An open letter to shave soap manufacturers

[kingfisher]

I love an excellent quality shave soap. I love a wonderfully scented shave soap. These are my top two concerns when buying a shave soap.

However, as a shave "hobbyist" I actually prefer variety to value. In other words, I'd rather have two different 2 ounce soaps then one four ounce soap.

Most soapmakers have sample sizes (which are nice but a little too small) and then full-sized pucks, which appear to be sized for value.

Well, count me as somebody who would rather pay, for example, $5 apiece for two smaller pucks than $8 for one full-size puck that weighs the same as the two pucks combined.

So how is it not a win-win to offer pucks that are larger than samples but smaller than full size? The soapmakers gets more money and I get more variety.

Yep, I said it. Shaving soap pucks last too long. If I buy enough full-size pucks to get the variety I crave, I'll never finish up my current soaps.

So why doesn't anybody offer smaller pucks? "Variety" pucks, if you will. I'd buy them, and happily pay a slightly higher unit price in order to do so.

Who's with me?

 

[Mick]

Here here......

But rest assured. The pucks will shrink in weight while the price stays the same.

Remember half gallons of ice cream?

 

[k4dm0nky]

they are perfect size for me. im not complaining

 

[Graybeard57]

Mama Bear's offers smaller pucks to meet that demand. I agree, I want to be done with a soap eventually. Enjoy your shaves!

 

[neilyasno]

Mama Bear's does offer soaps in the 1.5 ounce pucks

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

Totally agree with the OP. That's why I'm considering getting the Czech & Speake 3 puck 25 g set as my next soap purchase at the end of 2013 or if I unload my current backlog of unused soaps. At least with those I can finish one in a reasonable amount of time.

I am finding that the QCS croaps tend to burn up a little faster.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

I agree. I have about 10 years worth of soap and creams. I'd appreciate a puck that lasted around 30 days, almost a super sampler size. Then at least I'd have variety and stock rotation.

 

[Shutterbug57]

I like the value over variety. I hope Tabac keeps their puck and stick sizes the same.

 

[mretzloff]

Kingfisher, perhaps I can answer your question. This is just my answer and not me trying to shoot your idea down.

The reason no one offers these is because the majority of customers would not purchase them. Outside of my customers that come from Badger & Blade, 70-90% of my customers do not have a rotation and use one product until it is all gone. Then they either purchase the same scent again (this is usually the case) or purchase another one. While having a rotation is commonplace for us members of Badger & Blade, it is almost unheard of outside of the wet shaving forum. Because of this, very few customers would purchase a large sample pack. Those that are interested in samples want to spend as little money as possible on them because the customers only want them to try out the different scents and find the one that they like the most. I have tried this with my shaving creams (five samples that were each 1/5 of the size of a full-size tub), and they were unpopular.

Again, that is just my answer and in no way me attempting to downplay your idea.

 

[FL shaver]

How big are Benton Clay pucks?

 

[Nate1976]

Kingfisher, perhaps I can answer your question. This is just my answer and not me trying to shoot your idea down.

The reason no one offers these is because the majority of customers would not purchase them. Outside of my customers that come from Badger & Blade, 70-90% of my customers do not have a rotation and use one product until it is all gone. Then they either purchase the same scent again (this is usually the case) or purchase another one. While having a rotation is commonplace for us members of Badger & Blade, it is almost unheard of outside of the wet shaving forum. Because of this, very few customers would purchase a large sample pack. Those that are interested in samples want to spend as little money as possible on them because the customers only want them to try out the different scents and find the one that they like the most. I have tried this with my shaving creams (five samples that were each 1/5 of the size of a full-size tub), and they were unpopular.

Again, that is just my answer and in no way me attempting to downplay your idea.

Just wanted to say it's great to hear from a vendor on why they may not make this size. It's a great, reasonable explanation.

 

[kingfisher]

Thanks, Matthew, for your thoughts. I can see how we might be the exception rather than the rule.

I do want to point out, however, that your company has the complete right idea when it comes to aftershave size. Because aftershaves are also generally sold in sizes that are literally too large to be used up before they expire, even if used everyday. Yours are perfect, and I love the formula, too.

 

[goby]

Kingfisher, perhaps I can answer your question. This is just my answer and not me trying to shoot your idea down.

The reason no one offers these is because the majority of customers would not purchase them. Outside of my customers that come from Badger & Blade, 70-90% of my customers do not have a rotation and use one product until it is all gone. Then they either purchase the same scent again (this is usually the case) or purchase another one. While having a rotation is commonplace for us members of Badger & Blade, it is almost unheard of outside of the wet shaving forum. Because of this, very few customers would purchase a large sample pack. Those that are interested in samples want to spend as little money as possible on them because the customers only want them to try out the different scents and find the one that they like the most. I have tried this with my shaving creams (five samples that were each 1/5 of the size of a full-size tub), and they were unpopular.

Again, that is just my answer and in no way me attempting to downplay your idea.

For 10+ years, I was that guy. 1 puck of Crabtree & Evelyn Sweet Almond soap. And when I was low, I would buy one more.

BTW, I didn't get a chance to buy your 1/5 size tubs, but I thought it was a BRILLIANT idea. That's why I'm not in the soap business. lol

 

[maxman]

I think it comes and goes. That is to say, I would have agreed with the OP a few years ago but now i'm not rotating any more.
I find I prefer to go with something I like until it's gone. Then I might choose a different product.

 

[TheVeryIdea]

Ogallala produces a sampler of 2-ounce bottles of aftershave, which I would buy again since I love the variety, so a sampler pack of 50-gram pucks might also prove popular. I have fullsize soaps that I bought almost two years ago that might not get used before I retire...and I'm still in my 40s.

L'Occitane, Crabtree & Evelyn, DR Harris all sell hard soaps I'd love to see produced in smaller variety pucks.

 

[srm_92000]

I bought 12 sticks of Arko before I finished the first, still can't wait to finish it so I can open a new one.

 

[sychodelix]

+1!

I bought 12 sticks of Arko before I finished the first, still can't wait to finish it so I can open a new one.

 

[oc_in_fw]

70-90% of my customers do not have a rotation and use one product until it is all gone. Then they either purchase the same scent again (this is usually the case) or purchase another one.

Sounds dreadful.

 

[mretzloff]

Thanks, Matthew, for your thoughts. I can see how we might be the exception rather than the rule.

I do want to point out, however, that your company has the complete right idea when it comes to aftershave size. Because aftershaves are also generally sold in sizes that are literally too large to be used up before they expire, even if used everyday. Yours are perfect, and I love the formula, too.

Thank you

Sounds dreadful.

I had one customer once who had just discovered Badger & Blade. Needless to say, he went from one puck to 10+ in little over two weeks

 

[BlackBard]

Kingfisher, perhaps I can answer your question. This is just my answer and not me trying to shoot your idea down.

The reason no one offers these is because the majority of customers would not purchase them. Outside of my customers that come from Badger & Blade, 70-90% of my customers do not have a rotation and use one product until it is all gone. Then they either purchase the same scent again (this is usually the case) or purchase another one. While having a rotation is commonplace for us members of Badger & Blade, it is almost unheard of outside of the wet shaving forum. Because of this, very few customers would purchase a large sample pack. Those that are interested in samples want to spend as little money as possible on them because the customers only want them to try out the different scents and find the one that they like the most. I have tried this with my shaving creams (five samples that were each 1/5 of the size of a full-size tub), and they were unpopular.

Again, that is just my answer and in no way me attempting to downplay your idea.

Good point. I have been using soap and a brush for over 45 years. Until I found B&B, I never used more than one soap at a time. I always finished one before buying another (ususally the same brand). Even today, I only have four different soaps. I want value and don't care much about variety.