King Gillette Articles

The Makings of a King: The Early Years of King Gillette - Click To Read Article
He had spent his entire life tinkering with ideas, most of which the rest of the world would call him crazy for. It was not until King Gillette was in his 40s that he would patent and begin to sell his disposable safety razor. It was an invention that made him a household name and revolutionized the shaving industry in the process. Today, Global Gillette continues to rank as one of the most dominant brands in the industry.

On The Cutting Edge: Gillette Gets An Idea For A Business - Click To Read Article
In 1895, Gillette decided it was time to return home. Moving back to Fond du Lac in Wisconsin, he took up work as a salesman for the Crown Cork & Seal Co. The company’s founder, William Painter, had invented the cork-lined bottle cap and turned it into a profitable business. Still, at 40 years old, Gillette wanted some of that success for himself.

Lesson #1: The Experts Are Not Always Right - Click To Read Article
All his life, Gillette believed that coming up with the idea – the product – would be hardest part of starting any business. After all, it took him no less than 40 years to think of a product that he thought could be profitable. He had never figured on the fact that others might not be so willing to embrace the idea as he was. But as Gillette quickly discovered, learning to listen to his own ideas was important if he was going to become successful.

Lesson #2: Who Said Shaving And Sports Do Not Go Together? - Click To Read Article
In a memo Gillette sent out to all of his company directors in 1912, he wrote, “The whole success of this business depends on advertising.” Indeed, Gillette did not only popularize the modern razor and usher in a new culture of disposable commodities. He also introduced a new way of thinking when it came to advertising.

Lesson #3: Know Where The Value Of Your Product Lies - Click To Read Article
“The greatest feature of the business is the almost endless chain of blade consumption,” said Gillette, “each razor paying tribute to the company as long as the user lives.”

Lesson #4: Make The Most Of Potential Marketing Moments - Click To Read Article
“There is no other article for individual use so universally known or widely distributed,” Gillette once said. “In my travels, I have found it in the most northern town in Norway and in the heart of the Sahara Desert.”

Lesson #5: Stay One Step Ahead By Anticipating Your Competition - Click To Read Article
Gillette’s idea for a disposable safety razor was a novel one, and like most other novel ideas, it inspired countless copycats. As it turns out, Gillette was not only attracting customers with his unique razor, but a surge of competition. Until 1921, Gillette knew he had his bases covered, but he also knew that after that he would have to step up his game. 1921 was the year that his original patents were set to expire.

Living On The Edge: How Gillette Achieved Success - Click To Read Article
“As I stood there with the razor in my hand, my eyes resting on it as lightly as a bird settling down on its nest, the Gillette razor was born,” said Gillette. “In that moment I saw it all: the way the blade could be held in a holder; the idea of sharpening the two opposite edges on the thin piece of steel; the clamping plates, with a handle halfway between the two edges of the blade.”

King Gillette Quotes - Click To Read Article
King Gillette Quotes


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