Startups Shook Up The Sleepy Razor Market. What's Next? ​​​​​​​
AppleMagazine|September 28, 2018

What do you hate shopping for? Toothpaste? Diaper rash cream? Sunscreen? The guys who founded Harrys shaving club spend a lot time thinking about this question.

Startups Shook Up The Sleepy Razor Market. What's Next? ​​​​​​​

What do you hate shopping for? Toothpaste? Diaper rash cream? Sunscreen? The guys who founded Harry’s shaving club spend a lot time thinking about this question.

Armed with $112 million in new financing, the online startup that took on razor giants Gillette and Schick with its direct-to-consumer subscription model is investigating what other sleepy products might be ripe for disruption.

“Our vision is to build a next-generation consumer brand company,” said JeffRaider, who recently took on the role of CEO of Harry’s Labs, overseeing the development of new brands. “It might be better products, a better experience getting the products or a brand that appeals to who they want to be as people.”

There’s a reason why Harry’s investors are betting that reinventing the razor was no flash-in-the-pan idea. Insurgent brands are shaking up the way people buy everything from mattresses to prescription acne remedies, eating into the market share of big consumer product companies and leaving them scrambling to respond.

‘NO CATEGORY IS IMMUNE’

Eager venture capitalists, digital technology and social media make it easier for anyone with a good idea to enter the consumer goods market, according to a report on insurgent brands by Bain & Company, a management consulting firm. Contract manufacturing, which allows companies to outsource production and sometimes defray costs, also has made it simpler.

“The reality is that no category is immune to disruption,” the Bain & Company report said.

This story is from the September 28, 2018 edition of AppleMagazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 28, 2018 edition of AppleMagazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM APPLEMAGAZINEView All
AUSTRALIAN STATES BACK NATIONAL PLAN TO BAN CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 16 FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
AppleMagazine

AUSTRALIAN STATES BACK NATIONAL PLAN TO BAN CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 16 FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

Australia’s states and territories unanimously backed a national plan to require most forms of social media to bar children younger than 16.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 15, 2024
FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM USERS IN EUROPE CAN OPT FOR LESS PERSONALIZED ADS
AppleMagazine

FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM USERS IN EUROPE CAN OPT FOR LESS PERSONALIZED ADS

Facebook and Instagram users in Europe will get the option to see less personalized ads if they don’t want to pay for an ad-free subscription, social media company Meta said Tuesday, bowing to pressure from Brussels over privacy and digital competition concerns.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 15, 2024
IN THIS FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT. SOME PARENTS ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST A CELLPHONE BAN
AppleMagazine

IN THIS FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT. SOME PARENTS ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST A CELLPHONE BAN

It’s no surprise that students are pushing back on cellphone bans in classrooms. But school administrators in one South Florida county working to pull students’ eyes away from their screens are facing some resistance from another group as well – parents.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 15, 2024
DIAMOND SPORTS GROUP WILL OFFER SINGLE-GAME PRICING TO STREAM NBA AND NHL GAMES STARTING NEXT MONTH
AppleMagazine

DIAMOND SPORTS GROUP WILL OFFER SINGLE-GAME PRICING TO STREAM NBA AND NHL GAMES STARTING NEXT MONTH

The nation’s largest owner of regional sports networks will offer single-game pricing for NBA and NHL games beginning next month.

time-read
1 min  |
November 15, 2024
ON THE EVE OF OSCARS HONOR, JAMES BOND PRODUCERS REFLECT ON LEGACY AND FUTURE OF 007
AppleMagazine

ON THE EVE OF OSCARS HONOR, JAMES BOND PRODUCERS REFLECT ON LEGACY AND FUTURE OF 007

For the late James Bond producer Albert “Cuddy” Broccoli, receiving the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award was a true high point in his career.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 15, 2024
'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' TO TRUMP: 'WE'VE BEEN WITH YOU ALL ALONG'
AppleMagazine

'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' TO TRUMP: 'WE'VE BEEN WITH YOU ALL ALONG'

The first “Saturday Night Live” since Donald Trump’s election victory began with the most somber of tones as a group of plainly dressed cast members, primarily women and minorities, described their new reality.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 15, 2024
US AGENCY SAYS TESLA'S PUBLIC STATEMENTS IMPLY THAT ITS VEHICLES CAN DRIVE THEMSELVES. THEY CAN'T
AppleMagazine

US AGENCY SAYS TESLA'S PUBLIC STATEMENTS IMPLY THAT ITS VEHICLES CAN DRIVE THEMSELVES. THEY CAN'T

The U.S. government’s highway safety agency says Tesla is telling drivers in public statements that its vehicles can drive themselves, conflicting with owners manuals and briefings with the agency saying the electric vehicles need human supervision.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 15, 2024
WAYMO'S ROBOTAXIS NOW OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WANTS A DRIVERLESS RIDE IN LOS ANGELES
AppleMagazine

WAYMO'S ROBOTAXIS NOW OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WANTS A DRIVERLESS RIDE IN LOS ANGELES

Waymo this week opened its robotaxi service to anyone who wants a ride around Los Angeles, marking another milestone in the evolution of self-driving car technology since the company began as a secret project at Google 15 years ago.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 15, 2024
BITCOIN HAS TOPPED $93,000 FOR A NEW RECORD HIGH. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CRYPTO'S POST-ELECTION RALLY
AppleMagazine

BITCOIN HAS TOPPED $93,000 FOR A NEW RECORD HIGH. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CRYPTO'S POST-ELECTION RALLY

As money continues to pour into crypto following Donald Trump’s victory last week, bitcoin has climbed to yet another record high.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 15, 2024
AMAZON LAUNCHES AN ONLINE DISCOUNT STOREFRONT TO BETTER COMPETE WITH SHEIN AND TEMU
AppleMagazine

AMAZON LAUNCHES AN ONLINE DISCOUNT STOREFRONT TO BETTER COMPETE WITH SHEIN AND TEMU

Amazon has launched a low-cost online storefront featuring electronics, apparel and other products priced at under $20, an effort to compete with discount retailers that have increasingly encroached on the e-commerce giant’s turf.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 15, 2024