Injector Razors and Market Share

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by John Ruschmeyer, Sep 10, 2017.

  1. John Ruschmeyer

    John Ruschmeyer Well-Known Member

    I was looking at some Eversharp Schick ads from 1946 and a recurring slogan caught my attention:

    "The razor demanded by 7 out of every 10 men in service!"​

    I'm curious about a few things. First, by "in service" did they mean soldiers in the then-recent war? Second, if Schick Injector razors represented 70% of any kind of market then why weren't they more of a dominant force in the overall shaving industry? It seems like that should have easily put Gillette on the ropes.

    Obviously, I'm missing something but I'm not sure what.
     
    RaZorBurn123 likes this.
  2. RaZorBurn123

    RaZorBurn123 waiting hardily...............

    Maybe service could mean men who shave?
     
  3. PickledNorthern

    PickledNorthern Fabulous, the unicorn

    That it's just an ad, and ads were just as full of B.S. in 1946 as they are in 2017?
     
    AGHisBBS, Nate.H01 and Enrico like this.
  4. Bama Samurai

    Bama Samurai with Laser-like Focus

    Wasn't it the Tech military contracts that forever gave Gillette the edge?
     
  5. Jayaruh

    Jayaruh The Cackalacky House Pet

    Supporting Vendor
    When I was in "the service" I used a Schick L1. I preferred it, but I did not demand it.
     
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  6. John Ruschmeyer

    John Ruschmeyer Well-Known Member

    If anything, ads may actually have been more full of B.S. back then. Still, I assume they probably had some basis for the claim.

    I love the use of the word "demand", though. Images of indignant GI's (or new draftees) facing off against tough Supply Sergeants over available razors.
     
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  7. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    "...in service." Can mean anything thay want it to mean.
    I think @John Ruschmeyer is on the mark implying the rules of "truth in advertising" back then are not what they are now.
     
  8. John Ruschmeyer

    John Ruschmeyer Well-Known Member

    I had a moment of clarity this morning and I think I've broken the code on this "7 out of 10" thing...

    I read another Eversharp Schick ad from Christmas 1946 which had the same slogan except that "demanded" was replaced with the word "requested". For some reason, that put a different spin on it. I think the ad copywriter wanted the reader to thing that Schick Injectors were demanded/requested by 70% of servicemen. I suspect, though, that the correct interpretation is something more like:

    "The razor requested by 7 out of 10 men in service who had a specific razor choice."

    This actually makes a lot more sense. I assume the 30% of the non-default choice was probably split among razors such as Gem, AutoStrop, Enders, and maybe even some Straight Razors.
     
  9. Queen of Blades

    Queen of Blades Mistress of Mischief Staff Member

    Moderator Supporting Vendor
    Or they only asked 10 men. 7 of whom they knew would say what they wanted.
     
    PLAla likes this.
  10. BritishSteele

    BritishSteele New Member

    Lmao! Somethings dont change!!

    Sent from my QTAQZ3 using Tapatalk
     

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