Garry's Sample Shop?

Whatever happened to Garry's Sample Shop? I just checked his website and it's still active, but his links to his eBay store, twitter, and instagram all show it's closed. That's a bummer.

I don’t know details but it’s been gone for quite a while, maybe even a few years now. I remember checking it a while ago and he didn’t have anything up for sale. I had just learned he was based in LA too.

I had no idea he was based in LA. I just knew he ran a very popular shop several years ago, I used to see it mentioned everywhere. I hadn't heard anything in awhile and quite frankly forgot about him until earlier today at which point I noticed his business must have gone under.

I read an interview with him some time ago. He said he was a banker in DTLA. I’m guessing he did it as a hobby, but I don’t really know here not there.
I remember he had a lot of items I wanted to try, and when I went to actually pull the trigger, there was no more.

Hey Gareth,

A year and a half ago, I was wondering the same, having come across his site while looking for samples of Martin de Candre. I contacted Garry (2 r's) and asked if he'd closed up - for the same reasons you've stated. He confirmed that he had - and thanked me for reminding him that he should post a note for visitors saying that although clearly he's not yet got around to it.

Garry's Sample Shop was a fairly busy side business I gather and I think he was also quite active on shaving forums so I don't think he'll mind me sharing that he decided to take "a big step back" and "now only preach[es] wet shaving to family and close friends", so he's able to enjoy a considerably less hectic life. He said he's sure one day he'll get back "into it".

He added that his sample shop was one of the first of its kind, as when he started, "the only source for samples was direct from Trumpers or Truefitt & Hill or from other generous and friendly wet shavers on the forums. I recognized the opportunity instantly and was glad to step in and fill the void." As we all know, now many artisans offer samples directly from their own websites and some shaving shops like Maggard Razors and others also offer samples from a variety of vendors - so we can imagine that either demand dropped off or his service wasn't quite as needed as it once was.

Anyhow, I took the opportunity to ask if he had anything left and he offered me a deal on a lot... some soaps, aftershaves, an EDT, etc. that he still had. I jumped on it, of course.

No MDC though, so I'm still working on that!

Thanks for the clarification DanielB . Funny you mention MdC, that's the entire reason I was looking for his shop today as I was curious how much a sample of it cost, I still haven't tried it after all these years.

I can send samples of original and fougere if you want to try them

I read an interview with him some time ago. He said he was a banker in DTLA. I’m guessing he did it as a hobby, but I don’t really know here not there.
I remember he had a lot of items I wanted to try, and when I went to actually pull the trigger, there was no more.

I actually met up with Garry in downtown to pick up an order once, we got to chat for a few minutes. Very cool guy, and like others I was bummed when I went to make another purchase and saw that he was no longer offering samples. I hope he's doing well!

I bought a few samples from him. It was awesome that he did that. Maggard doesn’t have everything covered, so it would be cool if Garry or someone else offered samples of some of the “more difficult to try” soaps like MdC.

Watson#9 1 hour ago
I bought a few samples from him. It was awesome that he did that. Maggard doesn’t have everything covered, so it would be cool if Garry or someone else offered samples of some of the “more difficult to try” soaps like MdC

Shaved ash has samples like that and Czech & Speake among others. They’re across the pond so it takes a while, but they have high end software samples, much like Garrys