The Gillette brand logo

The Gillette Company (NYSE: G) was founded by King C. Gillette in 1901 as a safety razor manufacturer. It is based in Boston, Massachusetts. It has grown to become a leading global supplier of products under a variety of brands. In addition to Gillette, the company markets under Braun, Duracell and Oral-B, among others. Its biggest individual shareholder is Berkshire Hathaway, with 10% (as of January 2005). It is to acquired by Procter & Gamble, which creates the world's largest personal care and household products company. The company is currently shedding overlapping product lines to meet the conditions of the approval by the European Union and the Federal Trade Commission. This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... New York Stock Exchange (June 2003) The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest stock exchange in the world, although its trading volume was exceeded by that of NASDAQ (historic comparison graph {pdf}) during the 1990s. ... King Camp Gillette (January 5, 1855–July 9, 1932) developed and patented the safety razor. ... 1901 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... A razor is an edge tool (primarily, used in shaving). ... Manufacturing is the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale, or intermediate processes involving the production or finishing of semi-manufactures. ... City nickname: Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe), Athens of America Location Location in Massachusetts Government Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas Menino (Dem) Physical characteristics Area      Land      Water 89. ... This article is about the concept in marketing. ... Braun (German pronunciation BROWN) is a German electric appliance company known for its design style. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Berkshire Hathaway NYSE: BRKa is a company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, that oversees and manages a number of subsidiary companies. ... Ongoing events • Iraqi legislative election • Bill C-38 (Same_sex marriage in Canada) • Tsunami relief Deaths in February • 4 – Ossie Davis • 3 – Ernst Mayr • 3 – Zurab Zhvania • 2 – Max Schmeling Recent deaths Ongoing armed conflicts • Arab-Israeli conflict • Conflict in Chechnya • Second Congo War • Conflict in Iraq (Occupation of Iraq) • Darfur... Procter & Gamble headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. ... FTC headquarters, Washington, DC The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an Independent Agency of the United States Government, established in 1914. ...

Gillette as a brand is still best known for its razor blades, in large part due to its status as a pioneer of shaving technology.

Gillette Firsts:

• Safety razor (Gillete Safety Razor 1901)
• Razor designed specifically for women (Milady Décolletée, 1916)
• Razor dispenser (1946)
• Stainless Steel blades (Super Stainless, 1963)
• Double-blade razor (Trac II, 1971)
• Disposable double-blade razor (Good News!, 1971)
• Razor with a pivot point (Atra, 1977)
• Razor with a lubricating strip (Atra Plus, 1985)
• Razor with spring-loaded blades (Sensor, 1990)
• Razor with microfins (Sensor Excel, 1995)
• Razor with 3 blades (Mach 3, 1998)
• Razor with battery power (M3Power, 2004)
• Razor with 5 blades (Fusion, 2006)
• Razor with a pre-blade lubrication strip (Fusion, 2006)
• Razor with rear trim blade (Fusion, 2006)

The following are razors currently in Gillette's product line: The Gillette Trac II razor was intorduced in 1971 as the first twin blade razor. ...

Trac II Plus: The Trac II was the world's first 2 blade razor, debuting in 1971 to rave reviews. The second blade allows men to shave their faces in a little more than half the strokes of previous razors, which cut both shaving time and facial irritation. The Trac II Plus was introduced following the introduction of the Atra Plus, and is the same as the original Trac II, with the singular exception of a lubrigating strip at the top of the blade, reducing the need for aftershave. Trac II Plus blades work on the original Trac II razor. The razors themselves can be difficult to find, but are still sold. Trac II Plus blades are far less scarce.

Atra: The Atra was the first razor to feature a pivoting head, which enables the blades "stay on your beard longer for extra closeness". It also makes it easier for men to shave their necks. These razors gained an infamous reputation as the first to be constantly stolen by wives and girlfriends, who found that the pivoting head made knees, ankles, and the backs of legs far easier to shave than before. Blades are sold nationwide.

Atra Plus: The Atra Plus was the first razor to add a lubricating strip, the Lubra-Soft strip. This strip helps soften whiskers, making them easier to cut, and also works as a sort of a low-tech aftershave. Blades are sold nationwide, and razors are available at some stores.

Sensor: The Gillette Sensor was the first razor to have spring-loaded blades. Rather than cutting the skin, these blades recede into the cartrage head should they hit flesh. This in turn allowed Gillette to move their blades far closer to the surface of the cartrage, which makes for a closer shave than ever before. Sensor razors and cartrages are availible everywhere shaving supplies are sold.

Sensor for Women: Identical to a Sensor in terms or technology, this razor has a much wider head which reduces control but also greatly reduces the chance of cutting oneself, which is a much greater problem for women - who often cannot see what they are doing and often are shaving extremely delicate areas - then men. Availible anywhere.

Sensor Excel: The Gillette Sensor Excel was the first razor to include MicroFins on the cartrage head. MicroFins are essentially a piece or rubber with slits at the top, which in theory stand up hair so that the blades can get a closer cut. They also reduce irritation when shaving against the grain. The grip on the handle isalso superior to the grip on the Gillette Sensor. The Excel did not capture the imagination of America's men as its previous razors did. Cartrages and razors are availible nationwide.

Sensor Excel for Women: The Sensor for women, but with MicroFins. These can be found at any shaving supply outlet.

Mach 3: The first 3-blade razor. Three blades allows fewer strokes and less irratation. This razor improved on a number of previous technologies, with improved spring blades, improved lubrication, improved microfins, and a pivot head with much greater bendability. It also was the first razor to use the indicator technology to show when a blade needed to be changed: a blue strip fades as the razor is used; when it is nearly white, you are supposed to change the blade. The grip on the Mach 3 was also a marked improvement over the Sensor Excel. Mach 3 cartrages are the world's best selling razor blades. They are sold at virtually every supermarket, drugstore, convienience store and mass retailer in the Western World.

Venus: Based off of the Mach 3, but with the traditional extra protection for women. The world's best selling women's razor, it has the same availability as the Mach 3.

Mach 3 Turbo: A Mach 3 with 10 microfins (as opposed to 5 on the original), an improved lubrication strip, and a better grip. Available everwhere, in varying colors.

Venus Divine: The Venus version of the Mach 3 Turbo. Available in most places.

M3 Power: A Mach 3 Turbo with a fatter handle containing a battery which, when turned on, caused the razor to vibrate, which theoratically lifts hairs off the face for a closer shave. It also has 15 microfins as well as improved lubrication over the Mach 3 Turbo. Mach 3 blades are interchangable across the line. Available world wide, also in black (Nitro).

Venus Vibrance: The Venus M3 Power. Available in most places. Venus blades are interchangable across the line.

Coming the in first quarter of 2006, Gillette is set to unvail a new razor, the "Fusion" which will have 5 blades set 30% closer than Mach 3 blades, plus 2 lubricating stips (one pre-stroke and one post-stroke) as well as an additional blade on the back for trimming upper lip hair or sideburns. For the first time in company history Gillette is set to unvail 2 razors simultaneously: along with the Fusion, they are releasing the Fusion Power. (Fusion:Mach3::Fusion Power:M3 Power).

This would create the world's largest personal care and household products company.

External links

• Company website
• Braun
• Duracell
• Oral-B
• History of Gillette