King C(amp) Gillette was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on January 5, 1855 and brought up in Chicago.
After working for several years as a traveling salesman for a hardware company Gillette decided he wanted to invent something disposable that would be in constant demand. After years of experimentation he developed a disposable steel blade and razor.
He established the American Safety Razor Company in 1901 and changed the company's name to Gillette Safety Razor Company in July 1902.
Production began in 1903, when Gillette sold a total of 51 razors and 168 blades. The second year, he sold 90,884 razors and 123,648 blades, thanks in part to Gillette's low prices, automated manufacturing techniques and good advertising.
In 1905 Gillette opened his first overseas office, head quartered in London, England to market products in Europe.
When the US entered World War I, the American government issued Gillette safety razors to the entire armed forces.
Gillette was president of the company until 1931 and was a director until his death on July 9, 1932 in Los Angeles, California.
Gillette made famous the tagline, "The Best A Man Can Get." The company launched the slogan at Super Bowl XXIII in January 1989, kicking off an $80 million campaign in nineteen North American and European nations. The slogan was translated into fourteen languages.
In 2005, Procter & Gamble bought Gillette for $57 billion.
Source Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia
After working for several years as a traveling salesman for a hardware company Gillette decided he wanted to invent something disposable that would be in constant demand. After years of experimentation he developed a disposable steel blade and razor.
He established the American Safety Razor Company in 1901 and changed the company's name to Gillette Safety Razor Company in July 1902.
Production began in 1903, when Gillette sold a total of 51 razors and 168 blades. The second year, he sold 90,884 razors and 123,648 blades, thanks in part to Gillette's low prices, automated manufacturing techniques and good advertising.
In 1905 Gillette opened his first overseas office, head quartered in London, England to market products in Europe.
When the US entered World War I, the American government issued Gillette safety razors to the entire armed forces.
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| The standard Gillette safety razor set featuring the case. Made between 1921 and 1928. Photo by Tommi Nummelin |
Gillette was president of the company until 1931 and was a director until his death on July 9, 1932 in Los Angeles, California.
Gillette made famous the tagline, "The Best A Man Can Get." The company launched the slogan at Super Bowl XXIII in January 1989, kicking off an $80 million campaign in nineteen North American and European nations. The slogan was translated into fourteen languages.
In 2005, Procter & Gamble bought Gillette for $57 billion.
Source Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia
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