Fuck Everything, We're Doing Five Blades

GoingDHfast

Likes Dirt
The Onion predicted last year that Gillette would release a 5 blade razor - now they have, and the following article seems even funnier... :D

Fuck Everything, We're Doing Five Blades

By James M. Kilts
CEO and President,
The Gillette Company
February 18, 2004 | Issue 40•07

Would someone tell me how this happened? We were the fucking vanguard of shaving in this country. The Gillette Mach3 was the razor to own. Then the other guy came out with a three-blade razor. Were we scared? Hell, no. Because we hit back with a little thing called the Mach3Turbo. That's three blades and an aloe strip. For moisture. But you know what happened next? Shut up, I'm telling you what happened—the bastards went to four blades. Now we're standing around with our cocks in our hands, selling three blades and a strip. Moisture or no, suddenly we're the chumps. Well, fuck it. We're going to five blades.

Sure, we could go to four blades next, like the competition. That seems like the logical thing to do. After all, three worked out pretty well, and four is the next number after three. So let's play it safe. Let's make a thicker aloe strip and call it the Mach3SuperTurbo. Why innovate when we can follow? Oh, I know why: Because we're a business, that's why!

You think it's crazy? It is crazy. But I don't give a shit. From now on, we're the ones who have the edge in the multi-blade game. Are they the best a man can get? Fuck, no. Gillette is the best a man can get.

What part of this don't you understand? If two blades is good, and three blades is better, obviously five blades would make us the best fucking razor that ever existed. Comprende? We didn't claw our way to the top of the razor game by clinging to the two-blade industry standard. We got here by taking chances. Well, five blades is the biggest chance of all.

Here's the report from Engineering. Someone put it in the bathroom: I want to wipe my ass with it. They don't tell me what to invent—I tell them. And I'm telling them to stick two more blades in there. I don't care how. Make the blades so thin they're invisible. Put some on the handle. I don't care if they have to cram the fifth blade in perpendicular to the other four, just do it!

You're taking the "safety" part of "safety razor" too literally, grandma. Cut the strings and soar. Let's hit it. Let's roll. This is our chance to make razor history. Let's dream big. All you have to do is say that five blades can happen, and it will happen. If you aren't on board, then fuck you. And if you're on the board, then fuck you and your father. Hey, if I'm the only one who'll take risks, I'm sure as hell happy to hog all the glory when the five-blade razor becomes the shaving tool for the U.S. of "this is how we shave now" A.

People said we couldn't go to three. It'll cost a fortune to manufacture, they said. Well, we did it. Now some egghead in a lab is screaming "Five's crazy?" Well, perhaps he'd be more comfortable in the labs at Norelco, working on fucking electrics. Rotary blades, my white ass!

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe we should just ride in Bic's wake and make pens. Ha! Not on your fucking life! The day I shadow a penny-ante outfit like Bic is the day I leave the razor game for good, and that won't happen until the day I die!

The market? Listen, we make the market. All we have to do is put her out there with a little jingle. It's as easy as, "Hey, shaving with anything less than five blades is like scraping your beard off with a dull hatchet." Or "You'll be so smooth, I could snort lines off of your chin." Try "Your neck is going to be so friggin' soft, someone's gonna walk up and tie a goddamn Cub Scout kerchief under it."

I know what you're thinking now: What'll people say? Mew mew mew. Oh, no, what will people say?! Grow the fuck up. When you're on top, people talk. That's the price you pay for being on top. Which Gillette is, always has been, and forever shall be, Amen, five blades, sweet Jesus in heaven.

Stop. I just had a stroke of genius. Are you ready? Open your mouth, baby birds, cause Mama's about to drop you one sweet, fat nightcrawler. Here she comes: Put another aloe strip on that fucker, too. That's right. Five blades, two strips, and make the second one lather. You heard me—the second strip lathers. It's a whole new way to think about shaving. Don't question it. Don't say a word. Just key the music, and call the chorus girls, because we're on the edge—the razor's edge—and I feel like dancing.
 

Rik

logged out
Shick own Energizer... so... let's see their answer to this ;)

5 blades, 4 blades, pfftt... it doesn't make shaving any less of an annoyance than it is. Huzzah for working hidden away in a factory, where appearance is irrelevant.
 

Simo

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I say the product testing is done on shmity...carry out a whole body shave. If the razors are still in good nick then it's a decent product.

*runs*
 

Caine

Likes Dirt
wow. that man likes his razors.....and his strips...... what was he? drunk when he wrote this??
 

GoingDHfast

Likes Dirt
Caine said:
wow. that man likes his razors.....and his strips...... what was he? drunk when he wrote this??
You're the first person to notice, I'm surprised.

He's a bit of an eccentric CEO isn't he? I have heard rumours about his alcohol problems, but nothing confirmed...
 

wtr

Likes Dirt
GoingDHfast said:
He's a bit of an eccentric CEO isn't he? I have heard rumours about his alcohol problems, but nothing confirmed...
Does he look anything like this??
 

R33F

Likes Bikes and Dirt
GoingDHfast said:
Put another aloe strip on that fucker, too.
Great article !! Gave me a top laugh. The comment above is brilliant.

Am expecting to see the extra aloe strip around my fingers somewhere though.
 

floody

Wheel size expert
So this is for real? I actually really like the idea of an extra trimming blade on the back, because as smooth as these multiple blade things are, their depth is generally such that you can't get those little ones up under your nose and shaving in the reliefs inside my goatee can be difficult...
Oh dear...
 

johnny

I'll tells ya!
Staff member
Phillips electric all the way baby :cool:

Gillette could have eleventy billion blades for all I care! :p
 

bazza

look at me
because it ONLY cost 1.4 billion dollars and 6 years to develop the mach3. the luanch stage costs a smooth 600million and by the time it was relased upfront costs were 2billion AUS$ alone before any dollar of revenue was made. mind you this was made back in profits in under a year of the product being released. hahahhaah. not bad ey. bit of info from my marketing text book right there. its not bad when you pretty much dominant the market and are sold in pretty much ever country of the world for a product that is used almost weekly...if not more by a large majority the worlds male population.
 

Pete J

loves his dog
Commander Dilsnikk said:
...and the 16th balde..it's just along for the ride.
Champagne comedy.
Hehe, go The Late Show!!! That was a brilliant skit! Just like you said....
 

Dozer

Heavy machinery.
Staff member
a-liner said:
.......Cut-Throat.....now that feels good..........
too true. That 5 blade job would cut your head clean off i reckon. Maybe this razor isn't aimed at shaving your face but shaving your nut bag. Pubes grow different down there, i guess you might need a five blade to cut through the extra growth.....
 
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