Don’t Spread your Money Around

If you want to ensure that your favorite soapmaker stays in business, the best thing you can do it tell someone else about them. There are hundreds of millions of people in the United States that have no clue what wetshaving is and think that Gillette, Schick, a shave club, or an electric is their only choice. Or they have heard of wetshaving but have the misconception that it is overly difficult. You can only squeeze so much juice out of one orange. Relying on the hobbyists who own 100s of soaps to keep you afloat is a foolhardy business plan. One person can only use so much shaving soap. The solution to a crowded market is to grow the market. Telling your friends, family, and co-workers about your favorite soapmaker is the best gift you can give them. When customers ask me what they can do for us, I always tell them exactly this. Word of mouth is our best friend.

The next step is product diversity, which both Will and Shawn are doing and should allow them to increase revenues while being less reliant on the product that they are most known for (soap for Will and aftershaves for Shawn).

heck, even starting people slow with bath soaps help, I think. I probably have more bath soaps than shaving soaps...

Another 'Side Labeler' I see!!

Usually, Sourav, but not always. That would make me some kind of obsessive compulsive.

Sometimes, I put the labels on top!



(With a nod to Sheldon Cooper, who has also been tested...)

Michael, thanks for the laughs!

If you want to ensure that your favorite soapmaker stays in business, the best thing you can do it tell someone else about them.

Rod, this is a great point. By the way, it always makes me happy to see women reviewing products on your site, because they often have the power to introduce new people to wet shaving that perhaps couldn’t be reached by their male counterparts.

I truly wish more people knew about wet shaving, and I hope that if anyone has any experience or tips on how to spread the word, they would share them on a thread here.

We’ve had such threads in the past. For example:
https://damnfineshave.com/thread-how-to-...-believers
https://damnfineshave.com/thread-why-sho...an-join-us
https://damnfineshave.com/thread-state-of-wetshaving
https://damnfineshave.com/thread-newspap...on-shaving

Perhaps it’s time to start another one. If anyone is inspired, you could post the link in this thread so that even more of us will see it.

There are so many great soapmakers and shaving supply manufacturers in the business today, that I really hope word can spread to help expand the market and sustain the innovation we’ve been seeing during the last few years especially.

So many great soap makers out there and new ones are popping up all the time. I’ve spent way too much on soap over the years... way too much. I’ve got my main soaps now (Tallow & Steel, Stirling) with a hint Midnight & Two and Sudsy Soapery. I’m happy I found the ones I’m happy with and no longer have to buy the unknown and potentially have it just take up space or hit the garbage. I’m not sure how all these companies will survive. The DE razor market is also filling up, again I’m happy with what I know in this area too, Wolfman, Timeless and Charcoal all work great for me. I’ve really curb my wet shaving spending now that I don’t feel the need to try the latest and greatest soaps or razors.

...I’m not sure how all these companies will survive...

They won't. Law of the jungle. Just think back two or three years and recall the cos. that have since went teats up.

The next step is product diversity, which both Will and Shawn are doing and should allow them to increase revenues while being less reliant on the product that they are most known for (soap for Will and aftershaves for Shawn).

This⇧.  Rod's point is well taken and his own shop is a case in point.  While I have a few of ezlovan's soaps that I really enjoy using, I have enough shaving soaps from other respected companies as well as Stirling that I wouldn't have to buy another for years, if ever.  However, I love his bath soaps and shampoo bars and those are used every day and thus get replaced far more often.  Also, it is a lot easier to encourage most people to try new bath soaps or shampoo bars than it probably is to try wet shaving.  Of course, once a friend or relative goes on the site, there are the shave soaps, brushes (I am loving the Stirling Kong and Stirling tuxedo ), safety razors, and other goodies to bring out someone's curiosity and, perhaps, take a chance.

Same thing for me regarding ezlovan 's shave soaps. I have 4, all of those are virtually unused (95%+).

But my wife finished 4 (I think) of his body butter, 2/3 body lotions. We have also purchased quite a few bath soaps and recently, a shampoo bar.

Recently, I tried to convince my wife not to buy any bath soap from here and there (Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Whole foods etc), so that we can support these small businesses. Problem is, she thinks I am just trying to make more purchases and sneak in a shave soap or two.

So, making products for our better halves wouldn't be a bad idea as well. For example, I don't purchase fragrance for myself very often, but I like to give her as gifts. If our soap/scent artisans B&M, CL etc. came up with more fragrances that she would like, I wouldn't mind spending my dollars .

The solution to a crowded market is to grow the market. Telling your friends, family, and co-workers about your favorite soapmaker is the best gift you can give them. When customers ask me what they can do for us, I always tell them exactly this. Word of mouth is our best friend.

What, no soapmaker t-shirts? Seriously, I'll bet a lot of traditional wetshavers would wear one. That would advertise the daylights out of the soapmaker - to friends, family, co-workers, and the countless hundreds or thousands of other people one encounters in daily life. Just a thought, for what it is worth.

Given that marketplace expansion is key, I don't think one person buying from a couple vs. dozens of soapmakers would make much difference.

What, no soapmaker t-shirts?  Seriously, I'll bet a lot of traditional wetshavers would wear one.  That would advertise the daylights out of the soapmaker - to friends, family, co-workers, and the countless hundreds or thousands of other people one encounters in daily life.  Just a thought, for what it is worth.

Good point to bring up. I bought one of these recently (from @"Sapone Di Paolo") and plan on buying a few more over time from those vendors who have them.

Stirling has (or had) t-shirts. Not sure if there are any in stock right now.

Maybe placing newspaper ads would work? There are a lot of free local papers, some of which have pretty reasonable advertising rates. College newspapers would be another good bet. Students are always looking to save money, and with traditional shaving people can save a ton of money. I remember seeing double-edge blades when I was a student and thinking "I wish I had the kind of razor that used those blades. They are a lot less expensive than my Trac II cartridges." Emphasize the cost savings in the ad and provide a link to a wetshaving guide. Once people have a good experience with a vendor or online store, they will tend to return.

Advertising can sometimes be had for free. Why not write a feature about the current wetshaving revival and submit it to one of the smaller newspapers ? Describe the tools used and the various benefits of traditional shaving, along with the basics of technique.

Here are some useful links:

Good Business Advice: How To Get Free Advertising in Local Papers
Mother Earth News
January/February 1979
https://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-a...zmaz79zsch
An old article, but still applicable.

2018 Newspaper Advertising Costs: Full, 1/4 & 1/8 Page Rates
FitSmallBusiness.com
December 8, 2017
https://fitsmallbusiness.com/newspaper-a...ing-costs/