A Cut Above the Rest. The Gentleman of Razors.
Design excellence is the cornerstone of Bolin Webb. We aim to conceive and develop razors and accessories that stand out in terms of appearance, handling and performance. Design excellence takes time, team work and a strong commitment to find the perfect solution.
I started with a simple idea: to create a razor that would be a pleasure to use. At the time, twelve years ago, shaving tools were for the most part available on the high street in supermarkets and pharmacies. They focused on cheap construction and differing levels of blade performance. More traditional and expensive “gentlemen” razors with wood and chrome handles were also available in speciality shops.
No razor was available that was design-led, contemporary and appealing to the user for handling, appearance and performance. I saw the opportunity to create a razor handle that was distinctive and eye-catching – something you would like to see on your bathroom shelf as well as use – not something to hide after your shave,
The world of classic and super cars inspired my initial design ideas. This competitive world is without question one where design excellence flourishes, and where shape, colour and emotional appeal all play their part. I wanted to adopt this approach and apply it to my ambition to create a premium shaving brand with a difference.
To bring my idea to life, I had to find the right designer and technical partner to translate my simple drawings into a working concept which would then be taken through to prototyping and engineering. The next step was manufacturing, which is my background. I know about materials and how to make things, but still needed to find the right producers able to process and build our razors.
Our production partners are concentrated in Birmingham, the centre of automotive manufacturing competence and capability in Britain. Customers’ quality expectations are constantly rising, so we need to work closely with our suppliers to reach manufacturing excellence to match good design.
Gillette is our blade maker of choice. In my view, they make the best blade cartridges on the market. Their blades are also available across the world, which is naturally helpful to customers looking for replacement supplies. I am proud that Bolin Webb has joined the Genuine Gillette Preferred Partner Programme.
Perhaps the most daunting challenge for any new business is to find and secure its place in the market. We were fortunate with our launch in London to attract the attention of Harrods, arguably the most prestigious retailer in the world. Harrods have stocked Bolin Webb uninterrupted ever since, which is a strong testament to the appeal and durability of our razors and accessories. I am thankful for that.
Over the past decade we have extended the Bolin Webb brand to all continents, looking to make our products available to those with an eye for design in any country where we can. As a small British brand, we have managed to distribute our razors across the globe – from London to Singapore, and from San Francisco to Shanghai.
Our path into the future will depend on our ability to bring new ideas to our product range. This is a return to our core competence of design excellence. Our 2023 iF product Design Award and the British GQ 2023 Grooming Award for Best Shaving Product are a strong message that we are making a difference to shaving.
