Firstly Simpson's don't manufacture shaving brushes, they manage a luxury brand, they could double their turnover and quadruple their productivity if they applied more strategic brand management skills.
Secondly we enthusiasts on the forums are only a very small part of the market. Visit a 3Ts shop in London and very few of their customers know about Fido or Frank. And I have watched these customers buy mountains of swag. The overall men's grooming market is worth billions, we are a mere bagatelle.
Thirdly Fido is really small beer. A home business serving mainly enthusiasts. He could grow it to be much larger, but I don't see it.
Fourthly the brush manufacturers have been minting it with exceedingly high profits. Badger shaving brushes were a luxury item that only the elite could afford. The companies have kept the prices high whilst their costs, by sourcing in China, have collapsed. Fido and Frank demonstrate the reality of the situation when less greed is applied.
Fifth a Frank finest can be made and sold at a profit for $9.99. This tells you the real costs and values of badger brushes. I would like to know of a brush manufacturer that isn't sourcing in China.
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