Will King, King of Shaves

KOS PRO. Be The First To Say We Can

2007-08-08T05:26:00.000-07:00

Most companies launch a high end range, then go mass. Not King of Shaves. Ever since our first shaving oil was sold in Harrods in 1993, we've done things differently, and alongside our Brand Ambassador and Captain of England & Chelsea, John Terry, we're now 'Going Pro'!

King of Shaves Professional - or KOS.PRO as it is known, launches at Salon International, ExCeL, London Docklands in October 2007. This will be the very FIRST British men's wash, shave, skin & styling range to launch for men in the Salon & Professional space in the UK.

We have spent well over a year working on the products, and the retail/selling partnerships - with Oliver Fincher and his team at Aston & Fincher, with Mick of Mix, with Mus of The Cutting Rooms, with Paul Mole barbershop & salon in Upper East Side, NYC and with product & formulation experts world-wide.

KOS.PRO seeks to provide salon owners with a duality of purpose. The KOS.EXP - the King of Shaves Experience - more of which in due course, and a range of products that consumers actually WANT to buy, not have forced on them. A range priced to sell, with product efficacy that is second generation and truly performs. It's all abou the product - this has been a King of Shaves Mantra for over 14 years now, since I first launched the Original Shaving Oil back in 1992.

Aligning John Terry, the consummate Football Players Player with the range is a natural fit for salons who cut and style men's hair - after all, many men who play non-league soccer on Sundays will aspire to 'Be John Terry - Be A King' - and all of them as well as playing soccer to the best of their ability, surely want to shave and style in the same way, Professionally.

To further reinforce our team, we are also bringing on board our World Championship leading Powerboat P1 Offshore Racing Team, helmed by James Sheppard, four times Honda World Champion, and his Fountain/Ilmor Team. We've already got a blog entry at Hairdressers Journal Interactive (www.hji.co.uk) where one Salon owner and partner will get the chance for a sneak preview of the KOS.PRO range, whilst being royally entertained aboard our 50' flybridge cruiser and 75 knot chase RIB.

So, look out for our stand at Salon International - extensively featuring John Terry and impactful hexagonal branding, you won't be able to miss it! Keep up to date with developments during the run up by checking out the KOS.PRO blog, accessible via http://www.kospro.co.uk

KOS.PRO by King of Shaves. Go on. Be a King.

Go on. Back a future King!

2007-08-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

Once in a while you read about something you've done, which is recognised as being really worthwhile. Back in 2003, my dad and I were chatting about King of Shaves sponsoring financially challenged young sports boys and girls of the future, and thought it would be a 'Good Thing' to do.

Coincidentally, I received a letter from a young British fencer called Paul Dazelely, asking if King of Shaves would sponsor him.

Thus the King of Shaves Young Blades bursary & sports partnership was born. Launched in 2003 by Colin Jackson, King of Shaves now sponsors up to 12 young athletes, all aiming to compete in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. The scheme is now headed up by King of Shaves brand ambassador, Chelsea & England captain, John Terry and Shelley Rudman, Olympic silver medallist in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

And the reason I write this blog now? Well, in this week's Marketing magazine there's a four page article by Ed Kemp, examining the benefits of sponsors of signing them up before they hit the big time. Wade Bennett-Jackson (20) was 16 when King of Shaves signed him, and his other sponsors are McDonalds (Multi-Billion brand), Virgin (Multi-Billion brand) and Nike (obviously).

Will King of Shaves be a multi-billion pound brand? Well, like Wade winning the 2012 100m and 200m sprints in the London 2012 Olympics, I think so.

Go on. Back a (young) King!

Gillette Fusion. Or should it be CONfusion?

2007-07-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

I came across this blog by Gord Irish, long time fan of Gillette. Maybe for not much longer. Read on...

Like possibly many fathers I received a shiny new Gillette Fusion shaver for Father’s Day. So far, I am throughly disappointed with it.
Let me begin by saying that am big Gillette fan, all the way back to Trac II days, when I first started shaving. I’ve tried every completing brand over the years and come back to Gillette. I still use a 2 blade Sensor shaver today.

I’ve always used a 2 blade shaver, largely because in my living memory, Gillette stopped selling 1 blade shavers. I’ve also always had a suspicion that the second blade really served no purpose other than clever marketing. The five blade Fusion confirms my suspicion, after a week of testing them back to back, I find it shaves the same as the 2 blade shaver. So the first blade does the work and the rest are along for the ride. largely to increase the price. In fact, I don’t find much difference using the 1 blade trimmer side of the Fusion but it is harder to tell because it is awkward to use that way. What I can tell for sure is that the Fusion is more like shaving with a spoon than a knife, the 5 blade head is so wide and awkward. And I don’t care what Gillette says, 5 blades makes for more drag and irritation than 2 blades.

I will happily keep using my 2 blade Sensor shavers, at least as long as Gillette keeps making them. I would be even happier if there was a 1 blade version but I am not aware that one exists. I doubt I’ll ever see one either, after going down the 5 blade road, I can imagine that Gillette marketing can’t turn around and step back to 1 blade.

David Beckham, Beards, LA Galaxy and the King of Defenders

2007-07-13T10:38:00.001-07:00

You have to admit that 'brand Beckham' is a phenomenon. BBC 24 gave nearly half an hour to his press conference at LA Galaxy, announcing his signing and intent to relish the new challenge. I actually quite like DB, like JT, he gets on with it, and its clear that he enjoys what he does.

Their match, a week on Saturday will be against Chelsea, captained by King of Shaves brand Ambassador, John Terry. Quite ironic really - the previous England captain (once brand ambassador for Gillette, now sporting a beard as they failed to agree to his profit share deal) playing against clean shaven John Terry, current England captain - our very own defender of the face.

So, game on! Good luck David, but JT - Go on - be a King (and WIN!)

King of Ads?

2007-05-03T02:02:00.000-07:00

BBC'S debut sports news programme Inside Sport gave a huge plug on air to men's grooming product King of Shaves for giving them access to John Terry for their main interview — despite strict rules over advertising on the Beeb and King of Shaves not making any kind of request.

No wonder the company are planning to extend their Terry endorsement when it brings in that kind of free advertising. The Terry revelations to interviewer Gabby Logan gave Inside Sport immediate impact, but the programme format does not lend itself to breaking stories and the slot given to BBC sports newshound Mihir Bose ('I can reveal a secret board meeting took place') just didn't work.

John Terry, Chelsea Manager 2016???

2007-04-30T15:29:00.000-07:00

Delighted to see John Terry give such a good interview to Gabby Logan on this evening's 'Inside Sport' on BBC1.

The piece was filmed at the launch of our 2007-8 Young Blades Bursary scheme, and as well as being a great role model for our team of 12 young sporting hopefuls, JT put to rest issues of racialism and the fact that he felt he was wrongly sent off by referee Graham Poll.

John also made the point that he would like to be a future manager of Chelsea FC - well - I've always been a big believer in planning ahead, and working out what you want to be doing in 5 years time - John's doubled this. And who's to say he wouldn't make a great manager.

Good luck tomorrow John, the Quadruple is still there to be won.

Go on. Be a King!

Green And Black And Read All Over...

2007-04-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

"Now It's War On Packaging"

You know Green is making money when a National Newspaper runs a lead 'Nose' "Now It's War On Packaging" on its front page, and a double page spread inside.

So, the Daily Mail has a new target. Not war on terrorism, or world famine mind, but over-packaged consumer goods, where the secondary packaging is clogging up a wheelie bin near you. Clearly packaging is often essential where goods are concerned, especially foodstuffs and where products may be tampered with. However, there is 'packaging' and there is 'PACKAGING". I'm pleased that where King of Shaves is concerned, we use the very minimal in functional, protective packaging, the vast majority of which is recyclable, unlike our shaving brand cousins, who largely use metal cans which put the fill into landfill a lot quicker than our small bottles of shaving oil, or tubes of AlphaGel. Indeed, where our shaving oil is concerned, we often hear that the container is reused.

Andy Hill, our Managing Director has led this 'Reduce to the MAX' packaging approach, and as well as King of Shaves being kinder to the environment (as well as kinder to your face), sales of our more recyclable products are growing - and it is the consumer driving this. With tens of millions of concentrated shaving oil bottles and AlphaGels sold since 1993, our products take up less space AND last longer. A good place to start, and we are continuing in this vein - watch this space!

Be sure to follow this headline - supermarkets will start rejecting unnecessary consumer packaging (because it is in their commerical interests to do so, otherwise consumers will vote with their feet and shop at the local Greener Grocer). Green truly is the new Black, but we're doing our bit to 'Shave The World'.

PS - Gillette's new Fusion razor was named as an arch culprit - surrounded with £2 worth of unnecessary packaging to try and get you to buy The Best A Man Can Get - maybe not the best the Environment gets though...you can bet your bottom dollar our King of Blades razor will be packaged with the environment in mind - sensitively (as sensitively as the shave it will deliver!)

John Terry Gets King of Shaves Knockout Coverage!

2007-04-17T01:54:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastic attendance at yesterday's Press Conference for our 2007/8 'Young Blades' sporting bursary scheme, attended by John Terry & Shelley Rudman and held at Fit Rooms in Fulham, London yesterday.

Many thanks to all the journalists from the papers and TV who attended, and for the FANTASTIC coverage in today's Mirror, Sun, Mail and Metro papers, as well as on Sky Sports TV and the Chelsea FC website.

Many thanks to our Young Blades and their parents who attended too.

Go on, Be Kings!

From Small Acorns...

2007-03-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

28.03.94 Once a week, Andy, Herbie and I made sure at 3pm every Thursday we had our ears 'cocked' to hear the 'click' of the fax machine, a sound that would hopefully herald a weekly Boots order of King of Shaves shaving oil... 750 units a week were never going to set the world alight, but...we continued working (and dreaming of "What If"

28.03.07: Latest stats are in, and in the past twelve months or so, King of Shaves along sold a staggering three million products world-wide (or one every 10.5 seconds). And that's just King of Shaves!!!!

Add to that 750,000+ Fish products, King of Deos, HED and literally millions of Ted Baker Bodywear & Fine Fragrance products, we're now selling at least 1 product every 3 seconds of every single day, 365 (and a quarter) days a year. With over 33 million having played our viral games in the past year, 275,000+ visitors a month to shave.com and a lot more coming in terms of products for young guys, young girls and much more, make sure you keep up to date with all that's going on at KMI, the King of Shaves Company.

Enthuse, Exceed - ENJOY!

Over Eighty One Thousand Want To Be John Terry!

2007-03-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

Well over 81,000 people tried to 'Be John Terry', Captain of Chelsea & England in our King of Shaves online game www.KingofDefenders.com today - that's the number of people who would fit in the new Wembley Stadium - a PHENOMENAL number.

We're guessing this was due to interest in the FA Cup rematch between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, which Chelsea won 2-1. Chelsea are still on for the 'Quad' - to win The Premiership, The UEFA Cup Winners Cup, the FA Cup & The Carling Cup. Come on JT - you CAN be a King and WIN!

The three viral games developed for King of Shaves in 2006 have now had nearly 33,000,000 (Thirty Three Million) players... That's half the population of the UK!!!

Dude, Pimp My Shave!

2007-02-28T06:31:00.000-08:00

Yo, Loyal Subjex! King of Shaves' long anticipated http://www.PimpMyShave.com site is now a LIVE a LIVE oh!

Dude. You pimp out your cars, your homes, and your threads, but have you pimped your shave? If your lower half is lookin’ fresh but your mug is a sad scraggly mess, it’s just no good. King of Shaves cordially invites you to better yourself one shave at a time.

Whether that involves leaving a flawless five o’clock shadow or expertly trimming that Yosemite Sam-perfect handle bar moustache, we know you have it in you! If you look in the mirror after a fresh shave and think to yourself, “I should be getting paid to look this good!” just remember that you can and you should! Whip out the digital or camera phone, snap a shot, and follow the so simple instructinos to upload your images.

And let the King be the judge whilst soliciting the jeers of haters nationwide. Please note that King of Shaves urges those haters to stop hating, and start cooperating by also submitting their photos. Or if you have a “friend” that looks whack and needs to learn how to use a razor (and a mirror) send his pic in and expose him for all his stubbly undiscovered potential.

Site-goers send his pic in and then vote and with their help we’ll select the flyest shot and the saddest shot every other week. PRIZES INCLUDE: Online shopping vouchers issued weekly to one plus one grand prize of a trip to New York City that includes tickets to a NY Knicks game.

Visit http://www.PimpMyShave.com now. Costumes courtesy of http://www.PimpCostumes.com.

Gillette Fusion Power Phantom. Impressed? I Sense Not.

2007-02-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

The British have a particular self deprecating sense of humour. Some Americans have it too, and I'm pleased Cory Greenberg, author of www.ShaveBlog.com does too. He got an exclusive invite to the launch of the wizzy new Gillette Fusion Power Phantom Razor. It's basically the Fusion Power, launched a year ago, but with a Snazzy Black Handle. Wow. Well done Gillette. Marketing gets $250,000 to schmooze New York's movers and shakers (with C & D list celebrities) and impress them with an overpriced vibrating razor with a plastic black handle. Go Phantom....

A bit about Alex, a bit about King of Shaves.

2006-12-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

It must be a bit hard for young alex. Having created such a successful money making idea first time around, giving it a twist the second doesn't appear to be working. I'm happy to have supported the initiative with ads from King of Shaves, Jodo and Twomo, but it seems that visitors are drying up, and advertisers are removing ads. I hope he has something up his sleeve, or he might be remembered as the kid who tried his luck twice.

Onto King of Shaves business, well we have had a storming end to the year with sales up in all accounts, and with new software platforms launching early 2007 (UltraGel ULX anyone...?) I am confident the brand will show great growth potential nationally and internationally throughout 2007.

We have also made some changes to our US and UK management teams, I will be heading up the US once again with Phil Williams leaving us to set up his own lifestyle marketing business, and we are also joined by new blood in the UK to complement Andy Hill.

All of the staff have worked really well this year - we've significantly kicked revenues north, and as well as King of Shaves, have some exciting stuff planned for 2007.

So, Happy Christmas to you - One and All and the Smoothest of Super Smooth New Years. Important: Enjoy!

Will Alex Tew It Again With Pixelotto?

2006-12-03T05:43:00.000-08:00

It's Web Tew.Zero!!!

Background: It was in September 2005 that I first heard about the www.MillionDollarHomePage.com phenomenon that was British student Alex Tew's idea - sell a million pixels for a $1 apiece.

Normally quick to embrace ideas like this, I didn't advertise www.KingofShaves.com on it - big mistake.Anyhow, long story short, turned out that Alex Tew used King of Shaves, we got to know each other, I did him a favour and put him in touch with my PR adviser and he was good enough to do a talk with me Tew 400 youngsters about Entrepreneurship and stuff.

So I was delighted to hear from him last week, with a 'heads up' about his Web Tew.Zero (!!!) - new www.Pixelotto.com site - a neat (if I do say so myself) twist on the original sell pixels, make money website.

I've registered King of Shaves this time, as it's the run up to Christmas (and we're doing 3 for 2 on our products), plus I've put up the URL's for two brand new websites of my own being developed by my Flop Flip LLP www.jodo.biz and www.twomo.com.

Do Tew think it will work? Tew bet it will! Media interest is already spiking, it's free to play and advertisers need eyeballs. There are already some hardcore web companies there, ready to tew roll (sorry can't resist the puns) on Tuesday 5th December.Will Tew become a Millionaire? Well, visit www.Pixelotto.com - click an ad, and be in with a chance!

Tew'd better believe it. First and fast to market wins the race.

The Marketing Society Dinner

2006-11-21T16:36:00.000-08:00

John Ayling, of John Ayling Associates - one of the UK's last independently owned media buying companies invited me to The Marketing Society's annual dinner this evening. Now, I'm not a big fan of marketeers on the whole, all self justification and explaining about the (largely snobby) difference between 'marketing' and (prol) 'selling' and all that. But nonetheless, I like John as he's more than a bit maverick so I went along for the ride.

I won't say it was the highlight of my year as I was pretty wiped out from a busy schedule last week and a day's travelling, but nonetheless I did enjoy a good time - Peter McGill on the one side, and John on the other probed into 'new media' (internet - be there now as Oasis would say) and what I'm up to shaving wise (if I tell you I'd have to kill you) and the marketing director of the RMB (Ready Mixed Beverage) brand WKD was there which was good, but the highlight was laughing at William Hague's parliamentary anecdotes as after dinner speaker.

Funny guy William - short + a very 'loud' voice so you knew he was there, and a good wit too - a raconteur certainly, but so obviously at home in an environment which warmed to him and his laugh-a-minute recollections of our government and its day to day inhabitants. It was hard not to laugh - I certainly did - but I did wonder in between 'Edwina Currie this' and 'Ken Livingstone that' why, when he was Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition he didn't engage with the Great British Public in such an easy, friendly and communicable way - one that he was eminently able to do with 1,200 of the UK's creme de la creme of marketers.

But there was certainly a jarring and obvious frustration with Teflon Tone and his unerring ability to appear whiter than white (maybe he's Persil's new signing - out of the way Gerrard) and the C party's inability to dislodge him, indeed an absolute resignation that they are waiting until the batting gets easier with the next mooted incumbent to see if they can dislodge him.

So politics, it seems, as in the USA is built entirely around the personality, not the party - Brand Thatcher worked well 79 to 92 and then fell away, Brand Blair has worked well 97-2007 and now Brand Cameron is in the ascendant and I'm sure Saatchi will ensure it 'Works Well' although you wouldn't believe he was a fan of Dave reading today's red tops.

As for William - well - close but no cigar. Apparently 27% of marketers polled thought he would have made a great PM that never was. Mmmm, even though I was at reject maths at school that leaves more than 70% thinking Blair does it Better. Stick to the after dinner speaking circuit and the John Prescott jokes then.

Grooming the next Generation

2006-11-20T12:56:00.000-08:00

16.11.06: It's been National Enterprise Week this week, and I was delighted to talk to about 120 students from two Lowestoft schools - Kirkely High (my old high school) and Denes High about business, enterprise and the qualities (i think) that are needed to succeed in today's knowledge & enterprise environment. I was delighted with the questions asked, and the attention paid to my presentations - and hope that a little of what i talked about in terms of S P A C E and RISK, found a home! Thanks to Simon Tarr from Kirkley High, Julie Mayo from Denes and the organising teachers and children from both schools.

The talk was kindly covered by The Eastern Daily Press, many thanks to Chris Starkie, Business Editor for arranging this coverage at short notice, and to the journalist and photographer who attended.

The King's Blog

2006-11-17T06:02:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Will King, founder of shaving brand, King of Shaves. I've been posting comments at our website at www.shave.com/site/docs/news.epl since 2001, and thought it was about time to get them into a space that people might read more frequently.

Visit back soon, and we'll have some new posts for you on my mission to 'Shave the World'!