Actually don't have a joke to follow up with, unless one considers the prices of the soaps and products contained within said shop to be the joke. $85 for a shaving mug? $30 for a soap refill? I don't care how good they are, I am not spending that kind of money when I can get a perfectly fine stick of Arko for $2.
So a lawyer, a cop, and a priest walk into an Art of Shaving Shop.
- Thread starter Elderbury
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So the cop says to the priest as they're standing in the checkout line with an armful, "Just look at the lawyer. Checking everything out and buying nothing."
"Yeah", says the priest, "I couldn't afford to buy anything in this place when I was a lawyer either..."
"Yeah", says the priest, "I couldn't afford to buy anything in this place when I was a lawyer either..."
Surely a case of YMMV... especially since you "don't care how good they are."
Our trusted vendors sell even more expensive shave pucks, but agreed I haven't seen that many $85 shave mugs...anywhere.
While I can appreciate the performance differences among various shave soaps (irrespective of price); aside from largely aesthetic variations, I too can't see myself springing that much for a shave mug.
Bless those who can and do!
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- #4
To be sure. I have heard that their products are excellent, which was why I visited the shop yesterday. But I was a little turned off by the prices and by the condescending manner of the 20-something shopgirl operating the counter. Seems I am not their target demographic.
Ok you are doing it all wrong, you walk in to the art of shaving wearing your bath robe, holding a old spice mug. You look around at there products.
Eventually you say you have any Arco ? All I need is a two dollar tube of Arco, and perhaps a 100 Astra's that should not be more than 12$.
Eventually you say you have any Arco ? All I need is a two dollar tube of Arco, and perhaps a 100 Astra's that should not be more than 12$.
I just dont know how these shops stay in business. Many people realize that they have high prices and go on eBay or elsewhere to buy their shave goods. I bet these shave shops are surviving on a loss every year, i am sure there is no profit margins for them.
The shops I have been too always to seem busy during the holiday season and fathers day. The demographic the shops are placed in are what people would call affluent areas and is looked at as a status symbol. They rely on products being bought as gifts and men that either don't know of any other product, do not want to bother shopping online, or prefer shopping in a brick and mortar place. I saw this all the time living in Chicago and people over paying for items in the stores on Michigan Ave.
if they didn't make money, they wouldn't exist.
Look how many people are willing to spend 30-35$ on Tallow AOS. I'm not talking wives buying gives for fathers days, I'm talking about well respected B&B members buying 10-20 pucks in one swoop when they reformulated.
AOS stays in business, because they make one of the best products lines out there. Regardless of prices, they make amazing cream (I've used 2 tubs) and their Tallow Soaps were regarded as some of the best ever.
Look how many people are willing to spend 30-35$ on Tallow AOS. I'm not talking wives buying gives for fathers days, I'm talking about well respected B&B members buying 10-20 pucks in one swoop when they reformulated.
AOS stays in business, because they make one of the best products lines out there. Regardless of prices, they make amazing cream (I've used 2 tubs) and their Tallow Soaps were regarded as some of the best ever.
I know how you feel. My local wine shop wanted $4,500 for a bottle of '61 Cheval and also had some Two-Buck Chuck. I decided to swap the pricetags.
AoS may be the most outrageous and over the top manifestation of our hobby, but we have plenty of members who would gladly plop down $30 for their old formula soaps.
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I get what you're saying. Some of these products out there are really expensive. Too much, in my opinion. I saw some alum yesterday for over $16 on amazon right next to another one for $6. I mean, really? What could be the difference? I know that usually the higher cost = better quality but sometimes we are just paying for the name. Hard to make newbies like myself know what's the really good stuff out there and what is the average-but-expensive stuff.
This has been discussed on other threads. The AoS stores are usually in a mall that cater to the demographics of the area. We have three AoS stores within a 20 mile radius that are located in higher end malls. One of them even have the AoS salon. Their overhead, I'm sure, is very high like their prices. I bought from AoS when I first started shaving with a brush 3 years ago and I even bought a DE razor from them. I wish I had known about all of the wonderful online vendors and this forum. Oh Well, lessons learned. One of my complaints with AoS is their, what seems to be, lack of educating their employees on the "Art of Shaving". I've talked to several employees in two different stores and their knowledge of the subject was extremely limited. I have worked in sales and if you want to be good and sell more product you have to learn about the products and show some enthusiasm. But then again, they may not be paid very much, I don't know.
They aren't just staying in business, they are expanding at a fairly rapid rate. I don't know of any AOS stores that have closed, but I imagine there must be some.
Many high-end B&M stores thrive--often selling the same items you can guy online for far less. Many people like to view, touch and even sample items before buying. And for gifts and such, aren't as price sensitive as we seem to be---at least when it comes to AOS. I don't see a the same amount of whining about very expensive English and French items on this forum.
I use their creams. Nice stuff.
I am not sold on their hardware.
I am not sold on their hardware.
Last Christmas i stopped in a AoS in Moorestown NJ Mall [ one of the most affluent areas in nation and best place to live- my sister lives there] I went in and the sales person had no clue to anyhting. Customers would ask him questions and he just avoid or give incorrect info. So i decided to step in and answer away. Within 15 minutes i sold 5 razors sets and 3 Silvertip brushes. All i did was explain the shave process and give details on the variety of razors and brushes. The salesperson was very grateful as i proceeded to leave. I have yet to go in a AoS and encountered a knowledgeable sales person.
How ironic
The Art of Shaving is a national chain of retail establishments that sells high-end shaving supplies and grooming products. It was founded in 1996 by Myriam Zaoui and Eric Malka, and purchased by Procter & Gamble, owner of the Gillette brand, in 2009.
The Art of Shaving is a national chain of retail establishments that sells high-end shaving supplies and grooming products. It was founded in 1996 by Myriam Zaoui and Eric Malka, and purchased by Procter & Gamble, owner of the Gillette brand, in 2009.
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One probable reason they can stay afloat is because Procter and Gamble have the big bucks to take a loss and pump money into it.
Did he give you anything for your help?
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- #18
That was you?
I never buy wine at Trader Joe's anymore, now that it's gone up to $3 for Charles Shaw. $3 whole dollars for a bottle? I can get it for 1.99 at Food 4 Le$$.
Seriously, though, I don't mind paying extra for high quality products if I am getting the benefit from it. But I love the shave I get from my Arko and La Toja sticks, so I'm just not interested in paying more.
This is a interesting article from Social media.com that mentions B&B in reference to Aos; http://socialmediatoday.com/localspeak/1168076/social-media-it-lather-success-art-shaving
Last month for the holidays the P&G prestige brand The Art of Shaving set the city of New York ablaze with a sizzling new marketing campaign for Manhattan minions to join the brand’s new The Brotherhood of Shaving. In what seemed a searing tribal call for Manhattan straphangers to join this exotic new effort, The Brotherhood of Shaving ads lit up the NYC Metro system above and below ground, from billboards and kiosks to subway car signage, entertaining the “captive” male and female commuters during their daily and quite often humdrum subway rides throughout the city.
The Brotherhood of Shaving holiday subway campaign featured car-length ad spreads for those who experience the shaving ritual (face or scalp) to envision a sexy new sense of grooming. Beguiling prompts included standing under the mistletoe “without stubble”; an appeal to women to imagine an intimate gift: “Since you ask, Darling, there is something I want this year,” or a male entreaty: “This year, I will prevent the holiday sweater before it happens.”
Tagged with a seductive, elitist call to a man club, the tribal-like phrase “Welcome to the Brotherhood of Shaving,” the marketing message was captivating. It also prompted the curious intrigue and appeal of this female writer (and, I might add, devotee of skincare essential oils who appreciates the sex appeal of meticulously shaved bald men).
As a social media consumer insight analyst, of course I was compelled to learn more about the brand and, in particular, how its social media sentiment was trending among discriminating male and female skincare product customers, as well as the underlying motivational consumer drivers. Considering the pervasive scope of the P&G Art of Shaving campaign, I expected a higher volume of social data from the nine social media sources I searched in NetBase for the brand, ranging from social networks to forums and microblogs.
While The Art of Shaving experienced a relatively high net sentiment throughout last year, and elevated passion intensity particularly during its Father’s Day and end of year holiday advertising blitz, and despite the brand’s enviable distribution outlets (it’s carried in hundreds of Macy’s stores and specialty chains like Sephora, in addition to maintaining over 80 standalone stores), it was surprising to find such a low annual volume of social conversations—less than 11K mentions.
Granted, this is not your father’s drugstore Schick or Gillette razor. Offering rarified vintage-inspired shaving paraphernalia, the Art of Shaving’s Horn Classic Mach 3 can put you out $200. Some customers claim the Silvertip Badger Shaving Brush—$250 engraved—inspires introspection and evokes a sense of luxury. Yet, even with a refined niche market and the elite P&G prestige brand status, I certainly expected more social discourse. Despite initial social media reservations about brand dilution, luxury brands—from Louis Vuitton to the The Four Seasons—have embraced social media strategies, with 51% of luxury brands reporting they increased social digital spend in 2012 from the prior year and generally reserve 20-60% of their overall media spend for digital marketing.
Most of the Art of Shaving conversations occurred on Facebook and Twitter and, although the brand has both a Pinterest strategy and YouTube channel (where it airs notable celebrity testimonials and hosts seasonal cause-related campaigns, such as last year’s “Movember”
, the boutique market niche domains do not generate significant social traffic—with the exception of badgerandblade.com. This leads me to suspect that the level of The Art of Shaving’s strategic social engagement with customers may be underestimated as a ROI measure of brand loyalty.
The level of social conversation among Art of Shaving customers is rich, revealing deep insights into product preferences such as scents, balm textures, as well as men’s holistic appeal, emotional and sensual association with high-end vanity products.
As our NetBase social intelligence reveals, social media certainly offers an abundant source of product innovation. Discussions such as those I discovered about skin irritations and break-outs following product use prompted men simply to buy from another high-end competitor.
Sound social customer engagement strategy would advise engagement with displeased consumers: learning more about their skin types, product application and general lifestyle. At very least to determine whether the dissatisfaction was a product formulary issue, so to institute corrective manufacturing and reintroduce to market. This discovery, as a best practice, must take place hand-in-hand with the consumer.
Customer engagement in social media is the new secret lather.
Last month for the holidays the P&G prestige brand The Art of Shaving set the city of New York ablaze with a sizzling new marketing campaign for Manhattan minions to join the brand’s new The Brotherhood of Shaving. In what seemed a searing tribal call for Manhattan straphangers to join this exotic new effort, The Brotherhood of Shaving ads lit up the NYC Metro system above and below ground, from billboards and kiosks to subway car signage, entertaining the “captive” male and female commuters during their daily and quite often humdrum subway rides throughout the city.
The Brotherhood of Shaving holiday subway campaign featured car-length ad spreads for those who experience the shaving ritual (face or scalp) to envision a sexy new sense of grooming. Beguiling prompts included standing under the mistletoe “without stubble”; an appeal to women to imagine an intimate gift: “Since you ask, Darling, there is something I want this year,” or a male entreaty: “This year, I will prevent the holiday sweater before it happens.”
Tagged with a seductive, elitist call to a man club, the tribal-like phrase “Welcome to the Brotherhood of Shaving,” the marketing message was captivating. It also prompted the curious intrigue and appeal of this female writer (and, I might add, devotee of skincare essential oils who appreciates the sex appeal of meticulously shaved bald men).
While The Art of Shaving experienced a relatively high net sentiment throughout last year, and elevated passion intensity particularly during its Father’s Day and end of year holiday advertising blitz, and despite the brand’s enviable distribution outlets (it’s carried in hundreds of Macy’s stores and specialty chains like Sephora, in addition to maintaining over 80 standalone stores), it was surprising to find such a low annual volume of social conversations—less than 11K mentions.
Granted, this is not your father’s drugstore Schick or Gillette razor. Offering rarified vintage-inspired shaving paraphernalia, the Art of Shaving’s Horn Classic Mach 3 can put you out $200. Some customers claim the Silvertip Badger Shaving Brush—$250 engraved—inspires introspection and evokes a sense of luxury. Yet, even with a refined niche market and the elite P&G prestige brand status, I certainly expected more social discourse. Despite initial social media reservations about brand dilution, luxury brands—from Louis Vuitton to the The Four Seasons—have embraced social media strategies, with 51% of luxury brands reporting they increased social digital spend in 2012 from the prior year and generally reserve 20-60% of their overall media spend for digital marketing.
Most of the Art of Shaving conversations occurred on Facebook and Twitter and, although the brand has both a Pinterest strategy and YouTube channel (where it airs notable celebrity testimonials and hosts seasonal cause-related campaigns, such as last year’s “Movember”
, the boutique market niche domains do not generate significant social traffic—with the exception of badgerandblade.com. This leads me to suspect that the level of The Art of Shaving’s strategic social engagement with customers may be underestimated as a ROI measure of brand loyalty.
Sound social customer engagement strategy would advise engagement with displeased consumers: learning more about their skin types, product application and general lifestyle. At very least to determine whether the dissatisfaction was a product formulary issue, so to institute corrective manufacturing and reintroduce to market. This discovery, as a best practice, must take place hand-in-hand with the consumer.
Customer engagement in social media is the new secret lather.
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I used to teach sales, to newbie sales managers. We sold high end pwer equipment from a northern European country. One of my best sales motivators was this story.
" I can get a beer in this town at the VFW for fifty cents. For a buck, I can have it at the Moose or Elk's lodge. For three bucks I can get it at Joe's tavern down the street. For six bucks I can dance with pretty ladies while I enjoy my beer. And for twelve some prettier ladies will dance on my table while I drink it. "
It's called perceived value, and items are worth exactly what someone will pay for them. The thing people are paying for is the experience. It helped when I was selling those high quality expensive chainsaws. At sears you could get a chainsaw that made smoke, noise and chips for a hundred bucks. At my dealers you could get a chainsaw that made smoke, noise and chips for eight hundred bucks. Mine was worth more because of what it was and more importantly, WHO you got it from. I see absolutely nothing wrong with what AOS is doing at all. I hope they make lots of money for lots of investors and pay lots of wages and collect lots of taxes.
" I can get a beer in this town at the VFW for fifty cents. For a buck, I can have it at the Moose or Elk's lodge. For three bucks I can get it at Joe's tavern down the street. For six bucks I can dance with pretty ladies while I enjoy my beer. And for twelve some prettier ladies will dance on my table while I drink it. "
It's called perceived value, and items are worth exactly what someone will pay for them. The thing people are paying for is the experience. It helped when I was selling those high quality expensive chainsaws. At sears you could get a chainsaw that made smoke, noise and chips for a hundred bucks. At my dealers you could get a chainsaw that made smoke, noise and chips for eight hundred bucks. Mine was worth more because of what it was and more importantly, WHO you got it from. I see absolutely nothing wrong with what AOS is doing at all. I hope they make lots of money for lots of investors and pay lots of wages and collect lots of taxes.
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