Shaving Business

[Genie]

So I've been thinking the last couple of day.....
With Art of Shaving company doing so well, why are there not more shaving stores popping up selling more products that are similar to AOS? A store that would carry all the products we read about on here? Is the demand for those these type of products not strong anymore? I currently live in San Diego, and there is nothing. We have a AOS store in a high end mall, but that's it. If someone was to open a attractive retail store, do you think they would do well? I really can't see why not? I wouldnt mind investing in something like this if it made financial sense. I've been in retail since my dad brought me in when I was 8, I'm 37 now, and I don't plan leaving it anytime soon. I for one would be a lot more stuff with it in front of me rather than on a computer.

What are your thoughts? I'm just curious? I'm not going to run out tomorrow and sign a lease on a 2,000 sq.ft with Touchscreen computer stations everyplace to search a product review of the items your about to purchase.

 

[themilkman]

i live in england and i have wondered the same. I dont think there would be enough passing trade or casual trade to really survive, so I think you would also need an online presence. I live in manchester, which is the second city in england behind london. I have seen one tobaccanists that sells a very small selection of shaving gear, but at prices above what you would pay on the internet, so i can only assume there isnt that much demand as yet. would the demand increase if there was a shop where it is easy to get quality shaving supplies? who knows!

 

[global_dev]

I also have store called "The Grooming Lounge", right down the street from AOS, which has a bunch of shaving stuff as well as services, more comprehensive than AOS...

looks like EJ rebranded and lines from trumpers, acqua di parma, T&H, molto brown, dermalogica, among other stuff.. definitely worth a look.

http://www.groominglounge.com/

apparently only 2 locations DC and Tysons Galleria

very nice selection and very cute salesgirls behind... the counter..

 

[njpaddy]

I wish I had one nearby too. If I could pay in cash and keep it off the card, I'd buy even more stuff. There's a store in NYC I want to check out at least once, but with train fare and almost 9% sales tax added to the cost, it's not going to replace the internet for me.

 

[dpm802]

The marketplace has changed, and consumers have changed with it.

For a startup business, especially in a niche market like wet-shaving, it is much more feasible to open a virtual storefront online than it is a brick-n-mortar store.

Even for existing retailers, there's not enough walk-in traffic to support a shaving section, at least not for the type of products we're looking for.

While you do see the occasional tobacco store or barbershop or haberdasher that will carry some shaving gear, this is just a small sideline for them, and most of what they carry would be scorned at by the likes of B&B members ... especially at the prices they need to charge to cover their higher overhead.

Even those stores that specialize in these sorts of products, like C&E, L'Occitane, B&BW, The Body Shop, etc. , point almost their entire shelf-space towards women, since females are the majority of their customer base.

Alas, we wet-shavers are left out in the cold ... but at least we have the vendors on B&B that know what we want and are able to stock it.

Just like the OP, I wouldn't mind investing in a store that carried wet-shaving gear ... even if its only a break-even investment, it would be fun to have a say in choosing which products are carried.

 

[michiganlover]

I currently live in San Diego, and there is nothing. We have a AOS store in a high end mall, but that's it.

West Coast Shaving does have an actual storefront in Chino Hills, CA. It looks to be about a two hour drive away from you.

For a startup business, especially in a niche market like wet-shaving, it is much more feasible to open a virtual storefront online than it is a brick-n-mortar store.

Even for existing retailers, there's not enough walk-in traffic to support a shaving section, at least not for the type of products we're looking for.

While you do see the occasional tobacco store or barbershop or haberdasher that will carry some shaving gear, this is just a small sideline for them, and most of what they carry would be scorned at by the likes of B&B members ... especially at the prices they need to charge to cover their higher overhead.

I think you are spot on.

The cost of having an actual store front is quite large, and for the most part your business would need to be built through word of mouth. I think you would somehow need to be open for close to a year, with minimal sales before you could really generate a large enough customer base.

To me, it doesn't sound like a successful business. It sounds more like a money pit into which you can readily lose your life's savings.

The fact that so many of the products we use last for such a long length of time doesn't readily lead to a successful brick, and mortar store either. A customer could buy a Tabac refill ($10), and have no need to come back for about a year!!

 

[eto]

Great read . I live in NYC and yes you can find those great items we all love, but In reality its really only a small portion of what they sell.
I would love to open up something as well. But you would have offer some more items that main stream would be into also.
There's a cool cigar lounge by me that sell razor's , cream's , brushes etc, but there business really is cigars and they seem to be doing really well.
I have some idea's that I think would work but being out of work and taking a risk on loans and crazy *** rent out here its a long way from happening. But nice to talk about.

 

[DavyRay]

I think such a store would have to survive by careful positioning. By that, I mean some spin. The store may appear to have razors and creams as its primary product, but could make most of its revenue from men's cologne, for example. It could be the go-to place to buy a gift for almost any man, expecting that all the products in the store would be manly, stylish, and desirable.

It would be a risk, but what is not?

 

[dpm802]

An intermediate step might be to open a pushcart or kiosk in a shopping mall ... the rent would be considerably lower than a full blown store, and I believe these are leased on a month-to-month basis, rather than an annual contract.

You often see specialty carts open up during the Golden Quarter, and they are gone right after Xmas.

It would be a good way to test the waters without risking too much ... but I'd still be doubtful as to whether it could survive on a year-round basis.

You would have a lot of potential customers, both men shopping for themselves, and women shopping for stocking stuffers for the men in their life.

If you employed attractive young ladies that were skilled at assertive selling techniques (like The Dead Sea carts,) you might actually make enough money to make it year-round.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Outside of a couple big cities, I'm not sure that there's actually enough demand for men's grooming products to justify a bricks+mortar store. Even the big stores like C+E and B+BW only have a tiny men's shelf in the back of the store.

Now, an online store is another question. Overhead is minimal and customers can find you anywhere worldwide.

 

[PozzSka]

Imperial shaving in Medina, OH is the only store i know devoted to mainly wet shaving. Locally owned by the guy who runs Straight Razor Designs and runs Straight Razor Place forums. It's only been open for like a month, and my uncle is the guy who manages the rentals for that space. So, I guess we'll see how a brick and mortar store does in a small market. Not quite a perfect example because he already does a lot of busiess online.

 

[Sabre]

One of the few places that did traditional shaving items in Amsterdam closed recently, but really isn't a big deal as the store in Breukelen is just down the road. However I saw friends a few weekends ago in Tunbridge Wells, England and it was a traditional shaving enthusiasts dream with an old time pharmacy and a department store selling all the English ranges.

 

[Drubbing]

So I've been thinking the last couple of day.....
With Art of Shaving company doing so well, why are there not more shaving stores popping up selling more products that are similar to AOS?

In addition to what others have said, AOS can afford the overheads, they are owned by P&G/Gillette. It's a niche market, and if they can sell more $300 metal handles and stands for Fusions and M3s to keep such customers locked into overpriced blades, along with 'designer' marketed soap and cream, then they will, and they have.

The market niche is being serviced - by online stores, if B&M retail can't be made to work for non corporates in the US, it'll never work anywhere.

I know of only 1 shaving store in my city, and it's surprising we have one at all, being the most isolated capital in the world.

They charge $100 for a HD. $140 for a Progress and $38 for a tub of TOBS. He also has a swag of EJ stuff at equally outrageous prices. His turnover appears minimal, and his knowledge is patchy to say the least. They probably make their money from electric shavers, batteries parts and servicing.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

@Genie I would be scared to work for Lucky Luciano (your current avatar). If I didn't earn, I might get whacked.

 

[Mako72]

Having managed a gun store the remarks about B&M pricing is correct. Most people in niches like wet shaving would go and look and fondle in a store then buy online to save tax & mark ups. Online retailers can afford to put minimal mark ups because they have almost no overhead, relatively speaking. Its unfortunate but alot of niche business's will almost certainly be only available online in another 10 years.

Jay

 

[buyandhold2018]

Outside of a couple big cities, I'm not sure that there's actually enough demand for men's grooming products to justify a bricks+mortar store. Even the big stores like C+E and B+BW only have a tiny men's shelf in the back of the store.

Now, an online store is another question. Overhead is minimal and customers can find you anywhere worldwide.

Totally agree with both points.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Totally agree with both points.

You should look into that online business thing, I hear it's a winner!

 

[kehern]

Totally agree with both points.

Hmmmmm...I'm not sure if this is a good source. He is biased after all!

 

[drandall]

there is no doubt that online stores have less overhead...but you get less personal service. no matter how attentive you are via email, you don't get the chance for that one-on-one contact and i have to believe that that alone could move a lot of product.

let's face it...there are few things that aren't cheaper on the internet, but yet there are successful boutique stores for just about everything...i think it comes down to personal attention and expertise.

the location has to be right and you can't sit behind the counter and wait for people to buy stuff. you have to talk to them, advise them, educate them and build a customer base. you need some advertising and you need

i think it could work and be very successful.....but it's definitely a greater risk than many other types of store.

 

[Rei]

I was in the San Diego AOS recently (on a business trip). I actually went in there and asked to see the dopp bags because I wanted to replace the one I was using. After conversing with me for a little while, and finding out that I'm using a straight, and know the products I'm looking at, he told me not to buy a dopp bag there, and sent me a few stores down to a bag store that actually had a nicer selection of dopp bags. (I ended up with a Victorinox hanging dopp that matches my luggage.)

So, anyway, he gave me a bunch of samples, and told me that I'm not his customer. He said, quite frankly, that my wife was his customer. He told me to use AOS products, and let my wife know that I was using AOS products. He said that if I did that, she would be in to buy the aftershaves and gift sets. They sell gifts for men there (to be bought by women), and aren't geared toward being something like a barber supply store.

True to his word, I used AOS cream for a week, and my wife asked about my new scent, and I'm pretty sure that I'm getting at least a soap puck for christmas.

Of course, Williams and KMF Lavender are my normal rotation, so maybe he is right, in that, my wife is a better customer for him.