Now that the economy is officially bad, nostalgia and consumer packaging that give us a warm feeling seem more attractive and suddenly less out of step.
Here are two examples that caught my eye this a.m.
Sharps in NYC, which offers up a bevy of personal grooming products for men.
And then Kiehl’s, “founded” in NYC’s East Village more than 150 years ago. A few of its products are sitting on my bathroom counter (love the airplane).
Vintage bloodlines are a great story in these economic times. What guy doesn’t want to sit in a barber chair and have a hot shave?
Alas, L’Oreal (think Maybelline) today owns Kiehl’s. And Sharps will sell you a 5 oz. tube of shave gel for $13 plus shipping online.
Tony’s Barber Shop down the street in my town of San Diego is the real thing. The barber shop’s brand might be lagging (boring neon “open” sign), but the service is still the thing.
Can you compete with mega brands and very attractive micro brands by simply offering up good old fashioned value?
