My Family and the Razor Legacy 3: I Believe My Life Belongs to Both Merchant and Craftsman
My grandfather was a merchant, yet possessed the spirit of a craftsman, surviving the war years—THE quintessential Shōwa-era man!
My father, too, visited manufacturers from childhood, so I suppose he too was both merchant and craftsman.
Well, my father’s era was one of corporate expansion, so I think it felt like a shift from craftsman to merchant, or perhaps distribution?
Is that the right way to put it (??)
And I have the luxury of truly understanding craftsmen who actually make things, while also knowing the mindset of those who sell.
Nowadays, product appeal is crucial, but using celebrities for image-based marketing is common, I think. But back in the days before TV, it was all about the salesperson’s skill!
In those times, knowing the maker’s passion and the production process gave you something to talk about, boosting your sales ability.
When I visit various clients for negotiations, I focus less on the product itself and more on the craftsmen’s manufacturing process, offering them a virtual tour experience.
This is what sparks genuine interest.
Nowadays, there’s an abundance of products seeking differentiation, and an equal abundance of similar products.
That’s precisely why I minimise talk about the product itself and emphasise the story behind its creation.
And I want you to sell with that same mindset!
I want you to become a partner who shares this vision!
It’s about “Bond”!
There’s inevitably a certain dynamic between seller and buyer, but if we can level that playing field, sales really take off!
With many retailers these days, it’s common to hear: ‘If we buy but can’t sell it, can we return it?’
‘Is exchange possible?’
‘Payment only for what sells = consumption-based payment’ (hear this a lot lately).
This approach takes all the satisfaction out of my business…
It’s company policy, I suppose, so there’s little choice…
We never return unsold stock to the manufacturer!
We sell every last item.
My beloved razors and shaving brushes,
and handy nail kits.
Sometimes I wonder…
Wouldn’t it be great if a celebrity or influencer used them and mentioned it on social media?
If the company were bigger, we’d have advertising budget, right? Or something…
But I shake off such indulgent thoughts.
Making the most of what I can do right now is the spirit of a merchant!
I’ll keep promoting with that merchant and artisan spirit.
The Razor Club’s razors are traditional brass-based razors built to last.
The replacement blades are compatible with the cutting-edge Gillette 5-blade system, making it a hybrid razor bridging past and future.
And this razor is one I designed myself – a razor born from Japanese origins.
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Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
