} Log In. Gardner sold the business in 1998. He was 98. We went from small mom and pop to a major player in the business, said Gary Gardner. cat: 'fashion-beauty', Analyst Ken Smikle, of Target Market News, said of Soft Sheen: Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS page_type: 'article', E-mail oureditor Industry insiders speculate that Mr. Gardner, flush with cash from the sale of the family business, is funding Namaste by himself. Click below to see everything we have to offer. 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. 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. And now his work is done; he belongs to the ages. My mother let him know that the pans were off limits because we needed to eat.. Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. Edward G. Gardner, a breakthrough businessman in the beauty industry and co-founder of Soft Sheen Products, has passed away, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. He donated tens of thousands of dollars to causes that sought to end gun violence; to that end, he helped create the nonprofit organization Black On Black Love. He was the embodiment of the hard-working, family-focused, responsible Black father. 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.'. (L to R) Back row: State Rep. Marcus Evans (33), Alderman Michelle Harris (8) and State Sen. Jacqueline Collins (16). Ed Gardners greatest contribution to the city he loved was doing everything he could to help Chicago elect its first Black Mayor, Harold Washington, in 1983. WebTen-year-old Gary Gardner, Soft Sheen s future president, mixed Soft Sheen Hair and Scalp Conditioner and demonstrated it at trade shows. BE 100s targeting: { Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. subcat: '', based on Chicagos South Side, evolved into one of the nations largest Black-owned businesses. env: 'prod', 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. kw: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', WELCOME TO THE FAMILY! According to CBS News, a private family service is planned. Jones adamant Wallabies can be best in the world. Instead of flowers, donations to Chicago State University can be made here. They eventually moved into an old factory at 87th and Dobson and renovated the building that would become Soft Sheens new campus. The entrepreneur created Soft Sheens first Hair and Scalp conditioner. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Gary Despite the success, Mr. Gardner never moved from his neighborhood. Conditioning was particularly important to preserve the health of black hair, which tended to dry out under the stress of styling and chemical processing. cat: 'fashion-beauty', She made good on her promise. } In 1964, he left a career as a popular teacher and assistant principal to start a haircare company, Soft Sheen Products, Inc. with his wife Bettiann. He was born with the inner vision to see the world differently, but more importantly, to see and make a difference to what he saw, said another of his children, Gary Gardner. 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. 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. He firmly believed promoting self-love and self-respect could change hearts, and the organization created No Crime Day to celebrate those principles and promote peace. ". Outside of their business, the Gardners remained staunch community activists being actively involved in Harold Washingtons mayoral campaigns for example and together were members of several organizations including the Chicago Urban League and Chicago United. The creator and founder of Soft Sheen hair care products held many titles in his long life, but his family said his legacy will be in his dedication to others. Another of her initiatives involved restructuring and consolidating the company's warehouse operations, a move that increased on-time shipments and improved service levels. Gary Gardner described the goings on in the family kitchen as somewhere between a science lab and a cooking experiment.. He was 98, his family said. In 1996, the Gardners established an Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said China has agreed to discuss fishing rights in the South China Sea, as he pushed for a "direct communication line" with Beijing on maritime differences. Principal Competitors: Alberto-Culver Company; Carson Inc.; Massimo Enterprises Inc.; Revlon, Inc. He was my father, my hero, my teacher. Master of Business Administration, Northwestern University, 1980. Like every other event involving a red carpet these days, the White House Correspondents Association Dinner has become yet another opportunity to use a moment of image-making to generate conversation and influence public opinion. L'Oreal S.A. is an international cosmetics company with $10 billion in annual sales, but the one hole in its portfolio has been products for people of African descent. Suite 3200 Although the company gave no official reason for the resignations, industry insiders speculated that they were due to disagreement over Soft Sheen's future course. 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. His and his wifes love of theater inspired him to re-create one of Chicagos most historic entertainment venues, the Regal Theater. 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. aid: '864241', Gardiner and his wife, Bettiann, founded Soft Sheen in 1964. These operational shortcomings, along with adverse market conditions, put the brakes on Soft Sheen's sales growth. He was 98 years old. 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. In early July 1998, Soft Sheen announced that it had agreed to be acquired by L'Oreal's New York-based U.S. subsidiary, Cosmair Inc. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Peyrelongue and Gardner are unsure of the impact on employee rolls. Three boys and one girl: Gary, Guy, Tracy and Terri. 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. He also taught me how to make mistakes. Upon assuming her position, she almost immediately began making significant changes in the company's operations. He melted wax in one of the pans, said one of Mr. Gardners four children, Terri Gardner. Dyke and Dryden distributed its products in the United Kingdom and in Africa, giving Soft Sheen solid entry into a market of approximately 440 million potential customers. Its distribution system was inefficient and slow, with orders taking ten days to be filled. Our purpose in life was to do all we possibly can that God (put) us here to do to make life better for all human beings. 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. "We felt that when we looked at Soft Sheen we saw a great team of people, and we felt if we were able to acquire that expertise and build that expertise, we would have a much better chance of attaining our goals.". Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. 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. Soft Sheen scored another success in the late 1980s, when it introduced Optimum Care, a relaxer kit that allowed salon stylists to straighten and condition hair at the same time. In part, this effort resulted in the election of Harold Washington as Chicagos first Black mayor. He was 98. In 2007, after 16-year-old Blair Holt was shot and killed while riding the bus home from school, Ed Gardner purchased thousands of dollars worth of billboards with messages about Black-on- Black Love. Everything changed in 1979, however, when Soft Sheen introduced a new product called Care Free Curl. The company also began selling its products in foreign markets. Frizz Free was the first frizz control product made specifically for ethnic women by an ethnic hair-care products company. 2023 The Citizen Newspaper Group, All Rights Reserved. } Soft Sheen Products Inc., a relatively small Chicago-based company, will help its new parent fill that hole. Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. Find your friends on Facebook. On Thursday, the lives and efforts of these civic pillars were celebrated by hundreds of people including dignitaries, public officials, and former Soft Sheen employees. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! Gary Gardner. In addition to battling the soft market and growing competition, Soft Sheen was also struggling with internal problems. Gary Gardner. Melbourne (AFP) - Coach Eddie Jones insisted Monday he had enough time to transform the Wallabies into a World Cup winning team, boosted by the imminent return of some key players from injury. A private family service is planned. He taught me to garden. WebSoft Sheen was sold to hair care giant L'Oreal for over $100 million (US). The answer seemed to lie, first, in research and development. In 1987, Soft Sheen moved to compensate for diminishing domestic sales by expanding its presence in overseas markets. Gary Gardner. By the late 1980s, the company was one of the largest Black-owned beauty brands in the country. WebGary Edward Gardner, American manufacturing executive. Ald. 1995 sales were about $94 million, considerably short of Gardner's expectations. 'We saw a strategic partner with muscle through which we could fulfill our vision for the company,' she said. Entrepreneurs Summit That drove him to anger, said Gary Gardner. In early 1999, the company unveiled Frizz Free, an anti-frizzing product that contained conditioners and oils to combat dryness and damage. Gardner also took steps to revive the company's languishing product development department, hiring a new vice-president of science and technology. In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. 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. His enterprise still isn't widely known, even among ethnic hair care industry executives and consultants. (Provided) Edward Gardners early efforts at making Black hair care products started in the family kitchen, with his Throughout the decades, Eds faith in God and humanity, and his belief in the power of the written word to stop the violence, persisted. subcat: '', Did we say it over and over and over again? His survivors also include two other children, Guy and Tracy, his wife, seven grandchildren and a great-grandson, the Sun-Times reports. B.E. After pan-bashing, France's Macron faces Labour Day protests. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', 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. In 2012, at age 87, Gardner organized more than 1,000 protesters in response to a South Side construction sites lack of Black workers. Edward G. Gardner, co-founder of Soft Sheen Products and precious philanthropist, dead at 98 by Elwood Hill March 22 2023 Edward G. Gardner's hair care line began in his home basement and grew to be one the largest Black-owned organizations of its kind in the country. cnx({ Blitzing the city with banners, print and radio advertisements, the campaign registered over 200,000 new voters and helped secure Harold Washingtons victory. Gardner, the co-founder of the hair care company Soft Sheen Products Inc., died Monday surrounded by family. }); !function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); In the late 1980s, the ethnic hair care market began to soften, with overall industry growth slowing to around three percent a year. One of her first moves was to purge Soft Sheen's product line of unprofitable products and package sizes, eliminating 40 of the company's 250 SKUs. The Gardners married in 1950 and from their union four children were born. Soft Sheen was founded in 1964, in the basement of a home on the south side of Chicago. Analyst Ken Smikle, of Target Market News, said of Soft Sheen: "The industry has changed so radically that if they don't accept a sale offer now, the company's legacy may very well just be lost to the future completely. Gardners death was confirmed by his children in a statement. 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. Here's how to figure out what's wrong with your pup. 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. In the middle of Soft Sheen's astonishing growth spurt, Edward and Bettiann Gardner turned the company's presidency over to their oldest son, Gary. tag: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', By May 1997, Soft Sheen had released two new lines, Mizani and Hair Werks, that were designed exclusively for use in salons. In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. Economic Equity & Racial Justice Townhall Series, Elevate Black Podcast sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, 100 Founders of Change by American Express, Chasing Success Podcast by JP Morgan Chase, Black Business Month Sponsored by Nationwide, 2022 Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, 2021 BE Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', pos: 'right_rail_1', WebOwner. 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. Dismayed by the level of violence in the community, in the 1980s he created the non- profit organization, Black On Black Love. See Photos. Although the company refused to release the price of the acquisition, industry analysts estimated it at more than $160 million. Most importantly, he taught me how to engage all people with humanity and humility, said Gary Gardner. Their interim leader Terri Gardner, however, was no mere figurehead. Terri Gardner. 130 E. Randolph St. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Juris Doctor, Northwestern University, 1980. 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 company's presence in overseas markets was also likely to increase, supported by L'Oreal's vast global reach. The 44-year-old Mr. Gardner struck out on his own three years ago after a disagreement with family members about Soft Sheen's future. ]); url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. He was a part-owner of the Chicago Bulls, and for many years, attended every home game. 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The line is being distributed nationwide through retailers including the nation's largest beauty supply chain, Sally Beauty Co. or. } Ads tout the products' natural ingredients, herbs and vitamins. url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', By that point in her career, she had worked at Leo Burnett and served as Vice President at Soft Sheen Products, Inc., a family hair care and beauty company founded by her in-laws. Gary Gardner. Mr. Gardner told the Chicago Citizen that he and Mrs. Gardner are blessed to have been honored for their many contributions over the years. 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 taught me how to build, how to fix things, how to drive, and how not to drive. Gary Gardner. Chicago, IL 60601 aid: '864241', The Soft Sheen Products co-founder was a devoted advocate of Chicagos African-American community. only a slight increase over 1996, despite new product introductions and improvements in operational efficiency. Soft Sheen co-founder, civic leader Edward Gardner dies. Michael L. Pfleger of St. Sabina Church said the Gardners warned of the impending violence in Chicago years agobut their pleas fell on deaf ears. A lifelong resident of the Chicagos South Side, Gardner is the retired president and co-founder of Namast Laboratories, the nations largest minority-owned hair care company and the former president of Soft Sheen Products, Inc. CCCs seven-member board, serve three-year terms as appointed by the Mayor of Chicago with pos: 'right_rail_3', div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', All rights reserved. Black Enterprise is a black-owned multimedia company. In 2012, at age 87, Gardner organized more than 1,000 protesters in response to a South Side construction sites lack of Black workers. Soft Sheen finished 1997 with sales of $94.5 million. Unfortunately, those challenges never went away in spite of his tremendous business success.. L'Oreal, which had a reputation for heavy investment in research and development, expected its new Chicago center to be operational by the year 2001. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Keep in mind the child is an extension of youeverything that they do is a reflection of you. Michelle Harris (8th) praised the Gardners saying that they are the epitome of what an African American entrepreneur is. Harold Washington Edward G. Gardner, co-founder of Soft Sheen Products, died Monday. WebPeople named Gary Gardner. ]); In 1987, Soft Sheen moved to compensate for diminishing domestic sales by expanding its presence in overseas markets. 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. 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. targeting: { Peyrelongue and Gardner are unsure of the impact on employee rolls. L'Oreal found it shared a lot "in common values" with Soft Sheen, he added. In India, where 42 million women have the disease, cultural stigmas can make the delay even longer, Why Is My Dog Shaking? INFORMATION The 44-year-old Mr. Gardner struck out on his own three years ago after a disagreement with family members about Soft Sheen's future. See Photos. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; In 2001, After retiring from business, Gardner trained as a spiritual leader and social worker in keeping with her roots of community action. In addition to his son Gary, survivors include three other children, Terri, Guy and Tracy, and his wife, Bettiann. Testing various mixtures on their children, the Gardners developed several products that were specifically formulated to address the needs of African Americans. 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. He overcame it. Soft Sheen Products officially launched in 1964 while Mr. Gardner was still an assistant principal at a local school. . Edward G. Gardner, a trailblazing businessman in the beauty industry as the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products, has passed away, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. 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. And in 2012, at the age of 87 and walking with a cane, he led a protest down Western Avenue, his son said. St. James Press, 2000. These industry giants, with their vast distribution networks and their huge marketing budgets, were formidable competitors. Although his Organic line isn't as widely distributed as Soft Sheen's products, it is being sold in beauty supply stores and professional salons nationwide, including industry leader Sally Beauty, owned by Melrose Park-based Alberto-Culver Inc. One Sally operator says he increased the store's monthly order of Organic products from 84 items to 336 in just four months -- and still sells out within two or three days of delivery. With amusement rides, bowling, mini-golf and an interactive learning center, the complex boasted the only roller coaster in Chicago at that time. Soft Sheen's plan was to conduct a search for a new president from outside the family and thereby begin transitioning the Gardners into a purely ownership role. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. In early 1996, Gary Gardner resigned from his post as Soft Sheen president. ", The White House Correspondents Association Dinner Best Dressed. We bring news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and entertained. The innovative product was a phenomenal success. WebGardner began mixing hair and beauty products for blacks out of his basement during the 1940s. tag: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', Jul 1984 - Present38 years 10 months. 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. Member of American Health and Beauty Aids Institute. Background Gardner, Gary Edward was born on August 22, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The popularity of Care Free Curl drove revenues up at an almost unbelievable pace, from $500,000 in 1979 to $55 million by 1982. She also hired a third-party company to maintain inventory and positioning of Soft Sheen's products in retail stores.
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