Latest news with #DollarShaveClub
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Unilever's Dr. Squatch Acquisition Faces Three Critical Challenges
Gen Z men are the driving force behind the rapid growth in male grooming products. Unilever announced the acquisition of men's grooming brand Dr. Squatch for an undisclosed sum, specifically citing the brand's "viral, social-first marketing strategies, partnerships with influencers and celebrities, and culturally relevant collaborations" as key deal drivers. Known for cheeky marketing and provocative campaigns featuring Sydney Sweeney as a "Body Wash Genie" Dr. Squatch has built a loyal following among Gen Z men whose facial skincare usage surged from 42% to 68% between 2022 and '24 according to research by Mintel. Yet Unilever has been here before, without reaping the rewards. The corporate giant acquired Dollar Shave Club (DSC) in 2016 for what seems almost identical reasons—viral marketing that challenged industry giants. Seven years later, Unilever confessed the expected returns hadn't materialized and sold the company to private equity. DSC's former CEO Larry Bodner was blunt about the failure: Unilever "neutered the vibe and fun of what the brand stood for. It just didn't fit in a vanilla corporate entity." With Dr. Squatch facing increasing competition from disruptive brands like Manscaped and Harry's, Unilever can't afford another costly misstep. Success depends on Unilever learning three critical lessons from the DSC acquisition to preserve what made Dr. Squatch worth acquiring. The Corporate Acquisition Curse The soul of a startup starts with a higher brand purpose. A review of corporate acquisitions of entrepreneurial brands reveals a consistent pattern: start-up brands that thrive on agility, risk-taking, and innovative culture typically struggle when absorbed into corporate structures that prioritize process, hierarchy, and risk management. Drawing on Ranjay Gulati's insightful research on the soul of a start-up, three crucial cultural pillars define successful startups: When acquirers maintain these pillars, they more often succeed. When corporate processes eclipse the culture, ventures almost inevitably falter. Yet preserving start-ups' cultural pillars can be challenging for corporate entities. Corporations who succeed in preserving the acquired brand's higher purpose do so by making that part of the deal. Google's $1.65 billion YouTube acquisition worked because Google explicitly promised YouTube would "operate independently to preserve its successful brand and passionate community." Similarly, P&G acquired Native body care to fill a specific portfolio gap in natural/clean deodorants. The deal helped "P&G to reach consumers who are looking to avoid certain ingredients". Rather than changing Native's mission, P&G leveraged it to reach health-conscious consumers. Ben and Jerry's was acquired by Unilever in April 2000 for $326 million after more than 20 years as ... More an independent enterprise. Yet, supporting an entrepreneurial brand's higher purpose can come with challenges, especially when the founder's purpose takes a new direction. Unilever has experienced this reality firsthand with its Ben & Jerry's ice cream co-founders. The founder's increasing social activism has not consistently aligned with Unilever's values, illustrating the complexity corporations can face. Entrepreneurial brands often succeed by creating intimate customer relationships that corporations desperately desire, but which their formal structures and scale can hinder. Nordstrom's $350 million acquisition of Trunk Club in 2014 illustrates this challenge. Trunk Club revolutionized personal styling for affluent men through high-touch, personalized service—customers developed relationships with individual stylists who understood their preferences. After the acquisition, Nordstrom pushed to expand the service yet to contain costs, instituted a $25 at-home try-on fee and shortened the return window, negatively impacting what male customers had come to expect. The result: Nordstrom took a $197 million write-down and eventually shut down the service entirely. Snapple built its success on anti-establishment marketing and selling through small, independent ... More distributors. Quaker Oats' experience with its Snapple acquisition in 1994 demonstrates how challenging it can be to preserve autonomy within corporate decision-making. When Quaker acquired the quirky beverage brand for $1.7 billion, Snapple had built its success on unconventional marketing and distribution through small, independent distributors that matched its authentic, anti-establishment brand identity. However, Quaker applied its traditional corporate playbook, pushing Snapple into supermarkets where it faced direct competition from giants like Coca-Cola and lost the very quirkiness that made it valuable. Three years later, Quaker sold Snapple for just $300 million. Three Lessons Unilever Can Learn from the Dollar Shave Club Experiment The global men's personal care market is projected to grow at 11% annually through 2032 Unilever's reasons for acquiring Dr. Squatch mirrors the rationale for acquiring Dollar Shave Club: cheeky, irreverent marketing that disrupts traditional grooming advertising and connects with male audiences. The DSC experiment offers three essential lessons Unilever would be wise to apply to maintain Dr Squatch's cultural pillars and appeal. DSC rebelled against large corporations by offering affordable razors and challenging the high price of established brands, namely Gillette. DSC's popularity ignited with an expletive-laden video that challenged industry conventions. Integrating DSC into a broader corporate purpose not surprisingly diluted the brand's appeal. Dr. Squatch's brand purpose follows a similar ethos and goes beyond selling soap. The brand's limited-edition soap using Ms. Sweeney's bathwater reflects a purpose that rejects mainstream personal care products for a more authentic approach to masculinity. For Dr. Squatch to succeed will require the brand stay true to its purpose and ability to create campaigns that generate organic social media buzz—the kind of awareness that motivated Unilever's purchase in the first place. When DSC expanded beyond its core $1 razor proposition into expensive cologne, hair cream, and sunscreen, it abandoned the budget-conscious customers who had embraced the brand's anti-establishment message about overpriced grooming products. Considering Dr Squatch's popularity, Gen Z men have shown they respond to messaging around grooming as self-expression rather than simply basic hygiene. Gen Z men respond to marketing messaging around grooming as self-expression not simply as basic ... More hygiene. Gen Z men represent the future of the men's grooming market according to researcher Mintel. Unilever would do well to keep the interests and preferences of this demographic front and center as they invest in Dr Squatch and avoid the temptation to push the brand too quickly into mass-market price points where it could lose the authenticity that has resonated so strongly with Gen Z men. Unilever attempted to preserve creative independence by allowing DSC to launch MEL Magazine —a men's lifestyle publication with complete editorial independence and no revenue model, bankrolled entirely by Unilever. While this effort preserved autonomy, it exemplified too much creative freedom without accountability. The challenge for Unilever with Dr. Squatch is finding the optimal balance between creative autonomy and business accountability. Success means establishing clear KPIs around brand engagement, customer acquisition costs, and revenue growth while giving the Dr. Squatch team the freedom to pursue unconventional marketing strategies that drive those metrics. Dollar Shave Club's Lessons Provide a Roadmap for Dr. Squatch's Success The global men's personal care market generated $58 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at 11% annually through 2032. The Dr. Squatch opportunity requires not only capturing the coveted GenZ men and their surging interest in skincare but continuing to connect with young men who view grooming as self-expression and respond to authentic, irreverent messaging. Unilever now has a roadmap for success with Dr Squatch based on its struggles with Dollar Shave Club: maintain brand purpose while delivering returns, protect customer connections while enabling growth, preserve creative autonomy without sacrificing accountability. The question isn't whether Dr. Squatch has the potential to succeed under Unilever's ownership—it's whether Unilever has learned from its past efforts to let the brand flourish.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Entrepreneur and investor Gary Vee's top tips on using and embracing AI
The future of AI can be both exciting and intimidating. While some have been making the most of AI to automate tasks and make work more efficient, others are apprehensive—or even scared that it will take their job one day. But fear and ignoring AI is not the right approach to take, according to entrepreneur, investor, and cofounder of the restaurant reservation service Resy, Gary Vaynerchuk (also known as Gary 'Vee'). 'I think there's a lot to this and the technology is profound,' Vaynerchuk, who has invested in Facebook, Twitter, and Uber, said on a recent episode of The Liz Moody Podcast. 'If you're actually scared, what I definitely tell you that you shouldn't do is hang around and drink beers and complain about it.' Vaynerchuk said that the most vulnerable to AI are likely those who don't pull from their own creativity, and instead do work based on explicit instructions. For example, a graphic designer who is an 'order taker.' 'You don't come up with a creative idea, your boss does—well, then you're dead,' Vaynerchuk said. 'But if you've got an idea, you're creative and strategic, you've got time.' 'Learn a new skill. Apply for a new job. Figure it out,' he added. The entrepreneur pointed out that this isn't the first time in history when humans have had to adapt to significant technological shifts. 'Did we not learn from calculators or the internet? We go through this every time,' he said. 'When the tractor was invented, 80% plus of society worked on farms, and a lot of people sat around on farms…and said this tractor is going to take our jobs—and we got new jobs.' Vaynerchuk told Moody that embracing AI to help you be more efficient is the best approach—and exactly what he does. He uses tools like ChatGPT as his 'strategy thinker,' rather than a tool for creation. He explained that he recently prompted ChatGPT for indications on social media or pop culture that the 'clean shaven look during the height of the Friends era' could reemerge. Vaynerchuk went back and forth with the chatbot for 30 minutes to see if this is a potential cultural shift that he could get ahead of as an investor. 'From an investment standpoint and from a marketing standpoint, I want to think about how Gillette needs to think about things,' Vaynerchuk said. 'Do I want to invest in the next Dollar Shave Club or not? Is there something to be had?' Going forward, Vaynerchuk plans to encourage his employees at VaynerX to capitalize on AI and optimize their efficiency. He told Moody he's holding a companywide meeting outlining those expectations to make AI more a part of their work. 'Not because I need you to work more. I want you to work less if you want—you can work three hours instead of nine, but you need to AI the f–k out of that,' he said. For more on AI: The reality of AI's promise to curb older adults' loneliness OpenAI CEO says his kids will 'never be smarter than AI'— and that his parenting style relies on ChatGPT A.I. might actually help us find a greater sense of purpose at work This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNN
23-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNN
10 grooming products our editors rely on to help them look their best, starting at $10
Over the years, CNN Underscored editors have tested plenty of grooming products, whether it was for work or because we needed something for our own routines. If you're looking to amp up your men's grooming arsenal, you're in luck, because we're rounding up our top picks. From a beard trimmer that one of our editors has had for years to the volumizing hair powder our electronics writer loves, here are 10 grooming products our editors stand by. Wahl Stainless Steel Lithium-Ion Cordless Beard Trimmer I've had this beard trimmer for about four years now, and I use it nearly every week. I love its ergonomic feel, and it's great at both trimming bulk in my beard and sharpening lines on my jaw. When we tested the best beard trimmers, it was our performance pick, and after years of additional testing, I can still see why. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainable living and pets editor Read our review Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 I love my Philips OneBlade. I have used this for years, and it still performs great. The 360 blade is great for getting all edges of my face, and the attachable comb is great for getting the perfect length. I have used tons of other razors in the past and somehow always manage to nick or accidentally cut myself, but with this razor, that has never been an issue. I also find that the battery life on this razor lasts a while, so I don't need to charge it very often. This is a major plus, especially when I'm traveling and need to touch up my facial hair but forget the charger. — Tyler Holender, social strategist Kevin Murphy Powder Puff Volumizing Powder The only way my hair ever looks as decent as it does is thanks to three things: my fantastic barber, Alexia Saras, and the two products I use whenever I need to impress. When it's time to get fancy, I sprinkle in a very light amount of Australian hair care brand Kevin Murphy's Powder Puff Volumizing Powder, which basically helps my hair come to life. Not to wax too poetic, but I always feel like this stuff is breathing a tiny gust of air into my hair. Then I put a little bit of that same brand's Rough Rider paste into my hair to lock that volume in. I've used the paste for a lot longer than the powder and have always loved how it keeps my hair looking matte and clean. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer Dollar Shave Club Shave Butter, 2-Pack I didn't really care about what shaving cream I used until I tried Dollar Shave Club's Shave Butter. It becomes translucent when you rub it on your skin, so you can actually see where you're shaving. Plus, I've noticed no difference when it comes to smoothness from traditional shaving creams. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainable living and pet editor Philips Norelco Multigroom Series 9000 21-Piece All-in-One Trimmer The use I've gotten out of this all-in-one trimmer is terrific for under $100. Its main function is helping me maintain my beard when I rock one, but I've also used its attachments to shave my face, trim nose hairs and even pull off a full buzz cut. — Joe Bloss, associate testing writer Gillette Fusion5 Power Razor for Men I've been a proud bald guy for five years and counting, and have relied on this cheap Gillette razor to keep my head as smooth as a baby's for almost that entire time. Paired with a good shave gel, the Gillette Fusion5 glides softly and comfortably around my dome; I can probably count on one hand the rare occasions where I accidentally nicked myself. Sure, I have to pick up blade refills every few months, but that's still cheaper than what I was paying my barber to cut what was left of my hair — and certainly a less costly investment than those scary-looking dome shavers I always see ads for. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer This was the daily moisturizer that got me serious about skin care, and I still haven't found anything better. It doesn't leave a sticky or heavy feeling after it's applied, and it doubles as a great daily sunscreen. — Joe Bloss, associate testing writer Bevel Safety Razor Most of the time I quickly shave my neck with my Wahl beard trimmer, but if I want to get a close, quality shave, I always reach for my Bevel Safety Razor. I love how simple its design is, how easy it is to clean and how close a shave I can get. Plus, replacement blades are ridiculously cheap, especially compared to more popular three- or five-blade replacements. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainable living and pets editor Leaf Shave Thorn Single-Edge Razor There are pros and cons to shaving with a single-edge razor, and so far, Leaf has done the best job at convincing me it's a superior alternative to multi-blade cartridges. The angled head lightens the learning curve for new users. If you're looking to save money over the long haul with a sustainable shave, Leaf is worth a look. — Joe Bloss, associate testing writer SinkShroom Ultra Bathroom Sink Strainer I'm always shocked at just how much hair comes off my face when I trim my beard, and this little gadget helps me keep all that facial hair out of my drains. I keep it in my sink at all times, and it makes cleanup after shaving that much easier. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainable living and pets editor What grooming products should men have? What grooming products should men have? Everyone's grooming routine is different, so the products in one man's routine may look completely different from what's in anothers. Some common grooming products include razors, beard oils, trimmers and aftershave. What is a proper grooming routine for men? What is a proper grooming routine for men? A solid skin care routine is the foundation for any beauty or grooming routine. If you're someone who also likes to shave, Jake Murphy, a senior barber and manager at Ruffians Covent Garden, said in our guide to the cleanest shave that properly prepping your skin by cleansing it thoroughly should be the first step in the shaving process. The experts in that article then recommend following up with a moisturizer or an aftershave. CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when relevant to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this article, associate lifestyle editor Rachel Dennis rounded up some of the team's favorite grooming products.
CNN
23-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNN
10 grooming products our editors rely on to help them look their best, starting at $10
Over the years, CNN Underscored editors have tested plenty of grooming products, whether it was for work or because we needed something for our own routines. If you're looking to amp up your men's grooming arsenal, you're in luck, because we're rounding up our top picks. From a beard trimmer that one of our editors has had for years to the volumizing hair powder our electronics writer loves, here are 10 grooming products our editors stand by. Wahl Stainless Steel Lithium-Ion Cordless Beard Trimmer I've had this beard trimmer for about four years now, and I use it nearly every week. I love its ergonomic feel, and it's great at both trimming bulk in my beard and sharpening lines on my jaw. When we tested the best beard trimmers, it was our performance pick, and after years of additional testing, I can still see why. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainable living and pets editor Read our review Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 I love my Philips OneBlade. I have used this for years, and it still performs great. The 360 blade is great for getting all edges of my face, and the attachable comb is great for getting the perfect length. I have used tons of other razors in the past and somehow always manage to nick or accidentally cut myself, but with this razor, that has never been an issue. I also find that the battery life on this razor lasts a while, so I don't need to charge it very often. This is a major plus, especially when I'm traveling and need to touch up my facial hair but forget the charger. — Tyler Holender, social strategist Kevin Murphy Powder Puff Volumizing Powder The only way my hair ever looks as decent as it does is thanks to three things: my fantastic barber, Alexia Saras, and the two products I use whenever I need to impress. When it's time to get fancy, I sprinkle in a very light amount of Australian hair care brand Kevin Murphy's Powder Puff Volumizing Powder, which basically helps my hair come to life. Not to wax too poetic, but I always feel like this stuff is breathing a tiny gust of air into my hair. Then I put a little bit of that same brand's Rough Rider paste into my hair to lock that volume in. I've used the paste for a lot longer than the powder and have always loved how it keeps my hair looking matte and clean. — Henry T. Casey, electronics writer Dollar Shave Club Shave Butter, 2-Pack I didn't really care about what shaving cream I used until I tried Dollar Shave Club's Shave Butter. It becomes translucent when you rub it on your skin, so you can actually see where you're shaving. Plus, I've noticed no difference when it comes to smoothness from traditional shaving creams. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainable living and pet editor Philips Norelco Multigroom Series 9000 21-Piece All-in-One Trimmer The use I've gotten out of this all-in-one trimmer is terrific for under $100. Its main function is helping me maintain my beard when I rock one, but I've also used its attachments to shave my face, trim nose hairs and even pull off a full buzz cut. — Joe Bloss, associate testing writer Gillette Fusion5 Power Razor for Men I've been a proud bald guy for five years and counting, and have relied on this cheap Gillette razor to keep my head as smooth as a baby's for almost that entire time. Paired with a good shave gel, the Gillette Fusion5 glides softly and comfortably around my dome; I can probably count on one hand the rare occasions where I accidentally nicked myself. Sure, I have to pick up blade refills every few months, but that's still cheaper than what I was paying my barber to cut what was left of my hair — and certainly a less costly investment than those scary-looking dome shavers I always see ads for. — Mike Andronico, senior tech editor Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer This was the daily moisturizer that got me serious about skin care, and I still haven't found anything better. It doesn't leave a sticky or heavy feeling after it's applied, and it doubles as a great daily sunscreen. — Joe Bloss, associate testing writer Bevel Safety Razor Most of the time I quickly shave my neck with my Wahl beard trimmer, but if I want to get a close, quality shave, I always reach for my Bevel Safety Razor. I love how simple its design is, how easy it is to clean and how close a shave I can get. Plus, replacement blades are ridiculously cheap, especially compared to more popular three- or five-blade replacements. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainable living and pets editor Leaf Shave Thorn Single-Edge Razor There are pros and cons to shaving with a single-edge razor, and so far, Leaf has done the best job at convincing me it's a superior alternative to multi-blade cartridges. The angled head lightens the learning curve for new users. If you're looking to save money over the long haul with a sustainable shave, Leaf is worth a look. — Joe Bloss, associate testing writer SinkShroom Ultra Bathroom Sink Strainer I'm always shocked at just how much hair comes off my face when I trim my beard, and this little gadget helps me keep all that facial hair out of my drains. I keep it in my sink at all times, and it makes cleanup after shaving that much easier. — Kai Burkhardt, outdoors, sustainable living and pets editor What grooming products should men have? What grooming products should men have? Everyone's grooming routine is different, so the products in one man's routine may look completely different from what's in anothers. Some common grooming products include razors, beard oils, trimmers and aftershave. What is a proper grooming routine for men? What is a proper grooming routine for men? A solid skin care routine is the foundation for any beauty or grooming routine. If you're someone who also likes to shave, Jake Murphy, a senior barber and manager at Ruffians Covent Garden, said in our guide to the cleanest shave that properly prepping your skin by cleansing it thoroughly should be the first step in the shaving process. The experts in that article then recommend following up with a moisturizer or an aftershave. CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when relevant to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this article, associate lifestyle editor Rachel Dennis rounded up some of the team's favorite grooming products.
