Fed up with shelling out for cartridges? Then join the club

THE shaving market has been shaken up in America by the launch of cut-price shaving clubs, which have now started to hit the UK.

The Dollar Shave Club launched in the US in 2011 in a bid to offer customers disposable razors for as little as $1. By getting people to sign up for regular new razors, the business has now become a $1 billion empire.

It has attracted others, including Harry’s and even a Gillette Shave Club. The appeal is that once customers sign up they can forget about the hassle of visiting a shop for cartridges but use cheaper replacements.

In the fledgling British market, providers include Bearded Colonel, King of Shaves and Cornerstone.

Tyvand McKee, director of Bearded Colonel, says: ‘There is no catch – you can set up a direct debit and cancel at any time without being tied into a contract. New members unsure about the razor can try it out without commitment.’

Bearded Colonel charges £10 a month to send out four cartridges – with a quality razor handle posted with the first delivery. Postage is free. King of Shaves has a regular shaving club offer of a razor plus eight cartridges posted free every two months for £15.99.

Cornerstone sends out razor blades every six weeks and charges £14 including postage, with the razor handles included when you take up the offer.

Most clubs also offer introductory offers and sell lots of extras such as shaving cream and balm.