Although Zingari Man fine men’s grooming products are handcrafted locally, they are distributed globally, tapping into a growing international men’s care movement.
“When we launched in the fall of 2018, we were quickly discovered by shave hobbyists,” says Heather Melton, owner and founder of Zingari Man. “These are people who essentially collect all things related to shaving – safety razors, straight razors, brushes, and traditional shave soaps.”
Soon, Melton was getting orders from customers all over the world wanting her products, like shaving soap and brushes, recovery splash, and beard balm. It’s a booming business: Fortune Business Insights estimates the worldwide men’s grooming products market will reach $61.62 billion in 2024, and artisan products have carved out 5-10 percent of that revenue.
“It was a little overwhelming being a small one-person artisan business,” she recalls. The brand received requests from retailers and quickly landed a deal with a distributor for the United Kingdom and European Union. Outside the U.S., Italy is its largest customer base.
Traditional shaving is more popular in Europe, so executing distribution to a global audience was a game changer, Melton says.
“Artisan products are a very small percentage of the market compared to giants like Gillette. But in the last five or so years, there has been a year-over-year increase in the overall market share, and it is projected to keep growing,” she adds.
While the brand sells products online and has shipped directly to customers in almost 40 countries, Evansville still is home. Zingari Man products line the shelves at retailers like River City Coffee + Goods.
“We would love to expand our local retailers and customer base here,” Melton says. “We do not have a retail store, but we do have a workshop and plan to open that up to the public a few days a month.”
