother has christened a "whirlwind tour" of five cities in September: Seattle (we'll be at Seattle Shave Con), Chicago, Adrian, Toronto (my first time in Canada), and Boston. It's very exciting.

Where in Chicago, Merchant & Rhodes?

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Yep. Ever been? Beautiful shop.