So a lawyer, a cop, and a priest walk into an Art of Shaving Shop.

[alex2363]

Note that B&B is 3rd with 15 percent

 

[ouch]

It's only a matter of time before Art of Shaving and Teavana merge.

 

[August West]

It's only a matter of time before Art of Shaving and Teavana merge.

I always enjoy a fine cup of tea while perusing shaving products. Brilliant.

 

[Bob L.]

I went into an AoS store a few weeks ago and got a chance to talk to one of the managers. He really needed a shave. That said, he was forthcoming about their business.

1) The stores are profitable.

2) Hardware (blades, stands, mugs, razors, etc..) are in the store to complete the picture. I went in to check out straight razors and to ask if the edge was shave ready out-of-the-box. There were none in the store and he didn't understand the question. He couldn't tell me when they'd re-stock. I asked him how the store could stay in business and he said "hardware was there because people expected it to be there and they wanted to be a one-stop-shop for new customers". He went on to say they sold lots of AoS product.

3) "Product" is what they are there to sell. AoS products are the both the profit and the count leaders in terms of their inventory.

I counted over 80 different "products"

9 - pre-shave oils
13 - shaving creams
8 - shaving soaps
9 - aftershave items
40 - shaving kits - high margin items
2 - shaving bowls

The rest of the stuff is in the store to look good, provide flash, and provide a one-stop-shop for new customers, impulse buyers, and present buyers.

It's a good business model.

 

[coryforsenate]

I hate when small companies get bought out by big corporations, but I can't blame the founders for selling out. I'm sure Proctor & Gamble made them millionaires many times over.

Ben & Jerry's, Goose Island Brewery, Tom's of Maine, etc have all been bought out by big corporations.

 

[ouch]

I miss their rose cream.

 

[MiniJ83]

Last Christmas i stopped in a AoS in Moorestown NJ Mall [ one of the most affluent areas in nation and best place to live- my sister lives there] I went in and the sales person had no clue to anyhting. Customers would ask him questions and he just avoid or give incorrect info. So i decided to step in and answer away. Within 15 minutes i sold 5 razors sets and 3 Silvertip brushes. All i did was explain the shave process and give details on the variety of razors and brushes. The salesperson was very grateful as i proceeded to leave. I have yet to go in a AoS and encountered a knowledgeable sales person.

I've never understood this mentality. It's retail. These are people getting paid minimum wage to move goods. Why would anyone expect them to know anything other than the bare minimum?

 

[buyandhold2018]

You have to charge their prices when you are paying $300-400 a sq ft for rent, the math is simple.

Based on the stores I've been in, I would be surprised if AoS is turning a profits on their retail stores (as a whole), even with the high prices.

 

[dpm802]

Last Christmas i stopped in a AoS in Moorestown NJ Mall [ one of the most affluent areas in nation and best place to live- my sister lives there

There's an AoS in Moorestown Mall? I know they have a kiosk in Cherry Hill Mall, but I haven't seen one in Moorestown. Maybe it was just there for the Xmas season.

That link you provided about Moorestown being the best place to live in America ... I remember when that survey came out. And that same year, Camden, NJ was voted the worst place to live in America. Its surprising that they are only about 8 miles apart.

 

[tonich]

I am not spending $2 for a stick of Arko when I can get a perfectly fine puck of Williams for $1.88.
Better yet, I'd rather wait for a FREE PIF from a forum member here, eh?
YMMV

 

[dpm802]

I am not spending $2 for a stick of Arko when I can get a perfectly fine puck of Williams for $1.88.
Better yet, I'd rather wait for a FREE PIF from a forum member here, eh?
YMMV

$1.88 for Williams? Around here they're only $1.09. Even with the Can/US exchange rate, I think you're paying too much for Williams.

With a price difference of only 12 cents, you'd be better to spend the little bit extra for Arko. It outperforms Williams by a mile.

 

[tonich]

$1.88 for Williams? Around here they're only $1.09. Even with the Can/US exchange rate, I think you're paying too much for Williams.

Regular price @ Walmart here. It might go on sale once in a while...
Or if I'm able to find a free return flight to NJ then I may get it for $1.09. Or even for $0.99 on sale, eh?

 

[tonich]

Sorry, dpm802!
Don't mind me! I was actually replying to the thread starter.

 

[Elderbury]

I am not spending $2 for a stick of Arko when I can get a perfectly fine puck of Williams for $1.88.
Better yet, I'd rather wait for a FREE PIF from a forum member here, eh?
YMMV

It's true! I am a cheap bastard. Daycare for two toddlers, plus mortgage, plus college funds, plus retirement, it adds up! Fortunately I can still indulge in wet-shaving and not spend too much. Provided I shop around for my shaving soap!

 

[AABCDS]

Actually don't have a joke to follow up with, unless one considers the prices of the soaps and products contained within said shop to be the joke. $85 for a shaving mug? $30 for a soap refill? I don't care how good they are, I am not spending that kind of money when I can get a perfectly fine stick of Arko for $2.

You're paying $2.00 for a stick of Arko?! You're getting ripped off.

$23.86 for 15 sticks: http://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-...3?ie=UTF8&qid=1384747311&sr=8-3&keywords=arko

You have to charge their prices when you are paying $300-400 a sq ft for rent, the math is simple.

Based on the stores I've been in, I would be surprised if AoS is turning a profits on their retail stores (as a whole), even with the high prices.

+1

 

[Elderbury]

You're paying $2.00 for a stick of Arko?! You're getting ripped off.

$23.86 for 15 sticks: http://www.amazon.com/Arko-Shaving-...3?ie=UTF8&qid=1384747311&sr=8-3&keywords=arko

AWESOME! Figuring 3-4 sticks per year, and the 100 Feather Stainless blades that I picked up for $12.50, I could shave for something like 5 years for less than $40!

 

[Chadao]

I would...if it was made from the skull of Genghis Khan.

Surely a case of YMMV... especially since you "don't care how good they are."
Our trusted vendors sell even more expensive shave pucks, but agreed I haven't seen that many $85 shave mugs...anywhere.
While I can appreciate the performance differences among various shave soaps (irrespective of price); aside from largely aesthetic variations, I too can't see myself springing that much for a shave mug.
Bless those who can and do!

 

[dfoulk]

Ok, here's your joke.

So a lawyer, a cop, and a priest walk into an Art of Shaving Shop.

They see a one foot tall man playing a piano in the corner of the store. They think it's odd but he's playing well and they go about their business looking at the overpriced shaving gear. The salesperson quickly sells the lawyer one of those overprices fusion razor handles that cost $90. The priest sees this and tells the salesman that it is a sin to take advantage of people, especially lawyers who aren't very smart to begin with, and calls the cop over to arrest the salesman on the spot for theft. The salesman says wait, wait, wait. I can't go to jail, the people there haven't even shaven. He then tells the lawyer that he has a magic Jeanie in the back room and that he will be granted one wish if he drops the charges. The lawyer agrees and heads to the back room. To his surprise he sees a magic scuttle and picks it up. Out pops a Jeanie who agrees to give him his one wish. So the lawyer wishes for a million bucks, just then a million ducks fly over the mall. He walks out front and tells the salesman, your genie sucks, I wished for a million bucks and I got a million ducks. So the salesman says yeah tell me about it, do you think I wished for a twelve inch pianist?