Converting disposable shavers to straight

I had a thought this morning while shaving :D What if we were to write up a little snippet and post it in our local Craigslist? Something along the lines of asking a few questions like "Is shaving a chore instead of a joy?" or "Are you growing a beard because the alternative is razor burn or ingrown hairs?" or even "Tired of throwing your money in the trash with each disposable head you use?" I'm thinking if we write up something simple and direct the readers to either contact us or come visit this forum that we could get a lot more people interested in shaving with straights again. As they say, the more, the merrier.

What's a Craiglist? And I think it would be wise to send that message as far and wide as possible throughout the Men's Personal Care world. Get the Businesman first, then go for the intellectual?

X

Craigslist is a listing of cities across the world that have various posting forums. Think of it as one communal classifieds section split up by city, then by interest. I think this could get a lot of people if we just post a message in our respective cities. The headline has to be a real eye-catcher, though.

There's a lot like that that could be done, but I think that most guys who succeeded here came looking for us. The proselitising approach might work best with guys who are already wet shavers and have some confidence.

Maybe the thing to do is a promotion in combination with shavemyface.com and/or the Wet Shavers where we draw all lost souls to wet shaving. Some would come directly to us, but most would take the easier route. But we would be building a reserve of str8 shavers for the future, and in our cooperative effort we might be able to attract guys from the other groups who are ready to make the jump.

That sounds like a great idea to me, Joe. I'll see if I can't get something written up tonight or tomorrow that we can use as a template. After we get it refined we can start posting it out for the world to see.

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Originally Posted by mgraepel

That sounds like a great idea to me, Joe. I'll see if I can't get something written up tonight or tomorrow that we can use as a template. After we get it refined we can start posting it out for the world to see.

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I know the mods at shavemyface.com and The Wet Shavers.

Before you do anything, send Lynn a PM and tell him what you'd like to do.

I spoke with Lynn and he said to go for it. I agree with him that we should be directing people here considering the tremendous amount of information available and knowledgeable (and personable) people on the forums. I wrote up something to post on CL, but it's obviously just a rought draft. Please provide any feedback or suggest changes you deem necessary. If need be, I'll even scrap the current format and start from scratch. Once we have this all polished up we'll get a catchy title for it and post it for the world to see.

Straight razor shavers know they can get the best shave possible for a fraction of the cost of disposables, and actually enjoy shaving. What are you missing? We are the people taking a stand against the Schicks, Gillettes, and numerous electric razor companies out there by reviving the nearly lost art of straight shaving. No, we are not insane. If you want the closest, most comfortable shave of your life that is an absolute joy to experience, contact me through the email address here or visit http://straightrazorpalace.com/ and say hello in the forums. We welcome one and all and will be more than happy to provide any advice or answer any questions you may have about shaving with a straight.

Hey, I like it, it is like the Manifesto of Straight Shavers:)

here's a slogan for you:
Shavers of all countries, UNITE.

The only thing after giving a link to www.straightrazorplace.com should be IMO sth as 'quick start with str8 shaving'. It should be sth like thread as easy to start practicaly without forcing a beginner to read all the forums here, comparing prices, pros&cons of razors, mugs, soaps, after shaves, learnig all that stroping etc I think he should be impressed by how it's simple to start but how it's important to know that the technique is a key too. And it takes months maybe to learn a technique but it's worth!
You know that Mach3 or Wilkinson Quatro users do not want to do a lot of research - just let them to start and become "infected".
So maybe some retailers could prepare a ' starter kit' - inexpensive and easy to get set of disposable str8+brush+soap with a 10% of discount after refference of straightrazorplace.com. Just in the same price as modern and popular razors, not to scary a newbie with 80$ one with real razor, strops, mugs etc.

Cheers
Pawel

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Originally Posted by superfly

Hey, I like it, it is like the Manifesto of Straight Shavers:)

here's a slogan for you:
Shavers of all countries, UNITE.

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Actually, I started writing a straight razor manifesto a year or so back. I'll have to see if I can find it in my files somewhere and finish it.

The whole issue of "quality and permanence" vs. "disposability and low cost" actually reflects a much greater question that goes to the very core of our economy. Since the advent of the industrial revoloution, the actual cost of goods has plummeted, in spite of inflation (for a great explanation of this, read "Your Money or Your Life" by the late Joe Dominguez). King Gillettes innovation wasn't that he invented a new way to shave, but that he invented a new way to make money. The razor was an afterthought. His goal was to invent something that could be used only once and would require replacement and he spent months trying to think of something people used every day that could be made "disposable". You don't have to look too hard to see how this concept has transformed everything around us. If you need an illustration, take a peek in any trash-can.

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Originally Posted by joesixpack

The whole issue of "quality and permanence" vs. "disposability and low cost" actually reflects a much greater question

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That's really not the issue here, since the disposable costs a lot more in a very short time. And it is permanent, a permanent drain.

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Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

That's really not the issue here, since the disposable costs a lot more in a very short time. And it is permanent, a permanent drain.

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My thoughts exactly. This is why I think we can get people to switch over with an investment of only $100 and that initial investment should last them quite some time. All they need after that would be occasional strop paste and the replacement shaving soap or cream. Depending on the kind of beard a guy has, he can easily spend $100 or more a year buying replacement heads for his disposable.

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Originally Posted by mgraepel

My thoughts exactly. This is why I think we can get people to switch over with an investment of only $100 and that initial investment should last them quite some time. All they need after that would be occasional strop paste and the replacement shaving soap or cream. Depending on the kind of beard a guy has, he can easily spend $100 or more a year buying replacement heads for his disposable.

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Oh, I agree it's more expensive in the long run ( and it doesn't even take that long), my point is that buying something that'll last has a higher up-front cost. Convincing the typical consumer of this is the goal of your CL ad (which, by the way, I havn't been able to find)

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Originally Posted by mgraepel

Tired of buying the latest and greatest shaving product only to have it outdated in a month or two?

Sick of literally throwing your money in the ...

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How about;
Straight razor shavers know they can get the best shave possible for a fraction of the cost of disposables, and actually enjoy shaving. What are you missing?

X

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Originally Posted by xman

How about;
Straight razor shavers know they can get the best shave possible for a fraction of the cost of disposables, and actually enjoy shaving. What are you missing?

X

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Duly edited. I haven't posted the ad anywhere yet, I want to make sure we've smoothed out all of the rough edges first.

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Originally Posted by mgraepel

... I want to make sure we've smoothed out all of the rough edges first.

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Sounds like honing time... :)

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Originally Posted by xman

How about;
Straight razor shavers know they can get the best shave possible for a fraction of the cost of disposables, and actually enjoy shaving. What are you missing?

X

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I like this as an openning line! You need to show them something that intrigues them. The straight razor mention sparks something in men, somtimes positive, sometimes negative, but it gets their attention either way.

If it sounds like an advertisement they (and I ) stop reading and will never get to the straight razor part. If the post starts with the "save money" line it looks like an advert and people will move on.

I would like to even see a post on CL simply directing guy to a Straight Razor Message Board like ours. It would catch peoples eye and from there we got them!

Tony

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Originally Posted by Tony Miller

I like this as an openning line! You need to show them something that intrigues them. The straight razor mention sparks something in men, somtimes positive, sometimes negative, but it gets their attention either way.

If it sounds like an advertisement they (and I ) stop reading and will never get to the straight razor part. If the post starts with the "save money" line it looks like an advert and people will move on.

I would like to even see a post on CL simply directing guy to a Straight Razor Message Board like ours. It would catch peoples eye and from there we got them!

Tony

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Along those lines something that might real in a reader is a phrase like "Is it great to be straight?" THe double meaning grabs your attention.

We could even use that as the subject line. People would click on it perhaps even in a reactionary manner, then get pulled in regardless. I've edited the post again to reflect the suggested change. How does it look now?

Just a quick note on this.

I would drop all mention of saving money. I would focus instead on the
quality of shaves, the pleasure of the ritual, the history, the connection with your ancestors and the TOYS!:)

It is great to be STR8!

Everyday I am STR8, just like my great-grandfather, grandfather and father, now I also am STR8 razor man. Every morning I pick up the sharpest edge man has ever used, whip up a bountiiful, warm lather, brush the hot lather on my whiskers witth a soft badger brush. Then the cold, ultra sharp steel is stropped until the perfect edge is at hand. Then, gently, and with skill, the whiskers are removed. Smoothly, without hesitation or pull, they disappear.


You get the idea,

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Originally Posted by mgraepel

I've edited the post again to reflect the suggested change. How does it look now?

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It looks pretty good. I'd probably try and find a way to make it just a little more concise although I don't know how that might be possible with it as it stands. I only say so because too much info is a killer for most people. Hook 'em with the intro and then present them with a delicious idea that they'll not be able to stop thinking about. The rest will come in time.

X

I've posted this at my local CL. We'll see what kind of response it garners, but you can see it for yourself here. If you want to post this in your local area, feel free to copy and paste it to yours. I just placed it in the general section of the community board.

Great ad! I like the title a lot. I think it'll really prompt lots of people to read it out of curiosity. Think of another couple of clever titles like that, re-post it a few more times and I'll bet you get a lot more hits on StraightRazorPlace over the next few weeks.

I just wanted to follow up with this and let people know that I cannot post this in multiple cities. The system comes back and tells me I already have a very similar ad posted in Portland. So it goes back to people having to post this in their local city themselves. If you run into the same problem I do, try and tweak the title and/or body text a little. If you have any issues posting, feel free to contact me.

-Mark

Hey guys, I just started using a Feather SR that was recommended by Ray DuPont at ClassicShaving.com. The best way to describe how it feels to get a quality barbershop shave at home to someone who's never used a SR is this: it's the same feeling I get after a good haircut - the ego's a bit larger and the confidence level's a bit higher. It truly is an art. It's akin to a painter and his paintbrush who uses gentle but precise strokes. I implore all men to give SR shaving a chance. Trust me, you won't be disappinted.

Great website!

-Rob