The Data Behind Gillette’s Ad Shows It Had the Biggest Impact With Women

Twitter has exploded with chatter. There have been jokes and memes and men claiming they threw their Gillette blades into the toilet. Was the controversy worth it for the brand?

Long story short, it was.

It has been reported that the majority of consumers agree that brands should take a stance on social issues. Straddling the fence to avoid angering the consumer base is not always the best move. While talking about issues that the public feels strongly about generates controversy, it also creates a lot of conversation.

So how did Gillette’s approach play out? The data shows that it actually broadened their audience.

Many are comparing the ad to the #MeToo movement. Gillette has historically targeted a male audience, which is very explicit with the tagline “The best a man can get.” The ad stars men and focuses on masculine behaviors, and yet the ad appeals to and engages a female audience.

Data about the social conversation focused on Gillette confirms that their branding primarily targets men. In the past year, 56 percent of the Gillette conversation has been generated by men, predominantly over age 35.

Over the years, the target demographic has discussed Gillette’s brand optimistically, with 66 percent of the conversation leaning positive. However, the broader online conversation about the topic of shaving in general is actually dominated by young women. Gillette may be missing an opportunity. The shaving conversation online is 62 percent female, and 75 percent are under the age of 35.

Women’s razors are more expensive, society expects women to shave everywhere and women are frustrated with the whole experience. Engaging women positively in the shaving industry has been a neglected opportunity. Women are disgusted with the topic of shaving, as the data shows. Only 21 percent of the conversation is joyful.

Gillette’s ad is a clever way to spark controversy, generate large volumes of conversation and engage with a new audience all at the same time. They did all this while maintaining their original branding and key message for their traditional audience.

Of the women engaged in conversation about the ad, 51 percent expressed joy, which is a significant departure from women’s sentiments about shaving in general. The ad struck a nerve in the zeitgeist. While 28 percent of women exhibited disgust about the ad, most of that disgust was targeted at toxic masculinity and not about the ad itself. Women’s response to the ad was incredibly positive, and some of the most retweeted posts were made by women.

Gillette has positively engaged with a new audience in new ways. The ad is a win. They may have lost some buyers, as suggested by some of the most dramatic negative responses, like this one, this one or this one, which show men throw away their already-purchased Gillette products. But those are corner cases. The bold move will likely convert far more shaving consumers into new Gillette customers.