How I'm spreading the straight razor gospel

[Chimensch]

Those of you who've been around for a while may remember that I went through a period where I dreamed of getting the local barbers to start giving shaves with a real straight ... As part of that project, I made up a business card that said "A student of barbering will give free straight razor shaves" and handed them out to the men I knew in the neighborhood. Well, I struck out with the barbers and didn't get much interest from my friends and relatives (although I did give three shaves and bought a barbers chair off of eBay for 1 Euro. About a month ago I started thinking about how I might go directly to the end-user.

There's a local razor shop in Modena, "La Casa dei Rasoi" that mostly sells electric razors and DEs but that also has a Dovo straight in the window. I went in there and, as I expected, he doesn't sell many straights. I asked him if he would be interested in doing a little cooperative promotion. If someone came in asking about a straight he could send them to me for some lessons and getting their razor honed up. I left him some of those business cards. He wasn't really convinced so, after I made my video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIM0Coix6Gg), I went back with my laptop to show it to him. That was about a week ago. Well, today I got the first call from a guy who's interested in straight shaving and is coming over Saturday to have me give him a shave. Wish me luck!

[DE Shaver]

Well done! Straight razor shaving is definitely a hard sell, more so than DE shaving. Considering the extra effort in honing, stropping and the extra skill required, I can imagine not too many men are overly interested in learning how to straight razor shave. However, I think that your efforts will pay off as more men yearn for the "old world shaving" of yesteryear.

[honed]

Great effort you put in there :thumbup1:

[mainaman]

Good luck, I am sure you will get more call in the future, word spreads fast for quality service.

[azmark]

I'm liking the sponge! I usually use my wife's towel and she hates that (:confused1)but that is a nifty idea. It's always good to see how others approach straight shaving.

[Ru4scuba?]

That is an awesome story! Good luck and post pics!

[LarryAndro]

Chimensch, I'm an admirer of you and your enthusiasm!

[dpmtherrien]

Great job. Good luck.

[Sullybob]

Bravo, great job. Way to spread the word.

[petr]

I we lived closer I would be at your front door. You are a mad man and I dig that about you.

You should keep a journal or blog to document the experience and the newby experience.

[Chimensch]

I we lived closer I would be at your front door. You are a mad man and I dig that about you.

You should keep a journal or blog to document the experience and the newby experience.

That's a good idea ... and you're right, I am a madman and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

[pelicano]

Hi Dov,

Just wanted to let you know that I'm a proud owner of four straights (not including the Feather), and I'm having a ball with all the maintenance issues involved in owning them.:lol:
You definitely had something to do with that: Job well done!

As for me, I've been preaching the Shavepocalypse on my Facebook page, as well as giving away some DEs + blades I don't use anymore.
People think I'm absolutely nuts, but I'm already used to that.

And old GF posted "You haven't changed one bit".:lol:

We're all madmen here.

[Chimensch]

We're all madmen here.

Amen!

[pelicano]

Amen!

And in quite good company, if I may add.

[netsurfr]

Congratulations and great story! Thanks for sharing.