How many supermarkets and drugstores do you estimate are selling illegally diverted Paul Mitchell products today?
We don’t know that the product is where it shouldn’t be until our customers notify us. We know it’s out there, but I can’t tell you every single mom-and-pop, drug, grocery, or discount store that has it. It’s a majority of [major chain retailers] but varies region to region.” Q: What’s the response of heads of drugstore and supermarket chains when you tell them that they’re selling illegally diverted products? A: It’s very discouraging. They tell us that the law allows them to do it. As long as it’s the real thing, there’s nothing that stops them. They’re not interested in any contractual relationships we’ve got with our suppliers or salons. The laws are so lax that, to protect ourselves, in 1985 we started adding the following warning on every bottle of product we manufacture: “This product is not guaranteed when sold by any drugstore or supermarket. It is only guaranteed when sold by a professional stylist.” Q: Why do you think drugstore and supermarket chains persist in doing this?
