Please see our annotated version of the article below:

Did you know 2 BILLION disposable razors are thrown out per year?

That alone is enough to make me want to switch to a safety razor. Not only that, but it is cheap as all heck. Mach III blades are close to a ransom, while a new blade for a safety razor is anywhere between 15 and 40 cents. That's right. Cents.

Recently I was able to interview Chadd Bennett, founder of Retro Razor. Retro Razor sells brand spankin’ new models of the classic safety razor that grandpa used to use.

Manly Vintage: Welcome to Manlyvintage, Mr. Bennett.

Chadd: Thanks for having Manly Vintage!

Manly Vintage: I wanted to start our interview off with a story. I kid you not, my 2 year old son came to me the other day going, "Ouchie!" with three thin razor marks on his pinkie!

Chadd: from a Mach 3?

Manly Vintage: of course!

Chadd: so....perhaps we are OK!

Manly Vintage: Lol yeah the mach 3 isn't that safe!

Chadd: with just 1 blade, we are safer in jest...

Manly Vintage: Do the blades retract into the razor when you're done with it?

Chadd: It actually has about the same exposure as a Mach 3. It’s the new and used blades that you need to keep an eye on. They're safety razors compared to a straight razor ... but with removable blades without the plastic casing, they are a tad dangerous if you do not dispose of them carefully.

Manly Vintage: What about like a lid you can put on them? I bet keeping them in a bag or box would help

Chadd: Exactly...new blades are in a box and I cut a small slit in a plastic bottle to put the old one in...

Manly Vintage: So I know you've told the story one hundred times, but how did you get the idea for these razors?

Chadd: I was working on a tour Rick Steves, and while traveling through Italy, in the Cinque Terre, I discovered the secret to the Ultra-Close shave…It was a classic Safety Razor. I was surprised that fashion-forward Italian Men and Women used old-style shaving, but as I learned more, I came to understand that Classic Shaving is so amazing that Gillette and Schick – the original inventors of Safety Razors, have been suppressing it in favor of high profit multi-blade razors.

Manly Vintage: Why is classic shaving so amazing? It seems like it takes more time.

Chadd: It definitely takes a bit more time...there is just one blade. But the shave is close, there tends to be less irritation (more than two blades, the extra pretty much drag across the skin, the blades are .10-.25 cents, so you save a ton of cash, and it looks hella cool!

Manly Vintage: How often do you have to change blades?

Chadd: I usually go about 3-4 shaves before changing - I have a heavy beard

Manly Vintage: Is there a standard blade that can be used in all safety razors? Or do yours use a custom one?

Chadd: That is the beaut...it's Open Source. There was a slight change in blade design in the 1930's but since then it has stayed the same. 50% of the world use them and you can customize your shave as each brand is different in terms of performance vs. gentleness

Manly Vintage: So its standardized like the VHS tape. You can either make a really good blade, or a really good razor, but either way, they need to be interchangeable.

Chadd: exactly...

Manly Vintage: tell Manly Vintage about the business side of it. Do you feel like you're a little guy going up against the giant?

Chadd: Not really...when it comes down to it, most people will want the convenience of a multi-blade but there will be a small devoted band of brothers and sisters that will see the light

Manly Vintage: Have you seen an upswing in business since the rise of "mad men"?

Chadd: It's tough to tell...since our sales are primarily through Amazon, you can only make so many assumptions from a name and address. That being said, sales have been on the rise since we started it a year ago

Manly Vintage: Are you in any brick and mortars? What are your plans for that?

Chadd: Just a few...we tend to be pretty selective

Manly Vintage: I'm sure there are a ton of boutique shops that would fit your clientèle. Or even barber shops.

Chadd: Wholesale is a pain - the margins are even thinner, and since we are a small company its tough to make a buck that route. Right now we are in 2 awesome barbershops, one hipster boutique, and two Natural green stores. My mission is to give the best quality razor and a sampler of blades for under $36 and that is tough when wholesaling

Manly Vintage: I have a friend with a big ole beard and sensitive skin. He’s tried the mach 3 and it is too irritating. Do you contend that a retro razor might be an option for him?

Chadd: The razor we sourced is designed for sensitive skin (which is why it is great for beginners). However, pair it with a sharp blade and he will be good to go. For instance the Derby Extra from Turkey. Stainless Steel base, with Ceramic, Tungsten and Platinum edges and Teflon coating for Non-Stick.

Manly Vintage: Wow you know your razors!

Chadd: Do I sound like a guy at the state fair or what

Manly Vintage: lol

Chadd: Drives my wife bonkers...which is an interesting side bar - we are seeing a huge upswing in ladies using it for legs

Chadd: How much does the newfangled Venus cost? $3.50 for one replacement blade.

Manly Vintage: That’s insane. It makes sense that you would see an upswing in sales to women then too. I'm seriously buying a retro razor right now. Thanks for the chat!

Chadd: sure thing, take care!

Much to my surprise, this sweet shop is curated by a dude. And what a cool dude he is. So I reached out to him and asked him some questions about his shop, collecting vintage items, and Etsy selling in general. He responded. Thus is the power of the internets. I hope to make this sort of thing a regular column here on manlyvintage.

Jayson: How long have you been into vintage? Is this a recent thing, or is it something you've been doing for a while?

Junkyardfinds: I started loving vintage things at a young age but really got into the last 4 years when I moved into my own house. It's how I have filled every inch of our home. Inside and outside. And garage.

Jayson: How would you describe your style?

Junkyardfinds: I like things from a lot of different eras. I guess I haven’t really put a lot of thought into defining my style.

Jayson: You're from Olympia? What are some good spots to find stuff in that area?

Junkyardfinds: Olympia is a fabulous place to find vintage treasures. Estate sales are my favorite places to pick up these items but I often thrift and garage sale. I mostly got to the Goodwills in the Southsound area. I go with my girlfriend often. We like different things so it’s nice to have another person to spot the goods. We go every weekend and sometimes on the week nights as well. St. Vincent De Paul is one of the best places in the world to thrift also.

Jayson: I see you have a lot of cameras and clocks in your shop.

Junkyardfinds: Old clocks and cameras have always caught my attention. I think its vintage electronics in general. It’s amazing to see how technology progresses and its fun to hold onto the obsolete. I feel like vintage things have a lot more style and class than current mass produced items.

Jayson: How did you get into selling on etsy?

Junkyardfinds: I first heard of Etsy from some roommates awhile ago but jumped into selling when my girlfriend's shop got bigger. Her shop is AubieJeanVintage, please check it out. She has cameras all over the house and most have not even been listed yet.

Jayson: So what's the coolest thing you've found?

Junkyardfinds: Man, there have been so many, but one that pops into my head immediately are the really rare Polaroids I have come across. I have also found some gnomes that I have in my yard. My favorite items, however, are old Volkswagen memorabilia.

Jayson: So do you think the demand for vintage polaraoids are going to go up, now that they've announced they're going to put out new film? Personally, I'm going to stock up.

Junkyardfinds: I have been anticipating the rise in interest of the Polaroids once the film comes out and have STOCKED UP! I look forward to being able to offer a large variety of them and am going to also offer international shipping.

Jayson: They're pretty hard to find in Chicago. I found one at an estate sale for 3.50 in the original box and with 10 shot of unopened film. Sold RIGHT away.

Junkyardfinds: That is a great deal. My favorite thing is to find items with their original package, manual, and tags.

Jayson: I have to say that my favorite item in your store is the baseball cards. They remind me of being a kid so much I almost bought them! Tell me about those.

Junkyardfinds: I'm glad you like them. I found these at an estate sale, it was three generations worth of belongings and these were in the attic. My dad and I collected baseball cards when I was a boy so I have always kept my eye out for them. When I found these, I was really excited that they were unopened and still had the sticker seal. I couldn't keep myself from opening one of the boxes! I am not sure that Etsy is the place for baseball cards yet...

Jayson: I agree. There are some things you can put in your shop that look cool but without the thought that they’ll sell. But with a 20 cent listing fee, “Hey, Why not!?”

Junkyardfinds: I agree with that 100% It makes things interesting and I love having variety! I have found that diversifying your shop broadens your customer base.

Jayson: what are your thoughts about pricing on etsy? I have had arguments with my friends about this. Some people say that if you price things too low, people will think they're cheap.

Junkyardfinds: I agree with that. I think that pricing our items is a tricky thing. You have to be able to know what value other people will put on the item. It seems like some Etsy sellers are biased by their own love for the item so the prices are much higher than the average person would be willing to pay. But I guess thats the beauty of having your own business. Sometimes I find a really great deal on an item on Etsy and I am so excited to get a great deal. With most things, I don't see the item as being cheap or less quality just because of the price. I think it also depends on what you are shopping for. Like with clothes or jewelry, customers would probably be more likely to shop with the more expensive place in an effort to go with the higher quality merchandise.