Barrister & Mann AMA, July 17th, 2016

Will,

First, thanks for taking the time and agreeing to do the AMA!

Do you have any plans to try to get your products in any big box stores?  I think the biggest thing that keeps wet shaving a 'niche market' right now is because it's not sold in really any brick & mortar stores.

That and a preference for convenience over comfort.

But no, big box stores are not really my thing. I'd love to get into a major chain like Sephora or something, but I would never sell to WalMart or Target. It wouldn't feel right to me.

Sephora is a start..there's plenty of them around the country..

Yep, though that then takes us into the economy of scale problem. The only thing that we could viably sell to Sephora is Barrister's Reserve, and even in that case we're not quite at that point yet.

Will,

First, thanks for taking the time and agreeing to do the AMA!

Do you have any plans to try to get your products in any big box stores?  I think the biggest thing that keeps wet shaving a 'niche market' right now is because it's not sold in really any brick & mortar stores.

That and a preference for convenience over comfort.

But no, big box stores are not really my thing. I'd love to get into a major chain like Sephora or something, but I would never sell to WalMart or Target. It wouldn't feel right to me.

With the new packaging for Cologne Russe I could see your soaps sold in high end stores. The new jars are by far the best I've ever seen or felt. I have no idea what you pay for them but surely they have to be significantly more than the old jars.

It's enough more to be significant, yes. But I've been extremely pleased with the outcome (minus the weirdness of the jar seals, which is almost fixed) and feel that it was worth the cost. It's that thing that I mentioned about the packaging being "too rustic." I concluded almost immediately that we needed something that felt more solid.

That and a preference for convenience over comfort.

But no, big box stores are not really my thing. I'd love to get into a major chain like Sephora or something, but I would never sell to WalMart or Target. It wouldn't feel right to me.

Sephora is a start..there's plenty of them around the country..

Yep, though that then takes us into the economy of scale problem. The only thing that we could viably sell to Sephora is Barrister's Reserve, and even in that case we're not quite at that point yet.

if they're willing, maybe they'd allow you to sell in a few market areas to see how well they sell before expanding to more of their stores. if you do that, make sure Pennsylvania, specifically the Philadelphia area, is on the list.

Sephora is a start..there's plenty of them around the country..

Yep, though that then takes us into the economy of scale problem. The only thing that we could viably sell to Sephora is Barrister's Reserve, and even in that case we're not quite at that point yet.

if they're willing, maybe they'd allow you to sell in a few market areas to see how well they sell before expanding to more of their stores.  if you do that, make sure Pennsylvania, specifically the Philadelphia area, is on the list.  

I'll make a note.

That and a preference for convenience over comfort.

But no, big box stores are not really my thing. I'd love to get into a major chain like Sephora or something, but I would never sell to WalMart or Target. It wouldn't feel right to me.

With the new packaging for Cologne Russe I could see your soaps sold in high end stores. The new jars are by far the best I've ever seen or felt. I have no idea what you pay for them but surely they have to be significantly more than the old jars.

It's enough more to be significant, yes. But I've been extremely pleased with the outcome (minus the weirdness of the jar seals, which is almost fixed) and feel that it was worth the cost. It's that thing that I mentioned about the packaging being "too rustic." I concluded almost immediately that we needed something that felt more solid.

I don't know what is weird about the jar seal and I have Cologne Russe.

With the new packaging for Cologne Russe I could see your soaps sold in high end stores. The new jars are by far the best I've ever seen or felt. I have no idea what you pay for them but surely they have to be significantly more than the old jars.

It's enough more to be significant, yes. But I've been extremely pleased with the outcome (minus the weirdness of the jar seals, which is almost fixed) and feel that it was worth the cost. It's that thing that I mentioned about the packaging being "too rustic." I concluded almost immediately that we needed something that felt more solid.

I don't know what is weird about the jar seal and I have Cologne Russe.

Some people didn't like how it broke and tried to remove it. Since it was never designed to be removed, it either damaged the label or left a sticky residue (or both). We're correcting the design and should have new seals on the Cologne Russe jars soon as well as on all future releases. This is actually what's holding up the Seville changeover.

Yep, though that then takes us into the economy of scale problem. The only thing that we could viably sell to Sephora is Barrister's Reserve, and even in that case we're not quite at that point yet.

if they're willing, maybe they'd allow you to sell in a few market areas to see how well they sell before expanding to more of their stores.  if you do that, make sure Pennsylvania, specifically the Philadelphia area, is on the list.  

I'll make a note.

Add San Diego to that note, Will. By the way, your incredibly generous posts here have forced my hand.  I have just ordered two more of your soaps that I have wanted to try but, initially, decided I didn't need.  (Need/Want, you get the picture )  I am so looking forward to Cologne Russe and Taiga.  If you ever decide to give up what we here at DFS love, we shall hunt you down, lock you up, and force you to make some of our favorite products.  For those of you who think I'm not joking, I am so sorry to disappoint you.  Will, wherever life takes you, may it prove to be incredibly satisfying.

if they're willing, maybe they'd allow you to sell in a few market areas to see how well they sell before expanding to more of their stores.  if you do that, make sure Pennsylvania, specifically the Philadelphia area, is on the list.  

I'll make a note.

Add San Diego to that note, Will. By the way, your incredibly generous posts here have forced my hand.  I have just ordered two more of your soaps that I have wanted to try but, initially, decided I didn't need.  (Need/Want, you get the picture )  I am so looking forward to Cologne Russe and Taiga.  If you ever decide to give up what we here at DFS love, we shall hunt you down, lock you up, and force you to make some of our favorite products.  For those of you who think I'm not joking, I am so sorry to disappoint you.  Will, wherever life takes you, may it prove to be incredibly satisfying.

That's very kind. Thank you, Freddy. And thanks for your order!

Will, I think I speak for many of us when I say I'm glad you chose making shaving soap and shaving soap accessories for a living instead of practicing law

Will, I think I speak for many of us when I say I'm glad you chose making shaving soap and shaving soap accessories for a living instead of practicing law

Myself included. I don't think I would have enjoyed it very much.