gary gardner soft sheen

He was my father, my hero, my teacher. ]); Now, retail outlets can't stock enough of the products. Black Men XCEL 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. 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Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. Juris Doctor, Northwestern University, 1980. In the fall of 1997, the company launched Alternatives, a line of relaxers and styling products designed for younger women who varied their hairstyles from day to day. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Sign Up. 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. The entrepreneur created Soft Sheens first Hair and Scalp conditioner. Two of the company's early products were Soft Sheen Hair & Scalp Conditioner and Miss Cool Five Minute Fast Set, a quick-setting lotion that eliminated the need for sleeping in rollers. Gary Gardner. Subscribe to Newsletter playerId: '4c4274f6-883d-4331-88d6-3a01a54156b9' Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. 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. 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. The Gardners claim Namaste's growth occurred through listening to the needs and desires of customers for healing hair care products that reminded them of nourishing household remedies. She also hired a third-party company to maintain inventory and positioning of Soft Sheen's products in retail stores. tag: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', 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. Gardiner and his wife, Bettiann, founded Soft Sheen in 1964. Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. "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.". He taught me how to engage people with humanity and humility., Gardners daughter, Terri, said: My father saw the untapped potential of his community. Gardner sold the business in 1998. That gave Mr. Gardner an idea and he began experimenting. Edward G. Gardner was a humanitarian, a philanthropist, and a successful businessman, who loved the city of Chicago and Chicago loved him in return. '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. 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. Edward Gardners early efforts at making Black hair care products started in the family kitchen, with his wifes pots and pans. As an activist and civic leader, Gardner raised $300,000 with Soft Sheens resources 40 years ago, according to a news release. Words of remembrance and condolences are invited at Edward Gardner In Memoriam Facebook Group page https://www.facebook.com/groups/3117330031746372 Mr. Gardner, the son of a warehouse worker and a seamstress, had to overcome much in his early years. "At the trade shows, everyone is bunched up around his table trying to find out more about it.". In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Chicago State University: www.csu.edu/foundation/donate.htm. 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. page_type: 'article', 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. 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. Analyst Ken Smikle, of Target Market News, said of Soft Sheen: He taught me to fish. '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. He was also a board member of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League, as well as co-owner of the Chicago Bulls. Conditioning was particularly important to preserve the health of black hair, which tended to dry out under the stress of styling and chemical processing. In 1987, Soft Sheen moved to compensate for diminishing domestic sales by expanding its presence in overseas markets. In the late 1980s, the ethnic hair care market began to soften, with overall industry growth slowing to around three percent a year. 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. He stuttered as a child. He was the embodiment of the hard-working, family-focused, responsible Black father. Gardner and his wife Bettiann founded the company in 1964. Soft Sheen started as a garage-based business and grew to an international empire that influenced how people all over the world beautified themselves. So he worked as a part time salesman selling beauty products to salons. Soft Sheen co-founder, civic leader Edward Gardner dies. As the years went by, the Gardners continued to work hard and Soft Sheen flourished. 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. WebTen-year-old Gary Gardner, Soft Sheen s future president, mixed Soft Sheen Hair and Scalp Conditioner and demonstrated it at trade shows. Despite the success, Mr. Gardner never moved from his neighborhood. "My father saw the untapped potential of his community. kw: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', subcat: '', Soft Sheen's already exponential sales growth got a further boost in the 1980s from the widespread vogue of the 'Jheri-curl' hairstyle. 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. 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. Its 200-plus products include shampoos, conditioners, relaxers, perms, and gels. Women of Power Summit The slowdown was largely due to a consumer trend toward shorter and drier hairstyles, which required fewer styling products. (L to R) Back row: State Rep. Marcus Evans (33), Alderman Michelle Harris (8) and State Sen. Jacqueline Collins (16). 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. Mr. Gardner sold the business in 1998. Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. All rights reserved. Testing various mixtures on their children, the Gardners developed several products that were specifically formulated to address the needs of African Americans. cnx({ The Gardners married in 1950 and from their union four children were born. Entrepreneurs Summit He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we cant achieve.. L'Oreal found it shared a lot "in common values" with Soft Sheen, he added. In early 1996, Gary Gardner resigned from his post as Soft Sheen president. He was 98. 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. In part, this effort resulted in the election of Harold Washington as Chicagos first Black mayor. cnx.cmd.push(function() { 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? The grassroots organization has been a staple in Chicagos activist community for decades. 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. G7 Solutions. ABOUT 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. pos: 'right_rail_2', "I'm very comfortable that this organization is capable of helping Soft Sheen meet the vision that we set years ago.". In fact, retailers account for approximately 75 percent of its sales, and salons for 20 percent. 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. Find your friends on Facebook. B.E. Contact Finally, we can read about how these great companies came about with Company Histories.. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. He rallied his troops.. It expanded its offerings to a myriad of social services including after-school programs and employment training. In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. Paris (AFP) - France's President Emmanuel Macron faces more nationwide protests on Monday as he seeks to steer the country on from a divisive pension law that has sparked anger, pan-bashing and social unrest. WebLater, she executed the merger of a major competitor, as president of Soft Sheen/Carson division of LOral USA, overseeing 500 worldwide employees and revenues over $150 million by 2000. No one calls it the nerd prom anymore. Three boys and one girl: Gary, Guy, Tracy and Terri. By Stefano Esposito Updated Mar 22, 2023, 10:28am PDT Pocket page_type: 'article', divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Master of Business Administration, Northwestern University, 1980. Chicago, IL 60601 Ed Gardner proudly walked arm-in-arm at the front of the line with his long- time colleagues, Manford Byrd, Lerone Bennett and Timuel Black. The gentle, conditioning Optimum Care quickly became the industry's best-selling relaxer. Soft Sheen Products officially launched in 1964 while Mr. Gardner was still an assistant principal at a local school. Meanwhile, Gardner continued giving Soft Sheen a makeover, with many of her efforts focused on improving customer relations. On the side, he would deliver hair care products out of the back of his car to South Side beauty salons. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Our purpose in this world wasnt to make money, wasnt to build a gigantic factory and hire a lot of people, Mr. Gardner said. I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. His and his wifes love of theater inspired him to re-create one of Chicagos most historic entertainment venues, the Regal Theater. WebThe 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. Mr. Gardner was a well-known philanthropist and activist. At twelve, he took me to work with him on Saturdays, where I learned to make hair products. } pos: 'right_rail_3', Once again, the Gardners started thinking about selling their 33-year-old business. Dallas/Fort Worth Area. He believed in himself and his ability to not just hope things worked out, but to make sure things worked out. In 1996, the Gardners established an What he faced as the newly appointed president, however, was less a matter of getting a fledgling company off the ground and more a matter of controlling a business that was growing too fast. 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. Popularized by recording artist Michael Jackson, the wet-looking, loosely curled style required a whole host of hair care products to achieve and maintain. Gardner sold the business in 1998. St. James Press, 2000. learn how over 7,000 companies got started! Targeting these 'Generation Y' consumers--which research showed to be an underserved segment of the market--Soft Sheen went for an innovative, fresh look and feel in its product packaging and ad copy. Gary Gardner. Beauticians would tell him what they liked, didnt like or what they wished they could buy. He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we can't achieve." 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. Suite 3200 Yes. 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. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. Registry of Corporate Directors. Dismayed by the level of violence in the community, in the 1980s he created the non- profit organization, Black On Black Love. That's how executives, speaking publicly for the first time since the acquisition July 1, explained the deal Thursday. BE 100s 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.

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