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Gillette

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For the stadium, see Gillette Stadium. For other uses, see Gillette (disambiguation).

Gillette
Gillette.svg
The Best A Man Can Get
Product typeSafety razors
OwnerProcter & Gamble
CountryBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
IntroducedSeptember 28, 1901; 117 years ago (1901-09-28)[1]
MarketsWorldwide
Previous ownersThe Gillette Company
Tagline"The Best a Man Can Get" (1989–2019)
"The Best Men Can Be" (since 2019)
Websitewww.gillette.com
The logo of Gillette used from 1989 to 2008.

Gillette is a brand of safety razors and other personal care products including shaving supplies, owned by the multi-national corporation Procter & Gamble (P&G).

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, it was owned by The Gillette Company, a supplier of products under various brands until that company merged into P&G in 2005. The Gillette Company was founded by King C. Gillette in 1901 as a safety razor manufacturer.[2]

Under the leadership of Colman M. Mockler Jr. as CEO from 1975 to 1991, the company was the target of three takeover attempts, from Ronald Perelman and Coniston Partners.[3] On October 1, 2005, Procter & Gamble finalized its merger with the Gillette Company.

The Gillette Company's assets were incorporated into a P&G unit known internally as "Global Gillette". In July 2007, Global Gillette was dissolved and incorporated into Procter & Gamble's other two main divisions, Procter & Gamble Beauty and Procter & Gamble Household Care. Gillette's brands and products were divided between the two accordingly. The Gillette R&D center in Boston, Massachusetts, and the Gillette South Boston Manufacturing Center (known as "Gillette World Shaving Headquarters"), still exist as functional working locations under the Procter & Gamble-owned Gillette brand name.[4] Gillette's subsidiaries Braun and Oral-B, among others, have also been retained by P&G.

Product history

See also: King C. Gillette

Double-edged safety razors

Gillette razor and packaging, circa 1930s

The first safety razor using the new disposable blade went on sale in 1903.[4] Gillette maintained a limited range of models of this new type razor until 1921 when the original Gillette patent expired. In anticipation of the event, Gillette introduced a redesigned razor and offered it at a variety of prices in different cases and finishes, including the long running “aristocrat". Gillette continued to sell the original razor but instead of pricing it at $5, it was priced at $1, making a Gillette razor truly affordable to every man regardless of economic class. In 1932 the Gillette Blue Blade, so-named because it was dipped in blue lacquer, was introduced. It became one of the most recognizable blades in the world. In 1934 the "twist to open" (TTO) design, was intuitiuted, which featured butterfly-like doors that made blade changing much easier than it had been, wherein the razor head had to be detached from the handle.

Razor handles continued to advance to allow consumer to achieve a closer shave. In 1947, the new (TTO) model, the "Super Speed", was introduced. This was updated in 1955, with different versions being produced to shave more closely — the degree of closeness being marked by the color of the handle tip.

In 1955, the first adjustable razor was produced. This allowed for an adjustment of the blade to increase the closeness of the shave. The model, in various versions, remained in production until 1988.[5]

"Old type" Gillette safety razor, made between 1921 and 1928

The Super Speed razor was again redesigned in 1966 and given a black resin coated metal handle. It remained in production until 1988. A companion model the,"Knack", with a longer plastic handle, was produced from 1966 to 1975. In Europe, the Knack was sold as "Slim Twist" and "G2000" from 1978 to 1988, a later version known as "G1000" was made in England and available until 1998. A modern version of the Tech, with a plastic thin handle, is still produced and sold in several countries under the names 7 O'clock, Gillette, Nacet, Minora, Rubie and Economica.

Discontinued products

  • Techmatic was a single blade razor introduced in the mid-1960s. It featured a disposable cartridge with a razor band which was advanced by means of a lever. This exposed an unused portion the band and was the equivalent of five blades.
  • Adjustable Techmatic was a version of the Techmatic dating from 1970. The adjustable version featured user-selection of shave closeness on the cartridge. The adjustable version was interchangeable with the non-adjustable version. Both versions of the Techmatic and their cartridges have been discontinued.
  • Trac II was the world's first two-blade razor, debuting in 1971. Gillette claimed that the second blade cut the number of strokes required and reduced facial irritation.
  • Trac II Plus was an identical model but adds a lubricating strip at the top of the blade. The blades and handles were interchangeable.
The European versions of the Trac II and Trac II Plus were known as the GII and GII Plus respectively.
  • Atra (known as the Contour, Slalom, Vector in some markets) was introduced in 1977 and was the first razor to feature a pivoting head, which Gillette claimed made it easier for men to shave their necks.
  • Atra Plus featured a lubricating strip, dubbed Lubra-Soft.

Current products

  • Good News! is a currently produced first disposable, double-blade razor, released in 1976.
The Good News! comes in three forms: the "Original", the "Good News! Plus", which includes a lubricating strip, and the "Good News! Pivot Plus", which features a lubricating strip and a pivoting head.
  • Gillette Sensor debuted in 1990, and was the first razor to have spring-loaded blades. Gillette claimed the blades receded into the cartridge head, when they make contact with skin, helping to prevent cuts and allowing for a closer shave.
Gillette Blue II razor, circa 2007
The Sensor for Women was released around the same time and was nearly identical, but had a wider cartridge head.
  • Sensor Excel was released in 1993. This featured "Microfins", a piece of rubber with slits at the bottom of the cartridge which Gillette claimed this helped to raise facial hairs, making for a closer shave.
  • Sensor 3 had three blades instead of two. All Sensor handles can use all Sensor cartridges.
  • Blue II is a line of disposable razors. In Latin America, it was marketed as the Prestobarba.
  • Blue 3 is a line of three-blade razors, cheaper version of Sensor 3 (Sensor compatible). It's only available also in disposable variant.
  • Custom Plus is a series of disposable razors
The Custom Plus comes in many varieties: the "Fixed Disposable razor", the "Pivot Disposable razor", the "Custom Plus 3 Sensitive Disposable", and the "Custom Plus 3 Soothing Disposable".
  • Mach 3 - the first three-blade razor, introduced in 1998, which Gillette claims reduces irritation and requires fewer strokes.
The Mach 3 featured five improved microfins and spring blades, a pivoting head with greater flexibility and a blue lubrication strip that faded with usage to encourage users to change their blades more frequently.
  • Mach 3 disposable - the Mach 3 with a plastic handle.
  • Mach 3 Turbo - this razor was released in late 2001. It had ten microfins as opposed to the five on the original, a new grip and claims improved lubrication and "anti-friction" blades.
All Mach 3 blades are interchangeable between the three products in the range, so it is possible to use the Mach3 Turbo blades on a Mach3 razor.
  • Mach 3 Turbo Champion has a slightly different handle design.
    Gillette Mach 3 razor, circa 2015
  • Mach 3 Power is a battery-powered version of the Mach3 Turbo razor which can also be used with the power switched off. The blades differ from Mach 3 Turbo with a new coating which Gillette describes as "PowerGlide".
  • Mach 3 Sensitive was awarded a 2012 Best New Product Award after being voted 'Best in Show' in the program's awards in Mexico.[citation needed]
The lubrication and microfins are identical to Mach3Turbo. The Mach3 Power Nitro has a slightly different handle design.
  • Venus is a division of razors for women.
  • Venus Divine is a version of the Mach3 Turbo for women.
  • Venus Vibrance is a version of the M3Power for women. Venus blades are interchangeable across the line.
  • Venus Embrace is a five-bladed razor with a ribbon of moisture surrounding the blades.
  • Venus Breeze is a three-blade razor with shave gel bars built into the head of the razor.
Another version of the Breeze, the Venus Spa Breeze, is essentially the same as the Breeze, but with a white tea scent to the shave gel bars.[6]
  • Venus ProSkin Moisture Rich, launched in January 2011 in the United States, is an updated version of the Breeze, featuring Moisture Rich shave-gel bars that are enhanced with a triple blend of body butters.[7]
  • Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power
    Gillette Fusion is a five-bladed razor released in 2006. The Fusion has five blades on the front, and a single sixth blade on the rear for precision trimming. Its marketing campaign was fronted by the sports stars Roger Federer, Thierry Henry and Tiger Woods.
  • Gillette Fusion Power is a motorized version of the Fusion. The Fusion Power is battery-powered and emits "micropulses" that are claimed to increase razor glide.[8]
  • Fusion Power Phantom - the Fusion Power Phantom (Stealth in UK) was released in February 2007 and features a redesigned handle with a darker color scheme than the original.[citation needed]
  • Fusion Power Phenom was released in February 2008. It has a blue and silver color scheme.[9]
  • Fusion ProGlide and Fusion ProGlide Power were launched on June 6, 2010, in North America.
The ProGlide series feature re-engineered blades with edges that are thinner than Fusion and are finished with low-resistance coating which the company claims allow the blades to glide more easily through hair.[10]
  • Fusion Proshield Flexball released in November 2015: the blades have lubrication before and after the blade so that it protects the skin while shaving.
  • Fusion Power Gamer (known as "Cool White" in some markets)
  • Fusion ProGlide FlexBall released in June 2014
The ProGlide FlexBall has a handle allows the razor cartridge to pivot. Gillette claims that it means 20% fewer missed hairs, the ability to cut hairs 23 microns shorter, and 23% increased skin contact.

Criticism and controversy

The desire to release ever more expensive products, each claiming to be the best ever, has led Gillette to make disputed claims for its products. In 2005, an injunction was brought by rival Wilkinson Sword which was granted by the Connecticut District Court which determined that Gillette's claims were both "unsubstantiated and inaccurate" and that the product demonstrations in Gillette's advertising were "greatly exaggerated" and "literally false". While advertising in the United States had to be rewritten, the court's ruling does not apply in other countries.[11]

Procter & Gamble (P&G) shaving products have been under investigation by the UK Office of Fair Trading as part of an inquiry into alleged collusion between manufacturers and retailers in setting prices.

Gillette was fined by Autorité de la concurrence in France in 2016 for price fixing on personal hygiene products.[12]

"Toxic masculinity" advertisement

Main article: The Best Men Can Be

In January 2019, Gillette began a new marketing campaign, "The Best Men Can Be", to mark the 30th anniversary of the "Best a Man Can Get" slogan. The campaign was introduced with a long-form commercial entitled "We Believe", and aims to promote positive values among men—condemning acts of bullying, sexism, sexual assault, and toxic masculinity. While the campaign received praise for its acknowledgement of current social movements and for promoting positive values of masculinity, it also faced a negative response—including from right-wing critics[13]—being called left-wing propaganda, accusatory towards its customers, and misandrist. There have also been calls for boycotts of Gillette.[14][15][16][17][18] Company CEO David Taylor said: "The world would be a better place if my board of directors on down is represented by 50% of the women. We sell our products to more than 50% of the women." The company's board of directors has more than twice as many men as it does women.[19]

Net worth

In 1999, Gillette, as a company, was worth US$43 billion, and it was estimated that the brand value of Gillette was worth US$16 billion. This equated to 37% of the company's value, which was the same as DaimlerChrysler, one of the world's largest car manufacturers at the time.[20]

Marketing

Gillette advertisement flyer, c. 1953

Gillette first introduced its long-time slogan, "The Best a Man Can Get", during a commercial first aired during Super Bowl XXIII in 1989.[17]

The company has had sponsorships in Major League Baseball and the England national rugby league team, along with the Rugby League Four Nations.[citation needed] Athletes such as Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, Shoaib Malik, Derek Jeter, Thierry Henry, Kenan Sofuoglu, Park Ji-Sung, Rahul Dravid, and Michael Clarke are sponsored by the company,[21] as well as video gaming personality Dr DisRespect.[22]

In November 2009, Gillette became the subject of a proposed boycott in Ireland due to its endorsement by French soccer player Thierry Henry; his undetected handball foul during a FIFA World Cup qualifying match contributed to a game-winning goal by France, eliminating Ireland from contention.[23] The following month, expanding upon the controversy, media outlets observed a "curse" associated with top athletes who endorse Gillette, also citing Tiger Woods (who became the subject of a infidelity scandal in late-2009), and Roger Federer losing in an upset to Nikolay Davydenko during the 2009 ATP World Tour Finals.[24]

Upon its opening in 2002, Gillette has held naming rights to Gillette Stadium in nearby Foxborough, home of the New England Patriots of the National Football League. The original agreement lasted through 2017; in 2010, P&G reached a 15-year extension, lasting through 2031.[25]

Since the 1990's, the company has used a marketing list to send a free sample of a Gillette razor in promotional packages to men in celebration of their 18th birthday. The campaign has occasionally resulted in the samples accidentally being sent to recipients outside of the demographic, such as a 50-year old woman (exacerbated by the package containing the slogan "Welcome to Manhood").[26][27]

In science

In laser research and development, Gillette razor blades are used as a non-standard measurement used as a rough estimate of a particular device's penetrative ability; a "four-Gillette laser", for example, can burn through four blades.[28]

Canadian headquarters

Until the late 1980s, Gillette Canada's headquarters were in the Montreal suburb of Mont-Royal, Quebec until they moved west to another Montreal suburb in Kirkland. The Kirkland offices were closed in 1999 and Gillette Canada moved to Mississauga, Ontario, a Toronto suburb following the Gillette acquisition of Duracell. The Mississauga offices were closed in 2005-06 after Procter & Gamble acquired Gillette, and Gillette's Canadian headquarters are located in downtown Toronto with parent Procter & Gamble on Yonge St.

References

  1. ^ SRINIVASAN, R. CASE STUDIES IN MARKETING: THE INDIAN CONTEXT. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 9788120349964.
  2. ^ Gillette, K.C. (February 1918). "The Gillette Blade". 1 (4): 9.
  3. ^ Gale Directory of Company Histories: The Gillette Company, answers.com; accessed August 22, 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Gillette history". gillette.com. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  5. ^ "Vintage Gillette Adjustable Double Edge Razors". GilletteAdjustable.com. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Gillette Venus: Venus Spa Breeze 2-in-1 Razor" Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine, gillettevenus.com; accessed August 22, 2014.
  7. ^ "Gillette Venus: ProSkin MoistureRich Razor" Archived 2011-03-06 at the Wayback Machine, gillettevenus.com; accessed August 22, 2014.
  8. ^ "Gillette - Men's Razors & Shaving Products". gillette.com.
  9. ^ "Gillette Unveils Newest Members of Its Gillette Young Guns Lineup" (Press release). Gillette. February 11, 2008. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
  10. ^ Gillette Fusion ProGlide Shaving Razor for Men, Official website; accessed August 22, 2014.
  11. ^ "Truth in advertising", Gizmag; accessed August 22, 2014.
  12. ^ "Huge price-fixing fine is upheld". The Connexion. 28 October 2016. Archived from the original on 9 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Gillette's Ad Is More Conservative Than Critics Think". National Review. 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  14. ^ "Gillette faces talks of boycott over ad campaign railing against toxic masculinity". ABC News. 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  15. ^ Green, Dennis (2019-01-14). "Gillette chastises men in a new commercial highlighting the #MeToo movement — and some are furious". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
  16. ^ "Gillette released an ad asking men to 'act the right way.' Then came the backlash". Boston.com. 2019-01-14. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  17. ^ a b "Gillette Asks How We Define Masculinity in the #MeToo Era as 'The Best a Man Can Get' Turns 30". Adweek. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  18. ^ "Gillette's new take on 'Best a Man Can Get' in commercial that invokes #MeToo". Advertising Age. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  19. ^ JAMES FREEMAN (29 January 2019). "Gillette, Masculinity and 'Authenticity'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 30 January 2019. The world would be a better place if my board of directors on down is represented by 50% of the women. We sell our products to more than 50% of the women" [...] the company’s website suggests that the potentially toxic males outnumber the females by more than two-to-one.
  20. ^ Jane Pavitt. Brand New, September 2000. ISBN 0-691-07061-X.
  21. ^ Variant. "Gillette Endorsements - Athletes Who Are Endorsed by Gillette". www.athletepromotions.com. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  22. ^ "CAA Signs Twitch Streamer DrDisrespect (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  23. ^ Ronay, Barney (2009-11-19). "Hands-on Thierry Henry becomes public enemy numéro un". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  24. ^ "'Kennett Curse' has nothing on these". Courier Mail. 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  25. ^ "Naming-rights deal extended through 2031". Boston.com. 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  26. ^ Maheshwari, Sapna (2017-07-16). "Welcome to Manhood, Gillette Told the 50-Year-Old Woman". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  27. ^ "Retail's new niche: Aging baby boomers". The Gazette. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  28. ^ Rachel Zurer (December 27, 2011). "Three Smart Things About Lasers". Wired. Retrieved May 21, 2015.

Further reading

  • "King C. Gillette, The Man and His Wonderful Shaving Device" by Russell Adams (1978), published by Little Brown & Co. of Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
  • McKibben, Gordon (1998). Cutting Edge: Gillette's Journey to Global Leadership. Harvard Business School Press. ISBN 0-87584-725-0.
  • Rodriguez, Ginger G.; Salamie, David E.; Shepherd, Kenneth R. (2005) [previous versions of the article in the volume 3 and 20]. Grant, Tina, ed. "The Gillette Company". International Directory of Company Histories. Farmington Hills, Michigan: St.James Press (Thomson Gale). 68: 171–176. ISBN 1-55862-543-7.

External links

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