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The real threat to Gillette isn't new business models, it's the Mach 3 coming out of patent in the next two years. Soon after that you'll see off-brand Mach 3
by YokoZar 10y ago
The real threat to Gillette isn't new business models, it's the Mach 3 coming out of patent in the next two years. Soon after that you'll see off-brand Mach 3 compatible blades flooding discount retail outlets, and the whole "razor and blades business model" starts to break down.
That's why Gillette has been trying to transition people onto newer shaving systems (with however many blades) for the past decade. But people keep buying Mach 3, because it's great.
- homero 10y agoWhat's patented?
- kornholi 10y agohttps://www.google.com/patents/US6212777 https://www.google.com/patents/US6212777 Expires somewhere around 2018 (17 years after issuance)
- nameless912 10y agoI'd guess the attachment mechanism.
- YokoZar 10y agoI believe the entire handle, head, and connector bits. Probably also parts of the manufacturing process. When I bought a Mach 3 handle about 10 years ago there were at least 12 patent numbers printed on it. There's a reason you haven't seen generic Mach 3 blades yet. The product came out in 1998, and blades from 1998 can still fit the system today -- no matter how many new patents Gillette chases, others will soon be able to reproduce exactly that.