Hi everyone,
What are your thoughts on this?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/business/media/18adco.html
- ice
What are your thoughts on this?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/business/media/18adco.html
- ice
NY Times AOS Article
- Thread starter icedoverfire
- Start date
Interesting, but don't they make plastic handles for cartridges?
Proctor and Gamble makes the nearly all plastic Fusion.
The ad shown in the article shows a man shaving with a Fusion.
Art of Shaving sells fancy handles for the Fusion, and Mach 3 in addition to overpriced Merkur DE Razors.
I can't tell if the high end cartridge handles are plastic, or metal.
I have brought out my shaving brushes at parties....
I like how they resist TV ads because it will "ruin the mystique of the brand'. More like they don't want your average Joe finding a way to shave cheaply with a DE instead of carts. As soon as you get your average guy looking into and thinking about shaving rather than just doing what he's always done he's going to try out DE shaving and realize the cost benefit.
By keeping with targeted print advertising avenues they focus on the guys who are fine with spending $100 on a fancy fusion handle and thinking they're going "high end".
I will say that the originators of the brand had it right by focusing on prep and post. If your prep and post is good a cartridge razor will usually do an ok job, albeit overpriced and leading to more landfills and waste.
By keeping with targeted print advertising avenues they focus on the guys who are fine with spending $100 on a fancy fusion handle and thinking they're going "high end".
I will say that the originators of the brand had it right by focusing on prep and post. If your prep and post is good a cartridge razor will usually do an ok job, albeit overpriced and leading to more landfills and waste.
Been watching the AOS/P&G thing since the takeover and have to say that P&G sees to be leaving AOS well enough alone but definitely looks to be providing some marketing muscle to propel the products. Even seems that the premium wet shaving industry is on a bit of a roll.
I thought the acquisition of AOS was a pretty good move, while I don't use cartridges anymore I do not fear P&G, they have been selling household brands for a long time and while they are giant this may not be a bad thing.
I thought the acquisition of AOS was a pretty good move, while I don't use cartridges anymore I do not fear P&G, they have been selling household brands for a long time and while they are giant this may not be a bad thing.
- Thread starter
- #7
Amen. And the Times is right there with them. They don't even hint that you can DE shave at low cost.
And if you hurry you can buy this "wonderful" five blade razor "on sale" for only $325. It's regular price is $357. So if you think the Pils or Feather Razors are expensive, look what you can get at AOS. 
That price is ridiculous, but if I were interested in buying that, what a shame to take something that is metal and pretty and stick a plastic, neon-blue-colored razor blade on it!
Excerpt:
In his book, Accidental Branding, David Vinjamuri includes a chapter about the Art of Shaving. The book explains how the brand capitalized on the metrosexual trend popularized about a decade ago, when more men began to acknowledge exfoliating, while steering clear of the metrosexual reaction that ridiculed primping as unmanly.
In his book, Accidental Branding, David Vinjamuri includes a chapter about the Art of Shaving. The book explains how the brand capitalized on the metrosexual trend popularized about a decade ago, when more men began to acknowledge exfoliating, while steering clear of the metrosexual reaction that ridiculed primping as unmanly.
I'm fine with P&G spending their money on AoS. I think the ad strikes the right chord and gets guys on a path closer to where we're all at. Once they see a better way some may take the next step and go full out DE or with a str8.
Mr. Jones obviously didn't attend the Calgary meet up last month!
Not really an article at all, that was a paid ad (as noted at the top) so it is not surprising that it was not in anyway critical or questioning.
I think the guy that made this comment is nothing more than a "ponsie hairdresser":
It feels to me like the kind of thing you want to see when youre sort of in the company of men, and you feel like that when youre reading Details or GQ.
I personally feel like I am in the company of men when I am in the company of men drinking scotch, smoking cubans, and discussing the merits of a .308 and deer hunting.
It feels to me like the kind of thing you want to see when youre sort of in the company of men, and you feel like that when youre reading Details or GQ.
I personally feel like I am in the company of men when I am in the company of men drinking scotch, smoking cubans, and discussing the merits of a .308 and deer hunting.
Why put down the Art of Shaving this way? Didn't you notice that the story was about an advertising campaign? It was under Media & Advertising in the Business Day section.
AOS does sell some of the best soaps around. Their creams are also exceptional (even though I don't use creams, myself). Also, they do sell a DE in their stores. Don't like the prices, go elsewhere. CVS sells DE blades, but I think their prices are too high, so I shop elsewhere.
Edwin Jagger sells handles for Mach 3 and Fusion. Likewise, Trufitt and Hill among others, but I don't see the attack dogs being sent after them.
If you want to consider yourselves among the "shaving elite," it's fine with me, but that high horse does nothing to elevate your status.
Just sayin'
AOS does sell some of the best soaps around. Their creams are also exceptional (even though I don't use creams, myself). Also, they do sell a DE in their stores. Don't like the prices, go elsewhere. CVS sells DE blades, but I think their prices are too high, so I shop elsewhere.
Edwin Jagger sells handles for Mach 3 and Fusion. Likewise, Trufitt and Hill among others, but I don't see the attack dogs being sent after them.
If you want to consider yourselves among the "shaving elite," it's fine with me, but that high horse does nothing to elevate your status.
Just sayin'
Hey, they're not a charity. You can't fault a company for coming up with a brilliant strategy to maximize profits.
Excerpt:
In his book, Accidental Branding, David Vinjamuri includes a chapter about the Art of Shaving. The book explains how the brand capitalized on the metrosexual trend popularized about a decade ago, when more men began to acknowledge exfoliating, while steering clear of the metrosexual reaction that ridiculed primping as unmanly.
Someone was drinking the pool water again. You can clearly see that there is a vast disconnection with the past and traditional wet shaving. Wet shaving has nothing to do with metrosexual period. It is one of the most manly things a man can do.
AOS makes great soaps and creams, we all know that this because we all tested one of their products at some point. Though we also know they are marketing to the uninformed mostly which works for the brand. However, at some point some of these people that buy into the brand, or buy I few products may want to expand on this, do so research and end up here. In a way AOS brought me here to find out more partly because I really didn't believe that "4 elements" was 100% believable.
So here are some things AOS cannot teach or show you:
1. How to properly lather
2. Kyles Prep
3. The difference between Best Badger to Silver tip Badger brush
4. How a tallow based soap is different from a glycerin soap is.
5. What year your vintage Gillette was made in.
6. Why aftershave is important
7. Anything to do with witchhazel
8. MENTHOL
9. Butterscotch Porn
10. Shave of the Day Photos
11. Jim's fantastic tutorial on how to lather up a soap (with pictures)
12. and of course: Stan the Man
The list goes on and on. I guess some people are just really missing out.
Ankur:
At the Washington, DC Union (train), Station the AOS 'full-monty' Royal Shave is $35 (wow), ...
Christopher
At the Washington, DC Union (train), Station the AOS 'full-monty' Royal Shave is $35 (wow), ...
Christopher
I am having an interesting e-mail conversation with the author of this article. I cannot post it as per his request.
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