Bufflehead

Grim, a goods business exists to do one thing: sell product.  Bufflehead soaps sell out.  Instantaneously.  The business model does not need improving.  

I'm not a mind reader, but I'm pretty sure the only reason j-mt is looking into the email notifications is to shut up salty whiners like yourself.

Like was stated before, this is not a business.  It is a hobby.  j-mt is basically making soaps for himself and selling extras for fun.  If you really want to get your hands on some high-demand low-production soap you need to be willing to jump through the hoops.  I used to collect rare and valuable sneakers.  I've camped out in front of shoe stores all night and not even gotten my pair.  I've waited with 10 websites open across 3 devices waiting for stores to release the product and sat frustrated while website servers crash only to see "sold out" messages when they come online hours later.  Lost a pair because of a typo on my credit card number during checkout?  Been there.  I'm still salty about some of those losses.  It's the nature of the game when demand greatly outstrips supply.

So if you want some Bufflehead, get ready to stalk social media, and be waiting on your computer hitting f5 when the release time hits.  It's the only way.

P.S. I've gotten the "cart reminder" email for sold out kicks before.  It's just a hiccup in the system, all you can do is laugh it off because you never had a chance in the first place.

Funny how this is the second person in this thread to submit their first post throwing around insults at other long-standing, contributing forum members. Nobody attacked or insulted the owner of Bufflehead soaps here so cool your jets people. Strange and it kinda makes me wonder...

BTW, welcome to DFS.

I second this. Coming in for an introductory post to call someone a salty whiner is over the top. It really is shocking to me in this hobby how protective people get when one of their favorites undergoes a bit of criticism.

I dont know the guy at all he just makes a nice slick shaving soap down in Nashville. I don't know Joe up in Toronto either but I also like his Stealth Slant & Baby Smooth razors.

The guys I talk to also knew the date and time the soaps would be available.

We are talking about shaving soap right?

Funny how this is the second person in this thread to submit their first post throwing around insults at other long-standing, contributing forum members. Nobody attacked or insulted the owner of Bufflehead soaps here so cool your jets people. Strange and it kinda makes me wonder...

Thanks wyze0ne  and SCShaver

Grim, a goods business exists to do one thing: sell product.  Bufflehead soaps sell out.  Instantaneously.

 
I really shouldn't bite on this but I quit after this. No, a good business exists to make PROFIT, not merely to sell. If you sell and make no profit, you fail. Now that doesn't mean no profit is made here, only that your statement is inaccurate.

The business model does not need improving.  

 
I don't think I have ever heard or read ANY business that thought they couldn't improve their practices. This is a first. Any gold standard business ALWAYS seeks to improve their practices. This is a very strange comment. Today its 50 tins, tomorrow it could be 500 tins. You don't know the future, just like Le Pere Lucien started out tiny and today is talking about outsourcing production. You never know.

... I'm pretty sure the only reason j-mt is looking into the email notifications is to shut up salty whiners like yourself

And once again, like the previous poster, the "lead-in" story was to get to the point about how to do process improvement. But I guess two of you don't understand that. Strange.

If you really want to get your hands on some high-demand low-production soap you need to be willing to jump through the hoops. ...  if you want some Bufflehead, get ready to stalk social media, and be waiting on your computer hitting f5 when the release time hits.  It's the only way.

Unlike those that sit and wait in front of Apple Stores for days camping out for the latest release, or sit in front of computers waiting for product releases, I could care less. In the end, like I said, its just soap ... not liquid gold. I wouldn't "stalk social media" for ANY product. Don't care about it.

I said, I care about the industry in a holistic manner, all of it, and how to improve the business models.   I have never  heard of any company, at any level, not wishing feedback nor wishing to improve.  But it appears some people don't understand the point of this was NOT about getting the product -

it was about process improvement.

And hobby or not, you can't tell me people who once started business as hobbies didn't turn them one day into full time business nor ANY business that can't improve. No one is perfect. I see no point in continuing this. I wish bufflehead well with his child, career, and hobby.

Funny how this is the second person in this thread to submit their first post throwing around insults at other long-standing, contributing forum members. Nobody attacked or insulted the owner of Bufflehead soaps here so cool your jets people. Strange and it kinda makes me wonder...

Thanks wyze0ne  and SCShaver

Grim, a goods business exists to do one thing: sell product.  Bufflehead soaps sell out.  Instantaneously.

 
I really shouldn't bite on this but I quit after this. No, a good business exists to make PROFIT, not merely to sell. If you sell and make no profit, you fail. Now that doesn't mean no profit is made here, only that your statement is inaccurate.

The business model does not need improving.  

 
I don't think I have ever heard or read ANY business that thought they couldn't improve their practices. This is a first. Any gold standard business ALWAYS seeks to improve their practices. This is a very strange comment. Today its 50 tins, tomorrow it could be 500 tins. You don't know the future, just like Le Pere Lucien started out tiny and today is talking about outsourcing production. You never know.

... I'm pretty sure the only reason j-mt is looking into the email notifications is to shut up salty whiners like yourself

And once again, like the previous poster, the "lead-in" story was to get to the point about how to do process improvement. But I guess two of you don't understand that. Strange.

If you really want to get your hands on some high-demand low-production soap you need to be willing to jump through the hoops. ...  if you want some Bufflehead, get ready to stalk social media, and be waiting on your computer hitting f5 when the release time hits.  It's the only way.

Unlike those that sit and wait in front of Apple Stores for days camping out for the latest release, or sit in front of computers waiting for product releases, I could care less. In the end, like I said, its just soap ... not liquid gold. I wouldn't "stalk social media" for ANY product. Don't care about it.

I said, I care about the industry in a holistic manner, all of it, and how to improve the business models.   I have never  heard of any company, at any level, not wishing feedback nor wishing to improve.  But it appears some people don't understand the point of this was NOT about getting the product -

it was about process improvement.

And hobby or not, you can't tell me people who once started business as hobbies didn't turn them one day into full time business nor ANY business that can't improve. No one is perfect. I see no point in continuing this. I wish bufflehead well with his child, career, and hobby.

grim you are definitely being the bigger man here but I do not feel that giving a last word in the thread is necessary. So far in this thread, you have offered frustration no doubt, but you offered it in a civil manner. Quite frankly I felt like the owner of Bufflehead addressed it well. My problem was with the people that joined the forum simply to come in and personally attack you. If you have more thoughts please contribute them, I agreed with you from the onset here.

Sometimes customers have to complain in this hobby for business owners to make changes. You've seen it time and time and time again. Stirling changes soap formula and they change packaging. It was an improvement! Many soap makers went away from metal tins to plastic packaging. That is an improvement! Constructive criticism is a great thing for businesses and even hobbyists. I would think one would want to please people and if there were a way to accommodate more at least with notifications in my humble opinion, its worth being looked into.

I don't see how that meant you getting flamed by new posters here. This is unacceptable behavior.

I think this thread is being brigaded by a certain group of people that know j-mt.

Which is silly. Judging by j-mt's responses, he took the suggestions well and expressed it in a civil manner, which is great. He didn't seem offended or get defensive at all. And then come the "HOW DARE YOU CRITICIZE MY FAVORITE SOAP!!!!!!" crowd......smh. Whatever, it's just soap people.

Well, this thread took an unexpected turn.

I appreciate the love. I also appreciate the feedback. There's no ill will here from me.

I find that most people generally just don't know a lot about Bufflehead. If you didn't know why I was making the soap, everything else would just appear as if I was running a business akin to MLS, CB, B&M, CF, etc. (and doing a shitty job). It's a common misconception and once people understand what I'm all about, they almost always oblige.

Bufflehead is listed here on DFS as a merchant. The very first post on Bufflehead's DFS merchant page says this:


Hey folks,

I'm Justin from Bufflehead Soap Co. We're a small batch, boutique artisan out of Nashville, TN. Our shave soap recipe is unique and features RSPO certified sustainable palm kernel oil, farm raised, cruelty free duck fat, and blush kaolin clay. We also hand blend our scents in-house and each one is special to Bufflehead Soap Co.

Currently we have 4 Classic scents, 4 Seasonal scents a year, and any number of unannounced and one-off Limited scents. From time to time, we've also been known to push out some high value brushes in limited quantities.

Check us out and feel free to ask me any questions you may have!


I have no clue as to what Justin's intent was then or is now when it comes to "is he running business" versus "is he just having fun with a hobby." But, when I read that, fromhis own words, it comes across as pretty darned business-like to me ; I don't get any of that "I'm just having fun with my hobby"-like vibe from these words and phrases. But, hey, maybe that's just me.

Having said that, the man is entitled to run his business (or hobby-business) as he sees fit and I've got no issue with that. But,by that same principle, when it comes to his products, I'll spend my money-or not-as I , too, see fit. At one time, I was keen to get his soap, but now I'm not. My lost interest has nothing to do with any feelings I have about his business practices or model, but rather has everything to do with the fact that here...now...TODAY, so much great shave soap is readily and immediately available (both already in my den and on my long wish list) that his stuff us just not worth me putting any effort into obtaining. I still have two samples of his soaps, and, as I stated earlier, they are very good shave soaps (I tip my hat to his considerable soap making abilities), but to me they are not the holy grail of wet shaving and life is short.

Bufflehead is listed here on DFS as a merchant. The very first post on Bufflehead's DFS merchant page says this:


Hey folks,

I'm Justin from Bufflehead Soap Co. We're a small batch, boutique artisan out of Nashville, TN. Our shave soap recipe is unique and features RSPO certified sustainable palm kernel oil, farm raised, cruelty free duck fat, and blush kaolin clay. We also hand blend our scents in-house and each one is special to Bufflehead Soap Co.

Currently we have 4 Classic scents, 4 Seasonal scents a year, and any number of unannounced and one-off Limited scents. From time to time, we've also been known to push out some high value brushes in limited quantities.

Check us out and feel free to ask me any questions you may have!


I have no clue as to what Justin's intent was then or is now when it comes to "is he running business" versus "is he just having fun with a hobby." But, when I read that, fromhis own words, it comes across as pretty darned business-like to me ; I don't get any of that "I'm  just having fun with my hobby"-like vibe from these words and phrases. But, hey, maybe that's just me.

Having said that, the man is entitled to run his business (or hobby-business) as he sees fit and I've got no issue with that. But,by that same principle, when it comes to his products, I'll spend my money-or not-as I , too, see fit. At one time, I was keen to get his soap, but now I'm not. My lost interest has nothing to do with any feelings I have about his business practices or model, but rather has everything to do with the fact that here...now...TODAY, so much great shave soap is readily and immediately available (both already in my den and on my long wish list) that his stuff us just not worth me putting any effort into obtaining. I still have two samples of his soaps, and, as I stated earlier, they are very good shave soaps (I tip my hat to his considerable soap making abilities), but to me they are not the holy grail of wet shaving and life is short.

Fair enough.

I'm hesitant to refer to Bufflehead as a hobby because I think the term implies that the quality is not on par with other offerings. I feel that my soap compares to or surpasses most of the readily available offerings. That said, it's not going to be as readily available as others any time soon.

This may be presumptuous of me, but as a bourbon drinker I can't help but draw a comparison to Pappy Van Winkle.

To convey both the seriousness and quality of the soaps while also expressing the nature in which they're available has been a fine line to toe.

Well, now, as bourbon drinker too, the Pappy is one thing we can definitely agree on!

I could care less. In the end, like I said, its just soap ... not liquid gold. I wouldn't "stalk social media" for ANY product. Don't care about it.

I don't do social media but since July I checked Every day.

Get your story straight, dude.

I said, I care about the industry in a holistic manner, all of it, and how to improve the business models.   I have never  heard of any company, at any level, not wishing feedback nor wishing to improve.  But it appears some people don't understand the point of this was NOT about getting the product -

it was about process improvement.

How do you improve past selling out 100% of product immediately? j-mt's level of demand is up there with wolfman and varlet. Do those guys need to make it more obvious when spots open up on the waiting list? No, because there's far more demand than their limited capacity to produce as is.

If you want to help someone sell more of their product more quickly (and I believe you do) talk to anyone who actually keeps soap in stock and would benefit from increased sales. There's tons of artisans who aren't selling out and are trying to make it their full time job. If you really want to find an audience for your efforts you should look in their direction.