Gillette Case

1. What changes are occurring in the non-disposable razor category? Assess Paramount’s competitive position. What are the strategic life-cycle challenges for Paramount’s current products as well as Clean Edge?

A group of executives from Paramount Health and Beauty Company (Paramount) sat in a research room intently observing a dozen men shaving on the other side of a two-way mirror. The subjects were testing out Paramount’s newest nondisposable razor, Clean Edge, and discussing the experience. The verdict was extremely encouraging. The majority of men felt it was the closest, cleanest, and smoothest shave they had encountered. All executives at Paramount agreed Clean Edge should be priced in the super-premium segment of the market. However, some executives believed Clean Edge should be launched as a mainstream entry

King Camp Gillette was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1855. At the early age of 16 he became a traveling salesman where he met William Painter, the inventor of the disposable Crown Cork bottle cap. This friendship ignited Gillette’s passion for invention and entrepreneurship. In 1895 he had an idea of a disposable razor blade. The problem was how to make the blades thin enough and at a price low enough to be profitable. Then in 1901 Gillette met an MIT graduate by the name of William Nickerson and the idea and dream became a reality. The Gillette Safety Razor Company began making safety razors and blades.

The introduction of the Sensor Shaving System, one of the biggest product launches ever, forced Gillette to reevaluate its strategy in its shaving and non-shaving business. It had to decide whether to go ahead with the launch and if so, at what scale.

In “Lectures 4-9” we talked about the importance of collecting customer needs and defining the scope of the project before starting the design phase.

Synopsis: Gillette has long been known for innovation in both product development and marketing strategy. In the highly competitive, but mature, razor and blade market, Gillette holds a commanding worldwide market share. The peak of its innovation occurred in 2006 with the introduction of the Fusion 5-bladed razor. Today, innovation in razors and blades is thwarted by a lack of new technology and increasing consumer reluctance to pay for the “latest and greatest” in shaving technology. Gillette must decide how to put the razor wars behind them and maintain or increase its share of the global razor market.

* Customers: Male consumer products have been trending upward in the last decade. The customer segments are broken up into three areas; social/emotional, involved razor users, and uninvolved or maintenance users. Social/emotional are responsible for 39% of Nondisposable razors, Involved is for 28%, and maintenance users account for 33%. In 2009 consumers razors and replacement cartridges at a higher rate than ever before.

Gillette is an American company founded by King Camp Gillette. It was founded on 1901 and until 1962 it did not have any serious competition. This can be explained by its constant concern for innovation, which follows the belief of its founder, “a successful invention is the one that is purchased over and over again by a satisfied customer”. (Original idea of William Painter)

Paramount Health and Beauty Company is in the process of launching a new technologically advanced nondisposable razor “Clean Edge”. With its improved design, Clean Edge provides superior performance by utilizing a vibrating technology to stimulate hair follicles and lift the hair from the skin, allowing for a more thorough shave. The company has decided to introduce it in the men’s market where it has a strong presence. The company is now focussing on positioning and naming of this new product. It also needs to decide on the promotional activities to be performed adhering to the budget constraints and also must decide on the distribution channels through which it can reach to the masses.

The Indonesian economy has constantly grown within the last 20 years. However, the shaving market is still underdeveloped compared with Western markets. Hence, Gillette should provide more information to spread widely concept of shaving. Moreover, it should introduce new products to facilitate the introduction of shaving products to non-shavers and increase the frequency of shaving in current shavers.

Could you identify any product systems in this product mix? Is the toothpaste considered a shopping, specialty or convenience product? At what conditions, could this product considered a business product? With respect to Scope, do you consider it a "star" or "cash cow"? Why? With respect to the product life cycle of scope, what is the current status of the product? What is your marketing advice at this particular product life cycle stage?

Product quality and efficient marketing are the core value propositions that set the pace for Gillette’s success. With continued innovation in both product development and marketing strategies Gillette has been able to retain a commanding

Gillette has successfully convinced the world that “more is better” in terms of number of blades and other razor features. Why has that worked in the past? What next?

Because of their similarities, Proctor & Gamble and Gillette are a good strategic fit. Between the two entities they have the ability to combine operations, technology, resources, distribution channels and research costs in efforts to drastically cut spending. With lower costs, and the merger complete, the collaboration of Proctor & Gamble and Gillette should achieve a 1+1=3 effect.

Gillette is successful because the focus on the one thing they know and that is men. They understand what men need for their grooming needs, and their products are sold all over the world (P Kotler, 2017). Gillette’s popularity has worked because of several factors, including high-quality innovation, consumer research, and mass communications. With their research, and the fact they have kept improving their product, Gillette has made many breakthrough product innovations, which should allow their success to keep increasing. In 1971, there was the Trac II, the first twin-blade shaving system, then the Atra in 1977 there was a razor with a pivoting head, and then in 1989 they developed the Sensor the first razor with spring-mounted twin blades dubbed (P Kotler, 2017). In 1998, Gillette introduced the Mach3 it was the first triple-blade system, surpassed only by the 2006 launch of the six-blade Fusion, promoted as “the best shave on the planet.” (P Kotler, 2017) It is possible that Gillette can become as successful with Women as Men due to the fact Procter & Gamble acquired Gillette in 2005 and Procter & Gamble are experts at marketing to women, due to the fact most of their lines such as dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, and hygiene products are aim for their woman clients.