Barrister & Mann AMA, July 17th, 2016

Regarding Superlather, Will.

Most of my top soaps and creams works great used alone, but Superlather just always add a tiny bit of extra volume and cushion to the lather.

My thoughts - B&M is number one, for me.  Will's love of perfumery and scents really shines through on the creations...  I have to say, I've enjoyed all that I've tried (and I own 14 of them!).  They go beyond singular scents and simple or cliché fragrances.  The performance of both the soaps and aftershaves is outstanding and dependable.  I look forward to every new release.  Can't wait for my Boudelaire to arrive in a couple of weeks!

Will, will we ever see Le Grand Chypre again?

Next year. We're bringing it back as a permanent addition to the line.

Giggity!

3) I get that question a lot. The reason I haven't done anything with EdTs yet is that, if I do get into perfumes, I'd rather get into high perfume and really go all out. Create grand works of art with beautiful bottles and such. It's a long-term goal, and there would be a lot of money involved. I'm really trying to escape the "artisan" category, mostly because I feel that the term has become meaningless anyway (as a recent discussion on the forum has shown). But I really don't want to be considered an amateur anymore.

Amateur? You? Never! (and I have a hunch there are quite a few members here at DFS, and beyond, who would agree with me. )

That's very kind, but, outside the community, there is still that perception that shaving soap artisans in the US are amateurs. It is what's preventing us from breaking into the mainstream market, I think.

Why do you not desire to be considered amateur?
It it's truest sense, that would be a compliment to be cherished immensely.
Oh and for the record, I do consider you an amateur mate and a bloody good un at that!

Will,
I have publicly and privately trolled you over the yrs, and I appreciate you playing along with my games. As said previously, you take it all in stride and keep innovating in ways that keep you in the top echelon of soapers.

So I have some suggestions, or things to ponder and comment on.

1.  If containers are a distinct portion of the overall price of a soap, what would be the limitations and setbacks to have us, the consumers of your products, refill soap tubs/containers originally purchased from you? This would also consider the considerable lag time for you to mfr, fill, cure, and reship the soap.

2.  We are well aware of LE soaps that some soapers make for a site. (ie the DFS soap you made for us here) I have personally lobbied you for a re-issue of the Vanille soap that I have never been able to get my hands on. Then, I find that B&M did an LE Vanille for the reddit site, or another venue of which I was not a member, and therefore lost out on. I keep an eye on your site with regular checks for things like this. Some of your LE issues never showed up there, and that makes me grumpy. Suggestion 1a., using the preorder methodology you used successfully, create a tab on your site where consumers, using their login, can vote or request a specific soap (1 time per specific login) for discontinued or LE soaps. This would allow you as the mfr to gauge interest with people actually pledging their wallet for a specific soap. This would prevent you from losing money as you have a ready made list of pledged buyers. 2a.  Make the specific soap request list results blind to us consumers. This would prevent robo voting, and mob rules that members dogpile on, hopefully giving you a valid survey of actual request/interest into a soap.

3.  I have been on a fruit kick for a while now. I have your Tangerine/ylang ylang, Nocturne, and Limon. I want more fruit for scurvy prevention. Either combos of fruits, or singular fruits with loud pronounced scents.

4.  I know you have seasonal sales, and some closeout sale. I suggest a specific area or tab for all sales and closeouts. Rather than looking through the entire site for closeouts, damaged items, or final seasonal sales, at least they would all be collected on one page and not scattered throughout the site.

In closing, I appreciate your hard work and trial and error process you endure to give us a good product. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

AMA not DMD
(dictate my desires)

If it was a DMD, Will knows what I desire

Will, I personally desire to thank you for this and hope you get yourself over here for a visit one day soon

Amateur? You? Never! (and I have a hunch there are quite a few members here at DFS, and beyond, who would agree with me. )

That's very kind, but, outside the community, there is still that perception that shaving soap artisans in the US are amateurs. It is what's preventing us from breaking into the mainstream market, I think.

Why do you not desire to be considered amateur?
It it's truest sense, that would be a compliment to be cherished immensely.
Oh and for the record, I do consider you an amateur mate and a bloody good un at that!

Will,
I have publicly and privately trolled you over the yrs, and I appreciate you playing along with my games. As said previously, you take it all in stride and keep innovating in ways that keep you in the top echelon of soapers.

So I have some suggestions, or things to ponder and comment on.

1.  If containers are a distinct portion of the overall price of a soap, what would be the limitations and setbacks to have us, the consumers of your products, refill soap tubs/containers originally purchased from you? This would also consider the considerable lag time for you to mfr, fill, cure, and reship the soap.

2.  We are well aware of LE soaps that some soapers make for a site. (ie the DFS soap you made for us here) I have personally lobbied you for a re-issue of the Vanille soap that I have never been able to get my hands on. Then, I find that B&M did an LE Vanille for the reddit site, or another venue of which I was not a member, and therefore lost out on. I keep an eye on your site with regular checks for things like this. Some of your LE issues never showed up there, and that makes me grumpy. Suggestion 1a., using the preorder methodology you used successfully, create a tab on your site where consumers, using their login, can vote or request a specific soap (1 time per specific login) for discontinued or LE soaps. This would allow you as the mfr to gauge interest with people actually pledging their wallet for a specific soap. This would prevent you from losing money as you have a ready made list of pledged buyers. 2a.  Make the specific soap request list results blind to us consumers. This would prevent robo voting, and mob rules that members dogpile on, hopefully giving you a valid survey of actual request/interest into a soap.

3.  I have been on a fruit kick for a while now. I have your Tangerine/ylang ylang, Nocturne, and Limon. I want more fruit for scurvy prevention. Either combos of fruits, or singular fruits with loud pronounced scents.

4.  I know you have seasonal sales, and some closeout sale. I suggest a specific area or tab for all sales and closeouts. Rather than looking through the entire site for closeouts, damaged items, or final seasonal sales, at least they would all be collected on one page and not scattered throughout the site.

In closing, I appreciate your hard work and trial and error process you endure to give us a good product. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

AMA not DMD
(dictate my desires)

If it was a DMD, Will knows what I desire

Will, I personally desire to thank you for this and hope you get yourself over here for a visit one day soon

It's a perception thing. "Amateur" has become a dirty word in common parlance.