gary gardner soft sheen

Gardners charitable contributions were in the tens of thousands of dollars to fight gun violence. Background Gardner, Gary Edward was born on August 22, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. After over 30 years of business, the Gardners sold Soft Sheen Products to LOreal. In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. He was 98 years old. Gary Gardner. ", The White House Correspondents Association Dinner Best Dressed. He was 98. Gary Gardner. 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. Gardners death was confirmed by his children in a statement. 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. 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. Edward Gardner passed away peacefully Monday March 20, 2023, surrounded by family, and loved ones. He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we can't achieve." targeting: { Soft Sheen founder Ed Gardner meets with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel over lack of blacks in construction jobs, Hair discrimination laws: A reprieve from the crime of knowing and loving ourselves. Mr. Gardner died Monday at his home near 91st Street and Michigan Avenue, where he spent all but four of his 98 years, his family said. targeting: { According to Terri Gardner, One of my dads greatest qualities was his perseverance. } 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. Food -- how it is prepared and consumed -- can be a reflection of social status. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Yes. cnx({ page_type: 'article', url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. Gary Gardner. Click here to get the full experience on your screen. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Gary Gardner. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', "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 got up early in the morning, telling us Were not going to make it this way meaning lets get to work. He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we cant achieve.. Mr. Gardner was a well-known philanthropist and activist. He was the embodiment of the hard-working, family-focused, responsible Black father. Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney leading Trump case, says rhetoric wont intimidate office, Video shows sheriffs deputies and hospital workers pinned Irvo Otieno to floor before his death, I agree to storage of my email according to, WATCH: Brittney Griner delivers remarks to the media, OPINION: The College Boards secret apology, Harry Belafonte mourned by entertainment world, Biden, Obama, Carolyn Bryant Donham, at center of Emmett Till death, dies, FIRST PERSON: For this Black mom, Ralph Yarl could have been her son. And in 2012, at the age of 87 and walking with a cane, he led a protest down Western Avenue, his son said. Yes, yes, yes. 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. 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. Testing various mixtures on their children, the Gardners developed several products that were specifically formulated to address the needs of African Americans. Gardner sold the business in 1998. 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. page_type: 'article', In the late 1980s, the ethnic hair care market began to soften, with overall industry growth slowing to around three percent a year. These operational shortcomings, along with adverse market conditions, put the brakes on Soft Sheen's sales growth. Everything changed in 1979, however, when Soft Sheen introduced a new product called Care Free Curl. Disagreement or no, Gary Gardner retained his seat on the board of directors, while the company installed his sister, Terri Gardner, as interim president and CEO. WebEdward Gardner passed away peacefully Monday March 20, 2023, surrounded by family, and loved ones. A private family service is planned. }).render('ba25868856a746c68da2b09b1b55bc48'); Their interim leader Terri Gardner, however, was no mere figurehead. Gardner, the co-founder of the hair care company Soft Sheen Products Inc., died Monday surrounded by family. '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. 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. The entrepreneur created Soft Sheens first Hair and Scalp conditioner. 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. He taught me how to engage people with humanity and humility., Gardners daughter, Terri, said: My father saw the untapped potential of his community. With this war chest, he mounted a campaign that registered more than 200,000 voters. Gary Gardner. The house in which he died Monday was two houses down from the home where he grew up, his family said. We see them around but we don't know what goes on behind the scenes. Copyright 2023 inkl. To boost sales, she doubled the company's advertising budget, and began developing new television commercials. Son of Edward George and Betty Ann (Gueno) Gardner. As it turned out, Gardner's slowing-down tactics were timely. Since the 1970s, its flagship product Black Enterprise magazine has covered African-American businesses with a readership of 3.7 million. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. His survivors also include two other children, Guy and Tracy, his wife, seven grandchildren and a great-grandson, the Sun-Times reports. url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', 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. 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 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. In 1987, Soft Sheen moved to compensate for diminishing domestic sales by expanding its presence in overseas markets. Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. Gardners charitable contributions were in the tens of thousands of dollars to fight gun 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. The line is being distributed nationwide through retailers including the nation's largest beauty supply chain, Sally Beauty Co. After pan-bashing, France's Macron faces Labour Day protests. He believed in himself and his ability to not just hope things worked out, but to make sure things worked out. Mr. Gardner was also a well-known philanthropist. See Photos. Privacy Policy Gardner, the co-founder of the hair care company Soft Sheen Products Inc., died Monday surrounded by family. Shaking in dogs could mean a number of different things. Mr. Gardner, the son of a warehouse worker and a seamstress, had to overcome much in his early years. He was the embodiment of the hard-working, family-focused, responsible Black father. 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. "At the trade shows, everyone is bunched up around his table trying to find out more about it.". 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. 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. 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. We went from small mom and pop to a major player in the business, said Gary Gardner. 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. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! All rights reserved. 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. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. 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. WebSoft Sheen was sold to hair care giant L'Oreal for over $100 million (US). Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS 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. She also hired a third-party company to maintain inventory and positioning of Soft Sheen's products in retail stores. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. env: 'prod', 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. 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. Copyright (c) 2022 Company-Histories.com. Gardner owner of Soft Sheen Products, Inc. Photo provided by the Salient Group, Inc. Edward Gardner passed away peacefully Monday March 20, 2023, surrounded by family, and loved ones. Analyst Ken Smikle, of Target Market News, said of Soft Sheen: 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. Another of her initiatives involved restructuring and consolidating the company's warehouse operations, a move that increased on-time shipments and improved service levels. The new signage will hang at 87th and Dobson near the site of the former home of Soft Sheen Products. His survivors also include two other children, Guy and Tracy, his wife, seven grandchildren and a great-grandson, the Sun-Times reports. 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. Upon assuming her position, she almost immediately began making significant changes in the company's operations. kw: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. 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. . 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. Ed and Betty Gardner, the driving force behind Soft Sheen Products were honored last Thursday with a street naming dedication ceremony not too far from where their company was once located. 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. Gardner and his wife Bettiann founded the company in 1964. 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. Get the best business coverage in Chicago, from breaking news to razor-sharp analysis, in print and online. 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. 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. tude.cmd.push(function() { He made his own way.. Beauticians would tell him what they liked, didnt like or what they wished they could buy. In the early 1980s Mr. Gardner founded Black on Black Love an organization tailored towards curtailing violence in 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. "Today our presence is almost all over the world, with the exception of people of African descent, who have very specific needs in terms of hair," Peyrelongue said. Please check your email for confirmation from us. In 1996, the Gardners established an In a September 1998 interview with Black Enterprise, Gardner explained the company's decision to join L'Oreal. of Chicago Law School, 2000 Ronald G. Garriques pos: 'right_rail_3', 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 That gave Mr. Gardner an idea and he began experimenting. Keep in mind the child is an extension of youeverything that they do is a reflection of you. Another major product introduction soon followed. Popularized by recording artist Michael Jackson, the wet-looking, loosely curled style required a whole host of hair care products to achieve and maintain. If he wasnt at work, he was home with family. ft. warehouse at 95th & Cottage Grove into House of Kicks, a family entertainment and educational complex. Missing Crain's in print? BE 100s Finally, we can read about how these great companies came about with Company Histories.. In fact, retailers account for approximately 75 percent of its sales, and salons for 20 percent. E-mail oureditor About We bring news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and entertained. only a slight increase over 1996, despite new product introductions and improvements in operational efficiency. That's how executives, speaking publicly for the first time since the acquisition July 1, explained the deal Thursday. Peyrelongue and Gardner are unsure of the impact on employee rolls. 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. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Gary Gardner. In 1964, at age ten, Gardner began working for the family business, Soft Sheen Products, Inc., packaging hair care items with his younger sister in the familys home in Chicago. Education Bachelor of Science, University Illinois, Chicago, 1975. In India, where 42 million women have the disease, cultural stigmas can make the delay even longer, Why Is My Dog Shaking? The Gardners are still active in the community today and enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren. SistersInc. In 1964, he left a career as a popular teacher and assistant principal to INFORMATION 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. Simultaneously, his wife Denise resigned from her position as vice-president of marketing. As consumers, we often take for granted all the hard work that goes into building a great company. Betty and Ed Gardner celebrate their street dedication ceremony with members of the Illinois legislature and Chicago City Council. Son of Edward George and Betty Ann (Gueno) Gardner. ]); 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. Sales Partnership Solutions Dismayed by the level of violence in the community, in the 1980s he created the non- profit organization, Black On Black Love. Here's how to figure out what's wrong with your pup. "I'm very comfortable that this organization is capable of helping Soft Sheen meet the vision that we set years ago.". She developed new packaging options that helped retailers better manage their inventories, and upgraded the company's computer system to facilitate electronic customer communication. Most importantly, he taught me how to engage all people with humanity and humility, said Gary Gardner. On the side, he would deliver hair care products out of the back of his car to South Side beauty salons. By the late 1980s, the company was one of the largest Black-owned beauty brands in the country. In 1992, his in-house communication agency, led by his daughter Terri, created a second highly successful voter registration campaign in partnership with Project Vote, led by Barack Obama. Principal Subsidiaries: Dyke & Dryden, Ltd. (U.K.; 66%); Soft Sheen Products, Ltd. (Jamaica); Soft Sheen International. See Photos. playerId: '4c4274f6-883d-4331-88d6-3a01a54156b9' tag: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', By the late 1980s, the company was one of the largest Black-owned beauty brands in the country. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. It bothered him deeply that when he saw construction projects on the South Side, often the workers werent Black. pos: 'right_rail_2', He got teased a lot, Terri Gardner said. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Chicago State University, https://www.csu.edu/foundation/donate.htm. Career 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. All rights reserved. In early 1996, Gary Gardner resigned from his post as Soft Sheen president. Mid-1980s-90s: Second-Generation Gardner Leadership. The Soft Sheen Products co-founder was a devoted advocate of Chicagos African-American community. Terri Gardner. He was my father, my hero, my teacher. As the Gardner family began to grow, Mr. Gardner, an educator by profession, began to seek other avenues to generate additional income. He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we cant achieve.. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', But he says while the couple were busy making their imprint, they had no idea they affected so many people. 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. With amusement rides, bowling, mini-golf and an interactive learning center, the complex boasted the only roller coaster in Chicago at that time. 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. 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. By May 1997, Soft Sheen had released two new lines, Mizani and Hair Werks, that were designed exclusively for use in salons. 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. If you saw Ed Gardner out after work or on weekends, he had us, his children, in tow. The Gardners married in 1950 and from their union four children were born. Hell on earth: Indias taboos around womens pain leave endometriosis sufferers in agony, Despite the pain of the condition, diagnoses take seven years on average globally. Entrepreneurs Summit Peyrelongue and Gardner are unsure of the impact on employee rolls. At some point during his tenure as a salesman, Mr. Gardner learned that Black salons were unhappy with the limited supply of beauty products available to the African American consumer and therefore decided to take matters into his own hands. cat: 'fashion-beauty', He often stated his primary reason for establishing Soft Sheen Products, Inc., was to create employment opportunities for young Black and Brown men and women. He was 98, his family said. '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. He was 98. Ads tout the products' natural ingredients, herbs and vitamins. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. Soft Sheen Products Inc., a relatively small Chicago-based company, will help its new parent fill that hole. St. James Press, 2000. See Photos. Despite the success, Mr. Gardner never moved from his neighborhood. 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. 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. cnx.cmd.push(function() { Soft Sheen Products, Inc. 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. He reduced employment 27 percent, to 620 employees, between 1984 and 1988 by not replacing workers who left. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Words of remembrance and condolences are invited at Edward Gardner In Memoriam Facebook Group page https://www.facebook.com/groups/3117330031746372

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