Another one getting out of the business.
New owner intends to merge former Unilever brands with it's Huish laundry product line.
New owner intends to merge former Unilever brands with it's Huish laundry product line.
Unilever Sells Off North American Laundry Unit
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That's good...Huish makes White King, so maybe we'll see more of that!
Wisk is a darn good detergent nowadays. I don't use it much because it's so smelly, but it has gotten some stains out that Tide didn't shift.
Wisk is a darn good detergent nowadays. I don't use it much because it's so smelly, but it has gotten some stains out that Tide didn't shift.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Meh.
I haven't done business with Unilever since they got too grand to be in the bar soap business. My favourite soap, Lux, disappeared after decades and decades and decades. The only one they kept was Lever 2000 - not coincidentally, their most overpriced brand. Lux is now available only through some foreign licensee or something; it's not in any kind of regular distribution in the States.
What these companies don't seem to understand is that dropping a product may damage their relationship with a consumer beyond repair.
P.S.: I only use bar soap because it's far better for the environment than liquid soaps and "body washes". Lower shipping weight means less fuel to transport, and a paper wrapper is more biodegradable than a plastic bottle, plus doesn't depend on petrochemicals for its manufacture. Companies getting out of bar soap are being very foolish, because the liquid soap biz is environmentally unsustainable. It is only a matter of time until you won't be able to justify the costs behind liquid soaps and detergents.
I haven't done business with Unilever since they got too grand to be in the bar soap business. My favourite soap, Lux, disappeared after decades and decades and decades. The only one they kept was Lever 2000 - not coincidentally, their most overpriced brand. Lux is now available only through some foreign licensee or something; it's not in any kind of regular distribution in the States.
What these companies don't seem to understand is that dropping a product may damage their relationship with a consumer beyond repair.
P.S.: I only use bar soap because it's far better for the environment than liquid soaps and "body washes". Lower shipping weight means less fuel to transport, and a paper wrapper is more biodegradable than a plastic bottle, plus doesn't depend on petrochemicals for its manufacture. Companies getting out of bar soap are being very foolish, because the liquid soap biz is environmentally unsustainable. It is only a matter of time until you won't be able to justify the costs behind liquid soaps and detergents.
The generation
of MBAs running these companies do not care about anything except shortest term profits. So what if they kill the company two quarters down the road?
For me, the days of brand loyalty are purely based on a company's political philosophy. As long as Cadillac supports human rights for gays, I will be a loyal customer. As long as Ford persists in discriminating against us, I will tell them to go fcuk themselves by not buying their products.
At least the new owners have some decent products in this case.
Sheesh.
of MBAs running these companies do not care about anything except shortest term profits. So what if they kill the company two quarters down the road?
For me, the days of brand loyalty are purely based on a company's political philosophy. As long as Cadillac supports human rights for gays, I will be a loyal customer. As long as Ford persists in discriminating against us, I will tell them to go fcuk themselves by not buying their products.
At least the new owners have some decent products in this case.
Sheesh.
cvillewasherbo
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2006
- Messages
- 171
Lux Bar Soap
I always loved Lux Bar Soap--wasn't ever sure what happened to it. I wish they would bring it back. Try the Vermont Country Store--they have lots of stuff we used to love but can't find anymore.
Courtney in VA
I always loved Lux Bar Soap--wasn't ever sure what happened to it. I wish they would bring it back. Try the Vermont Country Store--they have lots of stuff we used to love but can't find anymore.
Courtney in VA
danemodsandy
Well-known member
c'villewasherbo:
Yep, you can still get Lux from some Internet specialty houses, but it costs a freaking fortune, something like $8.95 for a three-bar pack. It used to be quite cheap when it was in stores.
Now Colgate-Palmolive has drastically downsized another old favourite, Palmolive Mild All-Family. All C-P's bar soaps have been downsized from 4 ounces to 3.2 ounces, a hefty hidden price increase. This is in line with what other manufacturers of bar soaps are doing, but that still doesn't make it any more acceptable. The new size lasts no time at all.
Yep, you can still get Lux from some Internet specialty houses, but it costs a freaking fortune, something like $8.95 for a three-bar pack. It used to be quite cheap when it was in stores.
Now Colgate-Palmolive has drastically downsized another old favourite, Palmolive Mild All-Family. All C-P's bar soaps have been downsized from 4 ounces to 3.2 ounces, a hefty hidden price increase. This is in line with what other manufacturers of bar soaps are doing, but that still doesn't make it any more acceptable. The new size lasts no time at all.
Bar Soaps
Am still working through a case of vintage "Armour's Floating Soap" so cannot comment on the modern stuff. *LOL*
Think what is happening is the maturation of the laundry product market, thus very tight margins. One means, besides "HE" detergents now being sold in the United States, there is little difference between most TOL and even MOL laundry detergents in terms of performance. Unless someone comes up with a really huge break through, there isn't much wiggle room in raising prices well over the competition.
Am still working through a case of vintage "Armour's Floating Soap" so cannot comment on the modern stuff. *LOL*
Think what is happening is the maturation of the laundry product market, thus very tight margins. One means, besides "HE" detergents now being sold in the United States, there is little difference between most TOL and even MOL laundry detergents in terms of performance. Unless someone comes up with a really huge break through, there isn't much wiggle room in raising prices well over the competition.
toggleswitch2
Well-known member
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- Messages
- 5,000
Change (decrease) in demand.
Here is a thought:
Methinks the whole (local) industry is adjusting to laundry in "new to the area" front-loaders needing / using only 1/3 to 1/4 of former detergent levels.
Here is a thought:
Methinks the whole (local) industry is adjusting to laundry in "new to the area" front-loaders needing / using only 1/3 to 1/4 of former detergent levels.
Could be, but that wouldn't totally explain the "sell off".
Aside from a few offerings from P&G, Method and several other brands,laundry detergents in the United States for the most part are still highly foaming and do not rinse easily. All aside from the above mentioned examples are still designed for top loading automatic washing machines.
It isn't that difficult to produce detergents that work in all types of washing machines. The big players in the market such as P&G and Unilever (formerly Lever Brothers), indeed do so for the UK/European market and elsewhere.
Aside from a few offerings from P&G, Method and several other brands,laundry detergents in the United States for the most part are still highly foaming and do not rinse easily. All aside from the above mentioned examples are still designed for top loading automatic washing machines.
It isn't that difficult to produce detergents that work in all types of washing machines. The big players in the market such as P&G and Unilever (formerly Lever Brothers), indeed do so for the UK/European market and elsewhere.
pushtorelease
Well-known member
Hmmm... Last month I bought a 10 pack of Lux bar soap at Shoppers Drug Mart, on sale for $3.99 - bought it only because of the name and the slightly reminiscent packaging. It's pretty awful - greasy, strange scent. Imported by Unilever Canada but God knows where from...
danemodsandy
Well-known member
I've Heard That...
Thanks! I've heard you can still get Lux in Canada. It sounds like it might be made by a licensee or subsidiary in some country overseas. Might not be the Lux we're used to over here, if that's the case.
Thanks! I've heard you can still get Lux in Canada. It sounds like it might be made by a licensee or subsidiary in some country overseas. Might not be the Lux we're used to over here, if that's the case.
nmaineman36
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- Sep 25, 2004
- Messages
- 933
If i can remember correctly that Huish was already making most if not all of Unilevers detergents. So it doesnt come as a surprise to me that they would buy the detergent division or merge it. I find that Wisk's scent has alot to be desired. Its not the scent i grew up with. That classic scent in the red bottle I loved. I found a couple of bottles of Wisk Classic in a Mexican grocer. It was the original red bottles in the quart size. All doesnt smell the same either and its powder is high sudsing.
Haven't seen White King laundry detergent in ages in local markets. I used to like it, back in the 70's and 80's, it worked quite well in top loaders (thanks to the STPP content). And I thought it had a pleasant scent. I did experience brand name shame, though, feeling a bit sorry for myself since I was buying a lower-priced brand instead of higher price Tide etc. Now I can even afford Persil but if there was a White King HE with phosphates I'd snap it up in an instant.
