Meeting Joseph Meyer and Joining His “Club”

As a writer increasingly working in the field of digital marketing/social media content for companies large and small, I’m grateful I get to run into and even work with St. Louis entrepreneurs. Steve is one. As head of a small family business with over 60 years of consumer product development, his passion lead him to develop a unique product for men who shave and the women who like appreciate them for doing so.

It’s called Joseph Meyer Foaming Aftershave (josephmeyerclub.com). Developed right here in our town and made in the USA, it’s a emollient-rich emulsion that seals moisture, prevents drying and irritation, and sooths the skin. Now, I never sign on to working with someone without trying their product … and let me also say I’m not a big “shaver” (and they exist — more on this later!). A woman friend gave me some aftershave in the mid 90s and its still in my drawer. But this is foam, and has a great subtle fragrance that doesn’t overpower or remind the others in the elevator with you of disco music (and do we really need to be reminded of that?). So I happily signed on to help.

Then Wow. I fell down a rabbit hole of the SSW — the “Serious Shaving World.” There are websites, social media sites, YouTube videos, and blogs talking about which I’ve signed onto and man … Spend a few minutes on Facebook’s West Shaving Society and you’ll get a taste of this world of people who take their shaving deadly serious. Types of brushes, types of lather, open razors, feather blades … and of course strong opinions and “controversies.” One that involves this product is the aftershave that contains alcohol versus the non-alcohol (balm) camp. Steve, after spending years studying this, concluded that an alcohol-based product like Joseph Meyer Foaming After Shave locks in moisture and prevents drying. It also helps relieve irritating razor burns and bumps. I like it because it has a little “kick” to it — an ever-so-slight “burn” when you put it on. It kind of wakes you up and puts you on your way. Of course Steve is always the first to say that those in the the “balm” only camp have their points too.

The whole experience is really still just beginning, and who knows where it’ll go. My experience tells me that having a great, unique product is not enough — and never has been, really. But it is another instance of something cool that is very much St. Louis-owned. And the product itself, it’s quite a kick.