gary gardner soft sheen

L'Oreal found it shared a lot "in common values" with Soft Sheen, he added. See Photos. tag: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', Keep in mind the child is an extension of youeverything that they do is a reflection of you. He taught me to fish. He reduced employment 27 percent, to 620 employees, between 1984 and 1988 by not replacing workers who left. The answer seemed to lie, first, in research and development. url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', Soft Sheen started as a garage-based business and grew to an international empire that influenced how people all over the world beautified themselves. Dismayed by the level of violence in the community, in the 1980s he created the non- profit organization, Black On Black Love. Read news from 100s of titles, curated specifically for you. of Chicago Law School, 2000 Ronald G. Garriques We will introduce items that will grow every category we compete in, from hair color through relaxers, styling aids, conditioners, and wave products.'. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Under the terms of the agreement, Terri Gardner remained on as president of the Soft Sheen division and also became a member of Cosmair's executive committee. Although there was no change in ownership, the company's decision-making process did result in a change in leadership. WebOwner. Born in 1925 to a warehouse worker and a seamstress in the West Chesterfield neighborhood, Gardner was a teacher and administrator for several years in Chicago Public Schools during a time when he was getting his hair care line off the ground. Gardner served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II and later earned a bachelors degree from Chicago Teachers College (now Chicago State University) and a masters degree from the University of Chicago under the GI Bill. Honoring the Legacy of A Great Chicagoan and Black Business WebTen-year-old Gary Gardner, Soft Sheen s future president, mixed Soft Sheen Hair and Scalp Conditioner and demonstrated it at trade shows. Soft Sheen co-founder, civic leader, Edward Gardner dies That drove him to anger, said Gary Gardner. Mr. Gardner was also a well-known philanthropist. url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES PLANS TO OPEN TWO NEW LOCATIONS IN MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS, AND FUNDING FOR A NEW BRANCH IN WOODLAWN, Cubs Adbert Alzolay Helps Distribute Food at Advocate Health Cares Food Farmacy Day, REP. KELLY, SENATORS DUCKWORTH, DURBIN INTRODUCE TWO BILLS TO INCREASE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon Gives Employers Incentive to Hire Formerly Incarcerated Individuals, CONGRESSMAN DANNY K. DAVIS VOWS TO FIGHT TO KEEP SUPPORT SYSTEMS INTACT WHILE REPUBLICANS SLASH BENEFITS IN DEBT CEILING PROPOSAL, Treasurer Pappas to participate in Cities Summit and share digital knowhow with leaders from the Western Hemisphere, The Black Hollywood Education & Resource Center Announces 30th Anniversary of Sistas Are Doin' It For Themselves Short Film Showcase and Virtual Film Festival, ComEd Invests $963 Million with Diversity-Certified Suppliers in 2022, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT JOINS CITY OFFICIALS FOR A JOINT RIBBON-CUTTING AND GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR 43 GREEN, Dions Chicago Dream launches Feed the Dream fundraising competition. Soft Sheen As consumers, we often take for granted all the hard work that goes into building a great company. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Gary Gardner. ]); Background Gardner, Gary Edward was born on August 22, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. His survivors also include two other children, Guy and Tracy, his wife, seven grandchildren and a great-grandson, the Sun-Times reports. Edward Gardners early efforts at making Black hair care products started in the family kitchen, with his wifes pots and pans. He served on the boards of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League. He also taught me how to make mistakes. He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we cant achieve.. He was 98 years old. He believed in himself and his ability to not just hope things worked out, but to make sure things worked out. targeting: { Gary Throughout the decades, Eds faith in God and humanity, and his belief in the power of the written word to stop the violence, persisted. WebPeople named Gary Gardner. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. BE 100s } Mr. Gardner, the son of a warehouse worker and a seamstress, had to overcome much in his early years. Soft Sheen Products officially launched in 1964 while Mr. Gardner was still an assistant principal at a local school. He started off on [his wifes] stove. The Citizen Newspaper Group It acquired 66 percent of Dyke and Dryden, Ltd., a London-based manufacturer of ethnic hair care products and the largest black-owned business in Europe. Son of Edward George and Betty Ann (Gueno) Gardner. Pet Experts Reveal How to Help. With the backing of L'Oreal, it was expected that Soft Sheen would grow rapidly in the coming years. playerId: '4c4274f6-883d-4331-88d6-3a01a54156b9' I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. He was my father, my hero, my teacher, Gary Gardner said in a news release. Gardner sold the business in 1998. ". The New Regal Theater brought major acts like Gladys Knight and newcomers like Kanye West and Tyler Perry to audiences on the citys South Side. He was my father, my hero, my teacher, Gary Gardner said in a news release. As it turned out, Gardner's slowing-down tactics were timely. The company sells its products to salons, beauty supply houses, and such retailers as drug stores and department stores. To ensure that the company did not outgrow its capabilities, Gardner deliberately decelerated. kw: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', He rallied his troops.. At twelve, he took me to work with him on Saturdays, where I learned to make hair products. Analyst Ken Smikle, of Target Market News, said of Soft Sheen: Mr. Gardner persevered, later moving to his garage in the West Chesterfield neighborhood, and by the 1980s, owning one of the largest and most successful Black hair care companies in the United States, Soft Sheen Products. By the late 1980s, the company was one of the largest Black-owned beauty brands in the country. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Born in 1925 to a warehouse worker and a seamstress in the West Chesterfield neighborhood, Gardner was a teacher and administrator for several years in Chicago Public Schools during a time when he was getting his hair care line off the ground. Gary Gardner. He was my father, my hero, my teacher. Care Free Curl was a solution that dramatically reduced the amount of time it took to relax hair--from almost eight hours to only two. 1979: Soft Sheen introduces Care Free Curl, causing revenues to increase dramatically. 1985: Gary Gardner becomes president and CEO of Soft Sheen. 1996: Gary Gardner resigns, and is replaced by his sister, Terri Gardner. Soft Sheen Products Inc. is the top U.S. producer of ethnic hair care products. If he wasnt at work, he was home with family. Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. } It took 15 years for the business to thrive, but the company that began in 1964, would eventually expand across the Midwest and then the nation perhaps best known for the product, Care Free Curl. WebGardner began mixing hair and beauty products for blacks out of his basement during the 1940s. By the late 1980s, the company was one of the largest Black-owned beauty brands in the country. Registry of Corporate Directors. As the oldest, I think I spent the most time with him as a child. In July 1998, L'Oreal announced that it planned to open a specialized research and development center in Chicago dedicated to ethnic products, the only such R & D center in the world. Soft Sheen built on that success by launching a full line of Care Free Curl products, including shampoos, conditioners, gels, and sprays, that were sold both in salons and in drugstores. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; In September 2012, at the age of eighty-seven, Edward Gardner led over a thousand demonstrators protesting the lack of Black workers on local construction crews. Another of her initiatives involved restructuring and consolidating the company's warehouse operations, a move that increased on-time shipments and improved service levels. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. By May 1997, Soft Sheen had released two new lines, Mizani and Hair Werks, that were designed exclusively for use in salons. Ald. They eventually moved into an old factory at 87th and Dobson and renovated the building that would become Soft Sheens new campus. . The Soft Sheen Products co-founder was a devoted advocate of Chicagos African-American community. In 1996, the Gardners established an See Photos. He helped elect the citys first Black mayor, Harold Washington, in 1983 loaning the Washington campaign his creative staff as well as helping fund a voter registration campaign. In 2001, After retiring from business, Gardner trained as a spiritual leader and social worker in keeping with her roots of community action. They are marketed under various brand names, including Alternatives, Baby Love, Care Free Curl, Frizz Free, as well as Sportin' Waves, Wave Nouveau, and Optimum Care. In addition to his son Gary, survivors include three other children, Terri, Guy and Tracy, and his wife, Bettiann. Although the company refused to release the price of the acquisition, industry analysts estimated it at more than $160 million. Around 1960, he began working for another beauty supply business and when it went bankrupt, Gardner took its customers and began producing his cat: 'fashion-beauty', As a side job, Gardner would personally deliver the products out of the back of his car to beauty salons on Chicagos South Side, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. cnx({ In the 1980s, Ed and his wife Bettiann became co-owners of the Chicago Bulls basketball team, cementing their love for Chicago and its award-winning franchise. In early 1999, the company unveiled Frizz Free, an anti-frizzing product that contained conditioners and oils to combat dryness and damage. Its founders, Edward and Bettiann Gardner, began the business when they became aware that there was a decided lack of hair care products formulated for people of color. Industry insiders speculate that Mr. Gardner, flush with cash from the sale of the family business, is funding Namaste by himself. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Its 200-plus products include shampoos, conditioners, relaxers, perms, and gels. His and his wifes love of theater inspired him to re-create one of Chicagos most historic entertainment venues, the Regal Theater. E-mail oureditor only a slight increase over 1996, despite new product introductions and improvements in operational efficiency. At about the time Soft Sheen and L'Oreal began courting, Mr. Gardner was already in business for himself, introducing his high-end line of products without much fanfare. Our purpose in this world wasnt to make money, wasnt to build a gigantic factory and hire a lot of people, Mr. Gardner said. The Citizen Newspaper Group Meanwhile, Soft Sheen continued to introduce new products. "I'm very comfortable that this organization is capable of helping Soft Sheen meet the vision that we set years ago.". Simultaneously, his wife Denise resigned from her position as vice-president of marketing. ft. warehouse at 95th & Cottage Grove into House of Kicks, a family entertainment and educational complex. In the late 1980s, the ethnic hair care market began to soften, with overall industry growth slowing to around three percent a year. Gardner and his wife Bettiann founded the company in 1964. We see them around but we don't know what goes on behind the scenes. Gardner Mr. Gardner sold the business in 1998. 40 Under 40 alpha listing In that same spirit, he continued his commitment to support the livelihood of professional cosmetologists by ensuring that his most popular product system, Care Free Curl, was solely available for purchase and application by them. Gardner While Mr. Gardner worked the field and perfected new hair products, Mrs. Gardner ran the operations of their budding business by balancing books and purchasing supplies. Instead of flowers, donations to Chicago State University can be made here. env: 'prod', In 2012, at age 87, Gardner organized more than 1,000 protesters in response to a South Side construction sites lack of Black workers. Copyright (c) 2022 Company-Histories.com. If there was a violent event where someone was at the hospital and needed help, he would write a check to that family, Gary Gardner said. Gary Gardner, scion of the family that built one of Chicago's most successful minority-owned businesses, has emerged with a new venture in ethnic hair care products that appears to have struck pay dirt. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. It expanded its offerings to a myriad of social services including after-school programs and employment training. The product itself offered styling flexibility and a unique 'moisture retention complex' that conditioned the hair and protected it from heat styling and chemical processing applications. And in 2012, at the age of 87 and walking with a cane, he led a protest down Western Avenue, his son said. ]); Member of American Health and Beauty Aids Institute. learn how over 7,000 companies got started! Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS A commonly available ingredient cooked in lower- or middle-class kitchens can be seen as mediocre, but the same thing prepared by a renowned chef and served in a star-studded restaurant can be a symbol. Once the Soft Sheen acquisition was complete, L'Oreal began strategizing how to best grow its new subsidiary and expand its beachhead in the ethnic market. Gardner, Edward G. 1925 | Encyclopedia.com Yes. The slowdown was largely due to a consumer trend toward shorter and drier hairstyles, which required fewer styling products. tude.cmd.push(function() { Mr. Gardner graduated from Fenger High School. B.E. "Gary and Denise have found another category where there is a tremendous need, another major niche," says Lafayette Jones, president and CEO of industry consulting firm Segmented Marketing Services Inc. in North Carolina. He was 98. By Mary Mitchell Mar 22, 2023, 5:23pm PDT Pocket The innovative product was a phenomenal success. In part, this effort resulted in the election of Harold Washington as Chicagos first Black mayor. As a patron of the arts, Gardner and his wife were instrumental in the development of the New Regal Theater (now the Avalon Regal Theater) a noted venue for Black performers. Gary Gardner. Had America and those in power listened to the Gardners we wouldnt have the murder in our streets that we have right now, if theyd listen to your voice. The house in which he died Monday was two houses down from the home where he grew up, his family said. Soft Sheen Products, Inc. -- Company History She also hired a third-party company to maintain inventory and positioning of Soft Sheen's products in retail stores. Early in 1998, they began talks with French-owned cosmetics company, L'Oreal S.A. L'Oreal--which operated in 150 countries and had a collection of brands that included Maybelline, Redkin, and Lancme--needed a portal to the ethnic market. These operational shortcomings, along with adverse market conditions, put the brakes on Soft Sheen's sales growth. tude.cmd.push(function() { He served in the Army during World War II and later took advantage of the GI Bill to get a bachelors degree at Chicago Teachers College, now Chicago State University, and a masters in education from the University of Chicago. My mother let him know that the pans were off limits because we needed to eat.. That's how executives, speaking publicly for the first time since the acquisition July 1, explained the deal Thursday. Management Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. Hair care companies of that time catered almost exclusively to the Caucasian market, and non-Caucasians essentially had to make do with products that were not chemically designed for their hair. She agreed in March 1996. In a November 1996 interview with Drug Store News, she promised that consumers would see new Soft Sheen products in the stores in the first quarter of 1997. Gary Gardner described the goings on in the family kitchen as somewhere between a science lab and a cooking experiment.. He employs fewer than 25 administrators and marketers and outsources manufacturing and packaging operations, sources say. I looked up to him Gary Gardner stated on Wednesday. Soft Sheen Products Inc., a relatively small Chicago-based company, will help its new parent fill that hole. Master of Business Administration, Northwestern University, 1980. The 27-year-old Gary Gardner had been involved with Soft Sheen since its earliest days, when he and his siblings helped their parents by filling shampoo bottles. If there was a violent event where someone was at the hospital and needed help, he would write a check to that family, Gardners son, Gary Gardner said, the Sun-Times reports. At Harley-Davidson, a repo shortage is hitting the bottom line, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson names more appointees to transition subcommittees, Booth, Kellogg top the U.S. News ranking of best MBA programs, Big Fulton Market apartment project moves forward with $125 million loan, New lawsuit over 'brazen' moves in Maple & Ash restaurant feud. targeting: { The Gardners' company, Evergreen Park-based Namaste Laboratories LLC, is the first producer to target this highly specialized ethnic market through both salons and retail stores. Terri Gardner. WebSoft Sheen was sold to hair care giant L'Oreal for over $100 million (US). Privacy Policy. Food -- how it is prepared and consumed -- can be a reflection of social status. Gardner also took steps to revive the company's languishing product development department, hiring a new vice-president of science and technology. Principal Competitors: Alberto-Culver Company; Carson Inc.; Massimo Enterprises Inc.; Revlon, Inc. We bring news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and entertained. My father saw the untapped potential of his community. or. kw: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', 'We grew so fast, we were afraid the franchise would be taken away from us,' Gardner said in a February 1991 interview with USA Today. In addition to his son Gary and daughter Terri, survivors include two other children, Guy and Tracy, and his wife, Bettiann, seven grandchildren and a great-grandson. Black Men XCEL 'This past year, we took some time to tend to our operations and our physical plant to make sure that we were efficient,' she said, adding, 'For 1997, we will have some major new product introductions. In a September 1998 interview with Black Enterprise, Gardner explained the company's decision to join L'Oreal. WebGardner, Gary Edward was born on August 22, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. All rights reserved. New products, new innovations and new ideas propelled Soft Sheens remarkable success, yet, while keeping an eye on his business, his heart was always with the people especially the youth. He was 98 years old. Soft Sheen will become a division of Cosmair while L'Oreal will expand its ethnic research and development activities to Chicago. Most importantly, he taught me how to engage all people with humanity and humility, said Gary Gardner. The new signage will hang at 87th and Dobson near the site of the former home of Soft Sheen Products. Mr. Gardner, a co-founder of Soft Sheen Products Inc., died Monday at his home in the West Chesterfield neighborhood, where he spent almost all of his life. In the early 1980s Mr. Gardner founded Black on Black Love an organization tailored towards curtailing violence in Chicago. In 1996, Gardner stepped down from her position as president of Brainstorm Communications when she was appointed president of Soft Sheen Products, Inc., succeeding her older brother, Gary E. Gardner, who resigned to start his own ethnic hair care company, Namaste Laboratories. based on Chicagos South Side, evolved into one of the nations largest Black-owned businesses. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. He loaned his creative staff, along with significant advertising dollars, to create the signature voter registration campaign, Come Alive October 5. Another major product introduction soon followed. In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. In 2012, at age 87, Gardner organized more than 1,000 protesters in response to a South Side construction sites lack of Black workers. But he says while the couple were busy making their imprint, they had no idea they affected so many people. The pioneering Gardners saw the opportunity to offer better products to people of color and, taking matters into their own hands, began experimenting with shampoo and pomade 'recipes.'. Gary Gardner. When you not only told us not to hurt and harm each other but to love each other You were trying to pastor us and nobody was ready to hear it, Pfleger said. The product wasnt exactly an overnight success but after taking advice from hairstylists and others in the industry, Gardner was able to eventually tweak the formula to perfection. Words of remembrance and condolences are invited at Edward Gardner In Memoriam Facebook Group page https://www.facebook.com/groups/3117330031746372 Principal Subsidiaries: Dyke & Dryden, Ltd. (U.K.; 66%); Soft Sheen Products, Ltd. (Jamaica); Soft Sheen International. Edward Gardner, co-founder of Soft Sheen, dies at 98 It bothered him deeply that when he saw construction projects on the South Side, often the workers werent Black. See Photos. He was also a board member of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League, as well as co-owner of the Chicago Bulls. page_type: 'article', SistersInc. He was the embodiment of the hard-working, family-focused, responsible Black father. pos: 'right_rail_1', Its distribution system was inefficient and slow, with orders taking ten days to be filled. Gardner will remain at the helm of Soft Sheen. Soft Sheen "My father saw the untapped potential of his community. Mr. Gardner was a well-known philanthropist and activist. James Gunn names decisive factor in Marvel re-hiring after Guardians of the Galaxy 3 sacking, Director was fired and rehired on the hit Marvel franchise, Fauci says the general public somehow didnt get his messaging that the vulnerable are really, really heavily weighted toward the elderly, Did we say hat the elderly were much more vulnerable? Guy Peyrelongue, president and CEO of Cosmair Inc., L'Oreal's U.S. subsidiary, said L'Oreal approached Soft Sheen, which has about $95 million in sales. As an activist and civic leader, Gardner raised $300,000 with Soft Sheens resources 40 years ago, according to a news release.

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