Wishing for a local shave shop?

I have been buying my straight shaving items over the internet for the past couple of years. What I receive usually surprises me in some aspect or another, but not always negatively. I wish there was a local shave shop where I could choose items after personally inspecting/holding/smelling, rather than ordering and hoping it's a good fit for me. I hate having to send things back.

I am curious as to how many of you wish the same. How far would you drive to go to such a stockist? I'm thinking 30-60 minutes speaking for myself. Would you be willing to pay a little more than internet prices plus shipping? If so, how much?

Anyone in the Madison, WI area interested in such a local stockist?

Best regards,
Wade

Hi Wade ad Welcome :)

Well, believe it or not I do have a local stockist of all things straight (several, actually). They stock C&E (we also have a C&E), Col. Conks, Proraso, strops, Dovo straights etc. etc..... Having said that, I've been known to travel 10000 miles (literally) for shave stuff.

It's a very good thing to be able to see, touch and smell whatever it is you want to buy, but generally the sales people have no clue about straights and related things - they just sell them. I remember after I bought my first straight and strop, the salesman told me to turn the razor on the strop by lifting the blade and turning it on its edge :eek:

Anyway, I'm just rambling. Welcome again.

James.

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Originally Posted by wmaxwilliams

I have been buying my straight shaving items over the internet for the past couple of years. What I receive usually surprises me in some aspect or another, but not always negatively. I wish there was a local shave shop where I could choose items after personally inspecting/holding/smelling, rather than ordering and hoping it's a good fit for me. I hate having to send things back.

I am curious as to how many of you wish the same. How far would you drive to go to such a stockist? I'm thinking 30-60 minutes speaking for myself. Would you be willing to pay a little more than internet prices plus shipping? If so, how much?

Anyone in the Madison, WI area interested in such a local stockist?

Best regards,
Wade

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Hi Wade,

I'd certainly like to find such a store. So far, I've found a few places that have some shaving supplies. The Soap Opera on State Street has a small shaving selection, including an assortment of Crabtree & Evelyn products, Musgo Real, brushes, and some assorted soaps and creams. (I think they also have straight razors available, though I don't know what kind.) The Community Pharmacy has a small shaving section: mostly Colonel Conk stuff and Merkur DE razors. The Body Shop at West Towne Mall carries a Bigelow shaving cream that is made by Proraso. There might be other places, but these are what I've found so far.

There's also a Woodcraft store in town, and last time I was there they had at least one of the inexpensive 12K Chinese water hones in stock, and I think they carry Norton stones, as well.


-Asher

Thank you for your responses, gentlemen. I wish there were a local store where I live (Madison, WI) devoted to men's shaving needs, one that stocked TI, Dovo, and a good selection of shaving creams and soaps, brushes, stops, hones, and scents. I may just have to start one myself. Maybe even offer shaving instruction for newbies. I wonder what insurance would cost for that . . .:gth

Cheers,
Wade

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Originally Posted by wmaxwilliams

Thank you for your responses, gentlemen. I wish there were a local store where I live (Madison, WI) devoted to men's shaving needs, one that stocked TI, Dovo, and a good selection of shaving creams and soaps, brushes, stops, hones, and scents. I may just have to start one myself. Maybe even offer shaving instruction for newbies. I wonder what insurance would cost for that . . .:gth

Cheers,
Wade

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If you open such a place, you'll have a chunk of my income each month. If you're serious about this, I'd strongly recommend opening somewhere near State Street to take advantage of the student traffic. Also, hire a barber (or get licensed yourself) to give straight razor shaves. (The Art of Shaving charges $35+ for a straight-razor shave.) To supplement the shaving-related business, you might want to also sell cigars/pipe tobacco, men's hair products, or other things that would appeal to the kind of men who enjoy DE or straight shaving.

I was wondering how you would go about locating such a shop anyway? Is there some sort of search that can be run to locate these types of stores.

Sensory input is really important to me in my decisions. I hate buying things on the internet that I have never "experienced" before.