Dollar Shave Club#Products

Dollar Shave Club was founded by Mark Levine and Michael Dubin. The pair met at a party and spoke of their frustrations with the cost of razor blades. With their own money and investments from start-up incubator Science Inc., they began operations in January 2011 and launched their website in April 2011.{{cite news|title=A David and Gillette Story|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303624004577338103789934144?KEYWORDS=%22Dollar+Shave+Club%22 |work=The Wall Street Journal|date=2012-04-12 |access-date=2012-09-12 |first=Emily |last=Glazer}}{{cite magazine|title=Dollar Shave Club: A Start-Up's Viral Ad for 'F***ing Great' Razors Is a Big Hit|url=https://business.time.com/2012/03/12/dollar-shave-club-a-start-ups-viral-ad-for-fing-great-razors-is-a-big-hit/|magazine=Time |date=2012-03-12|access-date=2012-03-19}}{{cite news|last=Colao|first=J.J.|title=Dollar Shave Club: Breaking The Razor Blade Monopoly|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jjcolao/2012/04/03/dollar-shave-club-breaking-the-razor-blade-monopoly/|work=Forbes|access-date=April 30, 2014}}[http://forward.com/news/345639/jewish-buddies-who-founded-dollar-shave-club-cash-in-with-1b-unilever-deal/ Jewish Daily Forward: "Jewish Buddies Who Founded Dollar Shave Club Cash In With $1B Unilever Deal" by Laura E. Adkins] July 20, 2016

Dollar Shave Club was backed by a variety of venture capitalists. In March 2012, seed investors provided $1 million in funding from groups that included Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Andreessen Horowitz, Shasta Ventures, and others.{{cite web|last=O'Dell|first=J.|title=Dollar Shave Club's blades are "so f*cking great" they just raised a round for 'em|date=6 March 2012 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/03/06/dollar-shave-club|publisher=Venture Beat|access-date=April 29, 2014}} The same group, joined by Venrock, provided $9.8 million in series A funding in October 2012.{{cite web|last=Chapman|first=Lizette|title=Dollar Shave Club Picks Up $10M to Grow Beyond Razors|url=http://pevc.dowjones.com/article?an=DJFVW00020121101e8b1apm16&from=NL&pid=32&ReturnUrl=http%3a%2f%2fpevc.dowjones.com%2farticle%3fan%3dDJFVW00020121101e8b1apm16%26from%3dNL%26pid%3d32|publisher=Dow Jones|access-date=April 30, 2014|archive-date=May 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502200204/http://pevc.dowjones.com/article?an=DJFVW00020121101e8b1apm16&from=NL&pid=32&ReturnUrl=http%3a%2f%2fpevc.dowjones.com%2farticle%3fan%3dDJFVW00020121101e8b1apm16%26from%3dNL%26pid%3d32|url-status=dead}} A year later, a $12 million series B round was raised led by Venrock, Comcast Ventures, New World Investors and Battery Ventures. Amidst the fundraising announcement, Dollar Shave Club announced it would be expanding its product line to include a dozen other men's products in 2014.{{cite web|last=Truong|first=Alex|title=Dollar Shave Club Raises $12 Million to Offer More Grooming Products|work=Fast Company |date=October 8, 2013 |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3019667/fast-feed/dollar-shave-club-raises-12-million-to-offer-more-grooming-products|access-date=April 30, 2014}} In June 2015, the company secured $75 million in series D funding.{{cite news|last1=Dave|first1=Paresh|title=Up to 2 million members, Dollar Shave Club worth $615 million, investors say|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-dollar-shave-club-investment-20150622-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 2, 2015|date=June 22, 2015}}

On July 19, 2016, Dollar Shave Club was acquired by Unilever for a reported $1 billion in cash.{{cite web | url = http://fortune.com/2016/07/19/unilever-buys-dollar-shave-club-for-1-billion/ | title = Unilever Buys Dollar Shave Club for $1 Billion | work = Fortune | date = 2016-07-19 | access-date = 2016-07-19}}

On October 26, 2023, Unilever announced it would be selling most of its stake in Dollar Shave Club to Nexus Capital Management, keeping a 35% stake in the company.{{cite web |last1=Bitter |first1=Alex |title=Unilever is selling Dollar Shave Club after 7 long, awkward years of trying to make it work |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/unilever-sells-dtc-darling-dollar-shave-club-2023-10 |website=Business Insider |access-date=31 October 2023 |date=26 October 2023}}

File:Welcome Package Dollar Shave Club.jpg

Dollar Shave Club offers three membership plans, which can be upgraded or downgraded at any time.{{cite web|last1=Sadasivam|first1=Krishna|title=Review: The Dollar Shave Club|url=http://pcweenies.com/2013/05/11/review-the-dollar-shave-club/|website=The PC Weenies|access-date=August 18, 2014}} The membership service first launched March 6, 2012, via a YouTube video that went viral.{{cite web|last1=Janjigian|first1=Robert|title=Small beauty renegades make headway amid giants|url=http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/news/local/small-beauty-renegades-make-headway-amid-giants/nftQF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517052744/http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/news/local/small-beauty-renegades-make-headway-amid-giants/nftQF/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 17, 2014|website=Palm Beach Daily News|access-date=August 18, 2014}} The YouTube video attracted an unanticipated amount of traffic, which crashed the company's server in the first hour. Once Dubin got the server working, he enlisted a team of friends and contractors to help fulfill the 12,000 orders that arrived in the first 48 hours of launching the video. The orders were initially packed by hand in a warehouse in Gardena, California, before the company moved their warehouse and fulfillment to a third-party logistics center in Kentucky.{{cite news|last1=Dahl|first1=Darren|title=Riding the Momentum Created by a Cheeky Video|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/11/business/smallbusiness/dollar-shave-club-from-viral-video-to-real-business.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&|work=The New York Times |date=April 11, 2013|access-date=August 18, 2014}}

As of 2016, the company has acquired 3.2 million subscribers. Although the company primarily markets its products to men, approximately 20% of its customers are women.{{cite web|last1=Stock|first1=Kyle|title=Dollar Shave Plots to Take Over Your Bathroom|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-16/dollar-shave-plots-to-take-over-your-bathroom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517135220/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-16/dollar-shave-plots-to-take-over-your-bathroom|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 17, 2014|publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek|access-date=August 18, 2014}}

Dollar Shave Club offers three plans: "The Humble Twin" (two blades per razor, five razors per month, $4 per month), "The 4X" (four blades, four razors, $7) and "The Executive" (six blades, four razors, $10).{{cite web|url=https://www.dollarshaveclub.com/get-started/blades|title=Blades|website=Dollar Shave Club|access-date=12 June 2019}} Each subscription comes with a compatible handle.

Most of the razor handles and blades are not made by Dollar Shave Club, but rather are re-sold Dorco products.{{cite web |last=Pash |first=Adam |date=April 20, 2012 |title=Forget Dollar Shave Club; Buy the Same High Quality Razors for a Third of the Price |url=https://lifehacker.com/forget-dollar-shave-club-buy-the-same-high-quality-raz-30788782 |website=Lifehacker}}{{cite web |last=Wolff-Mann |first=Ethan |date=July 20, 2016 |title=Here's How to Buy Dollar Shave Club Razors for Less Money on Amazon |url=https://money.com/dollar-shave-club-razors-dorco-amazon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213130110/https://money.com/dollar-shave-club-razors-dorco-amazon/ |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |website=Money.com}}

The company also sells related accessories, such as shave butter,{{cite web|last=Carney|first=Michael|title=Not just razors anymore: Dollar Shave Club introduces wet wipes for your other sensitive areas|url=http://pando.com/2013/06/04/not-just-razors-anymore-dollar-shave-club-introduces-wet-wipes-for-your-other-sensitive-areas|publisher=Pando Daily|access-date=May 1, 2014}} wet wipes, and moisturizer.{{cite web|last1=Neff|first1=Jack|title=Dollar Shave Club Goes 'Upscale' With $9 Moisturizer|date=20 May 2014 |url=http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/dollar-shave-club-upscale-9-moisturizer/293288/|publisher=Ad Age|access-date=August 18, 2014}}

In late 2012, the company launched its program in Canada and Australia.{{cite news|last=Mitroff|first=Sarah|title=$10 Million Shave Club: Discount Razor Service Is a Hit With Investors|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/11/dollar-shave-club|publisher=Wired|access-date=May 1, 2014|date=November 2, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Sue|title='Our wipes are f***ing great': How Dollar Shave Club's Michael Dubin plans to 'own the man in the bathroom' with $US12m in new funding|work=BRW |url=http://www.brw.com.au/p/marketing/dubin_wipes_plans_bathroom_great_PMSJHORcrkqTJdDomcxFOM|access-date=April 30, 2014}}

In 2015, the company expanded its product line to include hair care products, called "Boogie's".{{cite web|last1=Ha|first1=Anthony|title=Now Dollar Shave Club Sells Hair Gel, Too|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/25/dollar-shave-club-hair|website=TechCrunch|date=25 March 2015 |access-date=April 13, 2015}} The line includes hair gel, hair cream, hair paste, hair clay and hair fiber.{{Cite news|url = http://www.happi.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2015-03-25/dollar-shave-club-adds-hair-care|title = Dollar Shave Club Adds Hair Care|date = 25 March 2015|publisher = Happi}}

In May 2015, the company began hiring writers and editors for a new website, Mel Magazine (stylized as MEL{{refn|name=Perlberg 2015}}) which went online in late 2015. The website contains editorial content described by the company as "men's lifestyle topics".{{cite news |last=Perlberg |first=Steven |title=Dollar Shave Club Launches Men's Interest Editorial Destination Called 'MEL' |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/dollar-shave-club-launches-mens-interest-editorial-destination-called-mel-1447270170 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=11 November 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Jack |last2=Perlberg |first2=Steven |title=Mattress Company Hires Journalists |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/cmo/2015/05/04/dont-sleep-on-content-marketing/ |access-date=29 September 2016 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=14 May 2015}} While the site does not host sponsored content, its business model "relies upon being a branded publisher", according to Fast Company.{{cite news |last1=Guthrie Weissman |first1=Cale |title=Dollar Shave Club's men's magazine 'Mel' grows up |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90217210/dollar-shave-clubs-mens-magazine-mel-grows-up |work=Fast Company |date=15 August 2018}}

In December 2015, Gillette brand owner Procter & Gamble filed a patent infringement lawsuit that claimed Dollar Shave Club used its patented formulas to manufacture copycat blades.{{cite news |last=Woolhouse |first=Megan |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/12/17/gillette-sues-dollar-shave-club-for-patent-infringement/WCl1FrIZjCb093OBWUCZhL/story.html |title=Gillette sues Dollar Shave Club for patent infringement |work=The Boston Globe |date=2015-12-18 |access-date=2015-12-18 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2015/12/18/gillettes-lawsuit-could-tilt-the-battle-for-americas-beards/ | title=Gillette's lawsuit could tilt the battle for America's beards | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=18 December 2015 | access-date=19 December 2015 | author=Harwell, Drew}}

In February 2018, the company launched in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|last=Williams-Grut|first=Oscar|title=Dollar Shave Club is entering the cutthroat world of UK razors: 'We like competition'|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/dollar-shave-club-is-entering-the-cutthroat-world-of-uk-razors-we-like-competition-2018-1|access-date=2021-04-20|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}

On March 6, 2012, the company uploaded a YouTube video entitled "Our Blades Are F***ing Great" featuring CEO Michael Dubin, delivering his speech in a nonchalant and sarcastic manner.{{cite web|last=Kaye|first=Kate|title=Why YouTube Darling Dollar Shave Club Is Buying TV Ads|date=24 June 2013 |url=http://adage.com/article/datadriven-marketing/youtube-darling-dollar-shave-club-buying-tv-ads/242783/|publisher=AdvertisingAge|access-date=April 30, 2014}} The video prompted 12,000 orders in a two-day span after it was released, and has received over 27 million views as of November 2020.{{cite web|title=DollarShaveClub.com - Our Blades Are F***ing Great|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUG9qYTJMsI |publisher=YouTube|access-date=November 16, 2020}}

The video won "Best Out-of-Nowhere Video Campaign" at the 2012 Ad Age Viral Video Awards.{{cite news|title=Google Takes Top Honors at Viral Video Awards|url=http://adage.com/article/special-report-digital-conference/google-takes-top-honors-viral-video-awards/234155|work=Ad Age|date=2012-04-17|access-date=2012-09-12}} Dollar Shave Club was awarded a 2013 Webby Award in the Fashion & Beauty category {{cite news|title=Webby Awards: Fashion & Beauty|url=http://winners.webbyawards.com/2013/web/general-website/fashion-beauty|publisher=Webby Awards|date=2013-05-22|access-date=2013-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601183128/http://winners.webbyawards.com/2013/web/general-website/fashion-beauty|archive-date=2013-06-01|url-status=dead}} and earned the People's Choice Webby Award in the Consumer Packaged Goods category.{{cite news|title=Webby Awards: Consumer Packaged Goods|url=http://winners.webbyawards.com/2013/interactive-advertising-media/websites-micro-sites-and-rich-media/consumer-packaged-goods/our-blades-are-f-ing-great|publisher=Webby Awards|date=2013-05-22|access-date=2013-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520170929/http://winners.webbyawards.com/2013/interactive-advertising-media/websites-micro-sites-and-rich-media/consumer-packaged-goods/our-blades-are-f-ing-great|archive-date=2013-05-20|url-status=dead}}

On June 4, 2013, Dollar Shave Club released a second video on YouTube called "Let's Talk About #2", which again starred its CEO and promoted One Wipe Charlies. The video won the Shorty Award in 2014 for best use of Social Media.{{cite web|title=Best Use of Social Media for Retail or E-Commerce|url=http://industry.shortyawards.com/category/6th_annual/retail_e_commerce/s6/dollarshaveclubcom-one-wipe-charlies-launch|publisher=Shorty Awards|access-date=April 30, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502201034/http://industry.shortyawards.com/category/6th_annual/retail_e_commerce/s6/dollarshaveclubcom-one-wipe-charlies-launch|archive-date=May 2, 2014}}

In 2014, Dollar Shave Club and its One Wipe Charlies teamed up with the Colon Cancer Alliance in an effort to help "wipe out" colon cancer.{{cite web|title=Dollar Shave Club|url=http://ccalliance.org/march/dollar-shave-club.html|publisher=Colon Cancer Alliance|access-date=May 1, 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502143442/http://ccalliance.org/march/dollar-shave-club.html|archive-date=May 2, 2014}} The company reports that during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month it reached 23 million people in spreading the message about the importance of getting screened. The company also donated $10,000 to the Colon Cancer Alliance, contributing a percentage of One Wipe Charlies' sales and putting a dollar value on social shares.{{cite web|title=We Reached 23 Million People!|url=http://blog.dollarshaveclub.com/category/wipe-out-colon-cancer|publisher=Dollar Shave Club|access-date=May 1, 2014}} As part of the campaign, Michael Dubin had his own colonoscopy streamed live online.{{cite web|last=Neporent|first=Liz|title=Man Live Tweets His Colonoscopy|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/man-live-tweets-colonoscopy/story?id=22967737|work=ABC News|access-date=May 1, 2014}}

• Harry's

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• {{Official website|http://dollarshaveclub.com}}

Category:Personal care brands

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