He had spent his entire life tinkering with ideas, most of which the rest of the world would call him crazy for. I
t was not until King Gillette was in his 40s that he would patent and begin to sell his disposable safety razor.
It was an invention that made him a household name and revolutionized the shaving industry in the process.
Today, Global Gillette continues to rank as one of the most dominant brands in the industry.
The idea might have come to Gillette in an instant flash of inspiration, but how did he manage to turn it into a profitable company that has lasted for more than a century?
“As I stood there with the razor in my hand, my eyes resting on it as lightly as a bird settling down on its nest, the Gillette razor was born. In that moment I saw it all: the way the blade could be held in a holder; the idea of sharpening the two opposite edges on the thin piece of steel; the clamping plates, with a handle halfway between the two edges of the blade.
They made money for others, but seldom for myself, for I was unfortunately situated not having much time and little money with which to promote my inventions.
The greatest feature of the business is the almost endless chain of blade consumption, each razor paying tribute to the company as long as the user lives.
There is no other article for individual use so universally known or widely distributed. In my travels, I have found it in the most northern town in Norway and in the heart of the Sahara Desert.
The razor was looked upon as a joke by all my friends. A common greeting was, ‘Well, Gillette, how’s the razor?’ If I had been technically trained, I would have quit.“
