The physical store front

This is just a side question so bear with me. Do you consider purchasing a company that has a company that makes boar brushes, put their own logo on it, and then sell it as their own creation, a designer or a retailer?

"The pharmacies mentioned, have an internet fame just because they were featured in an episode of Senfield 20 some years ago. Maybe a few movies."


I don't even know how to respond to this.

You stated physical stores for shaving goods are "basically dead." I listed a bunch that are alive and well.

I have been to all of the one's I mentioned except Superior Shave but have spoken to Jarrod a lot over the phone.

None of them would get the sitcom quote above.

Strange comment.

if a soap maker opens up a store front inside their hair salon, that's one thing. But the day of going to the store and finding actual shave products is gone.

The day of specialized shaving stores is truly gone. The Art of Shaving chain, maggards, west coat, they all became an online presence. I KNOW if you called up maggards or west coast, a month of walk in customers does not equal what they do in a single week online.

With art of shaving, I can actually get their shaving products through AMAZON at a price lower then their own website or store fronts.

So 11 stores that were not created as a physical address for a website. NICE. however, when compared to the 1930s or even the 1970s,,,,, pharmacies every where, even news magazine stands were selling shaving gear left and right.

I admit its nice that 11 stores in the united states have big names for selling shaving things. But the sad fact is 7, SEVEN, of the 11, ELLEVEN stores named by your good google foo, are simply regular pharmacies that have retained the NORMAL shave section of a pharmacy circa 1940. SO using your figures, only 4 stores exist for selling shave equipment without requiring the selling of shampoo, tampons, and beer to keep alive economically.

Although I believe one of those 4 stores, is just a barbershop that created its own line of shaving soap



People are amazed that there are over 65 named brands of razor blades on west coast. For every brand name today, you can probably find 4 or 5 brands that disappeared after ww2 and korea.

I applaud any brick and mortar store but it's gotta be tough keeping the doors open relying on walk in business with a niche market like wetshaving. The low overhead operations are the only ones I see surviving and if it wasn't for online business I don't see any brick and mortar store staying open for long. My entire wetshaving experience from day one has involved scouring forums and YouTube and then making educated purchases based on that...and for the most part it's been a fantastic way of going about things. When I have encountered an employee at say an AOS store I knew so much more than they did that I just wanted them to leave me alone.

The best part about going to Maggard's is being able to smell the soaps and hold the razors, etc. I'm like a kid in a candy store, it's great! No more blind buys.

Another one that hasn't been mentioned is Merz Apothecary/ Q Brothers in Chicago.

Oh, and what makes a tube of Proraso guaranteed fresh just because you bought it off the internet? Shaving creams don't degrade faster on the shelves of a store than they do in some online retailers warehouse.

are you going to the 2017 Meet at Maggards ?

A brick and mortar store like Maggards could not exist without the web. In a town the size of Adrian ( around 21000 ) Brad would never have enough of a customer base to survive.

The best part about going to Maggard's is being able to smell the soaps and hold the razors, etc. I'm like a kid in a candy store, it's great! No more blind buys.

Another one that hasn't been mentioned is Merz Apothecary/ Q Brothers in Chicago.

Oh, and what makes a tube of Proraso guaranteed fresh just because you bought it off the internet? Shaving creams don't degrade faster on the shelves of a store than they do in some online retailers warehouse.

are you going to the 2017 Meet at Maggards ?

Im rephrasing my original post at the moment, before I hit post. Otherwise some guy named fred would choke on his tootie fruities when he checked my daily commentary at breakfast.


I cannot, shall not, will not go to the maggards greet and meet. Only two of their self proclaimed notable figures are worth meeting. Ms Bubbles for the fact that although she has gone out of business according to forums, did have some options I might have been able to use. Rockwell simply for a quick business talk that they are to scared to discuss in email.

Otherwise, there is a vender they call notable, that after talking to online with in forums, and after watching him in videos posted online of him throwing a party before a shave convention he does, and at the convention deride and insult paying attendees, some who I believe payed over 100$ to attend,

I find him so appalling that I would have to demonstrate a Sweeny Todd Barber Co. shave. And I would most likely raffle off his little yachting cap on tsr to pay for my ticket to Canada.


I don't care for it. I don't idolize anyone in the business of selling shave equipment whatsoever. So much of their hijinks and actions and products, to me are off putting.


Its one of the problems faceing actual stores. Drawing attention. And getting customers in anyway they can. As a result they do things that will not, or cannot please every possible attendee. That can or hurt them based on how people feel about the visiting attractions they get to talk.



I have no intention of ever actually going to a shave store. EVER. I haven't a need to go, so I shant. The few things id want to look at I would not get to take out of the package to actually inspect.

And due to allergies, I cant go.

The best part about going to Maggard's is being able to smell the soaps and hold the razors, etc. I'm like a kid in a candy store, it's great! No more blind buys.

Another one that hasn't been mentioned is Merz Apothecary/ Q Brothers in Chicago.

Oh, and what makes a tube of Proraso guaranteed fresh just because you bought it off the internet? Shaving creams don't degrade faster on the shelves of a store than they do in some online retailers warehouse.

are you going to the 2017 Meet at Maggards ?

Yeah, are you?

here's to hoping that someone in Philly opens up.

The best part about going to Maggard's is being able to smell the soaps and hold the razors, etc. I'm like a kid in a candy store, it's great! No more blind buys.

Another one that hasn't been mentioned is Merz Apothecary/ Q Brothers in Chicago.

Oh, and what makes a tube of Proraso guaranteed fresh just because you bought it off the internet? Shaving creams don't degrade faster on the shelves of a store than they do in some online retailers warehouse.

are you going to the 2017 Meet at Maggards ?

Yeah, are you?

Yes Jeff I will be there, my wife makes about 95 % of all the shaving soap I use so it is a chance to smell and sample a few things I might never try and perhaps get a new/used straight from Brian. Perhaps we will bump into one another.