Men's Grooming Summit
To the GAME7 community,
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the BluePrint Men’s Grooming Summit, founded and hosted by longtime grooming writer Adam Hurly. Being surrounded by founders, writers, buyers, barbers, and industry leaders. Getting to share GAME7 and the story behind it, was a reminder of why I’m excited to be building in this space.
I’ve often felt that men’s grooming has settled for less than it should: generic formulas, cheap packaging, and products that feel like an afterthought. The founders I met showed how much more this industry has to offer. From the formulas to the bottles, their products reflected real care and pride. It was especially meaningful to meet people behind brands I already admired, including Mark and Nick Holmes of Bianco Profumo, Aston LaFon of 18.21 Man Made, Liam Eriksson of GUY FOX, Boone Whiteside and Ben Medalie of Highland, and Dr. Gary Linkov of Feel Confident.
What stood out most during the first day was everyone’s openness. Founders shared connections, spoke honestly about the challenges of building a business, and offered solutions they had learned along the way. Some of us could be considered competitors, but the feeling in the room was that a rising tide lifts all boats. There was a shared belief that helping each other build better brands would benefit the entire category.
The second day brought conversations about pricing, changing consumer habits, building lasting brands, and how AI will influence our future. I also had the honor of joining the “Brand Playbook: Legacy Founders” panel alongside Aston LaFon, CIRCA 1970 cofounders Barbara Guillaume and Amy Komorowski, and V76 founder Vaughn Acord. We discussed earning consumer trust and adapting to a changing marketplace. I’m earlier in my journey than my fellow panelists, but I was proud to contribute the perspective of building GAME7 from scratch and the lessons I learned watching my parents build Not Your Mother’s.
Men’s grooming has often been overlooked in the broader beauty conversation, and this gathering made clear how much talent and ambition exist within it. Thank you, Adam, for bringing this community together. I left with new relationships, fresh ideas, and even more motivation to keep building GAME7.
Chris Pagliarulo
Founder, GAME7