Is Dollar Shave Club still owned by Unilever?

No. Unilever sold Dollar Shave Club to [Nexus Capital Management](/companies/nexus-capital-management), a private equity firm, in late 2023. Unilever had acquired the brand for $1 billion in 2016 but sold it at a significant loss after the brand struggled to meet growth targets.

Is Dollar Shave Club publicly traded?

No, Dollar Shave Club is not publicly traded. The company is privately held under the ownership of Nexus Capital Management, a private equity firm. There is no stock ticker for Dollar Shave Club. The company does not disclose financial performance to the public.

How much did Unilever pay for Dollar Shave Club?

Unilever acquired Dollar Shave Club in July 2016 for $1 billion in cash. At the time, the brand had approximately 3.2 million subscribers and approximately $240 million in annual revenue. Unilever sold the brand to Nexus Capital in 2023 for an undisclosed amount that was reportedly significantly below the $1 billion purchase price.

Is Dollar Shave Club still in business?

Yes, Dollar Shave Club continues to operate its subscription razor and grooming products service under Nexus Capital Management's ownership. The company maintains its website and mobile app and continues to serve subscribers in the United States.

Who founded Dollar Shave Club?

Dollar Shave Club was founded in 2011 by Michael Dubin and Mark Levine. Dubin, a former NBC brand manager, created the concept and starred in the viral launch video. Levine, an investment banker, helped secure initial funding. The two founders launched the company with approximately $35,000 in seed money.

What is Dollar Shave Club's market position?

Dollar Shave Club competes in the men's grooming and razor market as a mid-priced subscription brand. The company's market share has declined from a peak of approximately 8% in 2015 to an estimated 3-4% in 2026. The brand competes against Gillette (Procter & Gamble), Harry's (Edgewell), and private-label brands.

Beauty & Personal Care

Who Owns Dollar Shave Club?

Dollar Shave Club is owned by Nexus Capital Management, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm that acquired the brand from Unilever in late 2023. Unilever originally purchased Dollar Shave Club for $1 billion in 2016 but sold it at a significant loss after the brand struggled to meet growth targets. Dollar Shave Club pioneered the direct-to-consumer razor subscription model and is headquartered in Marina del Rey, California.

Parent Company

Nexus Capital Management

Acquired

2016

Status

Private

Headquarters

Marina del Rey, California, USA

Dollar Shave Club Timeline

2011

Dollar Shave Club

Founded by Michael Dubin, Mark Levine

Founded

2016

Acquired by Nexus Capital Management

Nexus Capital Management acquired Dollar Shave Club

Acquired

mid rangepremiumUnited StatesmensOfficial Website

Who Owns Dollar Shave Club?

Parent Company: Nexus Capital Management
Ownership Type: Private equity-backed
Acquisition Year: 2016
Company Type: Privately Held

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Dollar Shave Club	Nexus Capital Management	Private equity-backed

Where to Buy

Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases

Dollar Shave Club on Amazon

History of Dollar Shave Club

Founded: 2011
Founders: Michael Dubin, Mark Levine
Acquired by Nexus Capital Management: 2016

Dollar Shave Club was founded in 2011 by Michael Dubin and Mark Levine in Venice, California. Dubin, a former brand manager at NBC, came up with the idea after a conversation with a friend about the high cost of razor blades. Levine, an investment banker, helped secure initial funding. The two founders launched the company with approximately $35,000 in seed money from friends and family.

The company launched on March 6, 2012, with a viral YouTube video titled "Our Blades Are F***ing Great," featuring founder Michael Dubin delivering a comedic, irreverent pitch for the company's razor subscription service. The video cost approximately $4,500 to produce. Within the first 48 hours, the video generated over 12,000 orders and crashed the company's website. The video has since accumulated over 28 million views and is widely cited as one of the most successful viral marketing campaigns in business history.

Dollar Shave Club's business model was simple: customers paid a monthly subscription fee and received razor blades delivered to their door. The entry-level plan started at $1 per month plus shipping, dramatically undercutting Gillette's pricing. The razors were manufactured by Dorco, a South Korean blade manufacturer, and rebranded under the Dollar Shave Club name. This approach allowed Dollar Shave Club to avoid the manufacturing costs and capital investment of building its own blade factory.

The company grew rapidly. By 2015, Dollar Shave Club had captured approximately 8% of the U.S. men's razor cartridge market by volume, according to Slice Intelligence data. The brand forced Gillette to respond with its own subscription service (Gillette Shave Club) and price reductions on its retail products. Dollar Shave Club also expanded its product line beyond razors, adding shave butter, body wash, shampoo, and other grooming products.

In July 2016, Unilever acquired Dollar Shave Club for $1 billion in cash. The acquisition was a landmark moment for the direct-to-consumer movement, validating the idea that digitally native brands could achieve billion-dollar valuations. At the time of the acquisition, Dollar Shave Club had approximately 3.2 million subscribers and reported revenue of approximately $240 million annually.

Under Unilever's ownership, Dollar Shave Club struggled to maintain its growth trajectory. The razor market became increasingly commoditized, with competitors offering similar subscription models at comparable prices. Harry's, a rival DTC razor brand, merged with Edgewell Personal Care (owner of Schick) in a deal that was later blocked by the FTC. Gillette invested heavily in its own subscription service. Amazon launched private-label razors at low price points. Dollar Shave Club's subscriber growth slowed, and the brand never achieved the profitability Unilever had projected.

In 2020, Dollar Shave Club expanded internationally, launching in Canada and the UK. However, international expansion was limited and did not significantly boost revenue. The brand also faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, as supply chain disruptions affected product availability.

In late 2023, Unilever sold Dollar Shave Club to Nexus Capital Management. The sale price was not publicly disclosed, but reports indicated it was significantly below the $1 billion Unilever paid in 2016. Unilever acknowledged the divestment as part of its broader strategy to streamline its portfolio and focus on higher-growth categories.

As of 2026, Dollar Shave Club continues to operate its subscription service under Nexus Capital's ownership. The brand has refocused on its core razor and grooming products, reducing its expansion into adjacent categories. The company maintains its direct-to-consumer model and continues to serve subscribers in the United States.

About Nexus Capital Management

What is Nexus Capital Management?
Nexus Capital Management LP is a private equity firm founded in 2013 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The firm was co-founded by Michael Cohen and Damian Giangiacomo, both formerly of Apollo Global Management. Nexus makes investments across consumer goods, retail, education, food, and business services, with approximately 49 investments to date.

Who founded Nexus Capital Management?
Michael Cohen and Damian Giangiacomo co-founded Nexus Capital Management in 2013. Both previously worked at Apollo Global Management, one of the largest alternative investment firms. Cohen serves as Partner and Giangiacomo serves as Managing Partner.

Is Nexus Capital Management publicly traded?
No, Nexus Capital Management is a privately held limited partnership and is not publicly traded. The firm is a Registered Investment Adviser with the SEC. Its capital comes from institutional investors including endowments, pension funds, family offices, and foundations.

What companies does Nexus Capital own?
Nexus Capital's portfolio includes Dollar Shave Club (acquired from Unilever in 2023), TOMS, ACT (the college testing company, acquired and converted to for-profit in 2024), Laird Superfood (controlling stake acquired in 2026), Rent the Runway (PIPE investment in 2025), FTD, Lamps Plus, Post Advisory Group, Tricam Industries, Sugarbear, Natural Balance, and Mav Beauty, among others.

What happened with the Big Lots deal?
Nexus Capital agreed to acquire Big Lots in September 2024 as a stalking horse bidder in the retailer's Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with a deal valued at $765 million. The deal fell apart in December 2024 after Nexus discovered that Big Lots' financial performance had deteriorated significantly beyond what was disclosed. Nexus terminated the agreement, and Big Lots subsequently sold its assets to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners.

How much did Nexus Capital pay for Dollar Shave Club?
The purchase price was not publicly disclosed, but it was widely reported to be significantly less than the $1 billion Unilever paid for Dollar Shave Club in 2016. Unilever had written down the brand's value substantially before the sale.

What is Nexus Capital's investment in Laird Superfood?
Nexus invested $50 million in Laird Superfood in March 2026 and an additional $60 million in April 2026, acquiring approximately 71.7% of the company on a fully diluted, as-converted basis. The capital funded Laird Superfood's acquisitions of Navitas ($38.5 million) and Terrasoul Superfoods ($48 million), positioning the company as a positive nutrition platform for future food brand acquisitions.

Founded: 2013
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, USA
Company Type: Privately Held
Revenue: not publicly disclosed
Employees: not publicly disclosed

Visit Nexus Capital Management website

View full company profile for Nexus Capital Management

Where Is Dollar Shave Club Made / Based?

Headquarters: Marina del Rey, California, USA
Manufacturing / Operations: United States, South Korea

Dollar Shave Club Categories & Tags

Razors Grooming Dtc Subscription Unilever American Brand

Dollar Shave Club Sustainability & Ethics

Dollar Shave Club has introduced sustainability initiatives focused on reducing the environmental impact of its products and packaging. The brand has launched razor handles made from recycled materials and has worked to reduce packaging waste in its subscription shipments.

The company's direct-to-consumer model has both positive and negative environmental implications. On the positive side, DTC shipping can reduce retail packaging requirements and eliminate intermediate supply chain steps. On the negative side, individual shipping of subscription boxes generates transportation emissions that集中 shipping to retail stores would avoid.

Dollar Shave Club has faced criticism regarding the environmental impact of disposable razors. Disposable razors contribute to plastic waste, and the company's subscription model encourages regular replacement of blade cartridges. The company has addressed this by introducing recyclable blade handles and by offering a blade take-back program, though participation rates have not been disclosed.

Under Nexus Capital's ownership, the company has continued to develop its sustainability strategy but has not published specific targets or metrics. As a private company, Dollar Shave Club is not required to disclose environmental performance data.

Awards & Recognition

Dollar Shave Club has received recognition primarily for its marketing innovation and business model disruption:

Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity: The "Our Blades Are F***ing Great" launch video won multiple Cannes Lions awards, including a Silver Lion in the viral marketing category.
Fast Company Most Innovative Companies: Dollar Shave Club was named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list in 2013 and 2016 for its disruption of the razor industry.
Webby Awards: The company won Webby Awards for its online marketing and social media campaigns.
Effie Awards: Dollar Shave Club won Effie Awards for marketing effectiveness, recognizing the impact of its viral launch campaign on brand awareness and customer acquisition.
Advertising Age A-List: The brand was named to Advertising Age's A-List of top marketers for its disruptive approach to the men's grooming category.

Dollar Shave Club Recalls & Controversies

Unilever Acquisition and Sale: The most significant controversy surrounding Dollar Shave Club is the trajectory of its ownership. Unilever paid $1 billion for the brand in 2016, but the brand failed to meet growth and profitability targets. The 2023 sale to Nexus Capital at a significant loss raised questions about the viability of the DTC subscription model and the valuation of digitally native brands. The case has been studied in business schools as a cautionary example of DTC brand acquisitions by large consumer goods companies.

Competitive Pressure from Gillette: Gillette responded aggressively to Dollar Shave Club's market entry by launching Gillette Shave Club, cutting prices, and increasing its own digital marketing. Gillette also filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Dollar Shave Club in 2017, alleging that Dollar Shave Club's razors infringed on Gillette patents. The lawsuit was settled in 2020 with Dollar Shave Club agreeing to license certain Gillette technologies.

Subscription Cancellation Difficulties: Dollar Shave Club has faced customer complaints about the difficulty of canceling subscriptions. Some customers reported that the cancellation process was intentionally cumbersome, requiring multiple steps or customer service interactions. The company has simplified its cancellation process in response to these complaints, but the issue has contributed to negative online reviews.

Product Quality Concerns: Dollar Shave Club has faced comparisons to premium razor brands like Gillette. Some users have reported that Dollar Shave Club blades do not provide as close a shave as Gillette or Schick products. The company has addressed this by introducing higher-tier razor options with multiple blades and advanced features, though these are priced higher than the entry-level subscription.

Environmental Impact of Disposable Razors: Dollar Shave Club has faced criticism from environmental groups about the environmental impact of its disposable razor model. The subscription service encourages regular blade replacement, generating plastic waste. The company has introduced recycled-material handles and a blade take-back program, but critics argue that these measures are insufficient given the volume of disposable razors sold.

Dollar Shave Club Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Pioneered the DTC razor subscription model with strong brand recognition from viral marketing
+Established subscriber base provides recurring revenue through the subscription model
+Private equity ownership under Nexus Capital provides focused strategic direction and operational expertise
+Direct-to-consumer model gives the company control over customer data and relationships
+Brand recognition from the 2012 launch video remains strong over a decade later

Considerations

-Market share has declined from approximately 8% peak to an estimated 3-4% in 2026
-Intense competition from Gillette, Harry's, and private-label alternatives has eroded pricing power
-Unilever's $1 billion acquisition followed by a loss-making sale raises questions about brand value
-Razor market commoditization limits growth potential and differentiation
-Private equity ownership may prioritize short-term profitability over long-term brand investment

Frequently Asked Questions About Dollar Shave Club

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Dollar Shave Club

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
Gillette	Procter Gamble	USA	1901	Market leader-declining-share	Global	Mens
Schick	Edgewell Personal Care	USA	1926	Number two	Global	Male
Arko	Evyap	Turkey	1957	Mass market	Europe	Mens
Axe	Unilever	United Kingdom	1983	Mid market	Global	Mens
Ben & Jerry's	The Magnum Ice Cream Company	USA	1978	Premium	Global	All-ages
Best Foods	Unilever	USA (Unilever North America HQ)	1919	Mass market	United states	All-ages