Why Men's Grooming/Shaving Startups Are Beating Established Brands

Leaf Shave is a start-up grooming brand that touts an eco positioning, in addition to value and quality.
Leaf Shave is a start-up grooming brand that touts an eco positioning, in addition to value and quality.

There's a reason Unilever acquired Dollar Shave Club and Harry's brand has appeared at Target stores: traditional men/'s grooming/shaving brands aren't speaking millennials' language.

In an new analysis from Mintel, David Tyrrell has found that brands with a strong e-commerce component, entertaining and engaging marketing, and a sustainable proposition are most likely to appeal to younger consumers.

For example, shaving start-up Leaf has highlighted the low cost of its blades, high level of design and, notably, the lack of disposable plastic cartridges, which improves the brand's sustainability profile.

Mintel research found:

  • 70% of millennials want funny ads, while 45% want marketing that feels more like entertainment
  • 63% of US millennials believe environmental responsibility is a duty 
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