tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Blitzing the city with banners, print and radio advertisements, the campaign registered over 200,000 new voters and helped secure Harold Washingtons victory. Mr. Gardner told the Chicago Citizen that he and Mrs. Gardner are blessed to have been honored for their many contributions over the years. Most importantly, he taught me how to engage all people with humanity and humility, said Gary Gardner. . Instead of flowers, donations to Chicago State University can be made here. He was my father, my hero, my teacher, said Gary Gardner, one of Mr. Gardners four children. All he needed to know was that you thought he couldnt do something, and that would make him do it even more, Terri Gardner said. About 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. 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. 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 was 98. He leaves a legend of love and a powerful life for the world to remember. Although the company refused to release the price of the acquisition, industry analysts estimated it at more than $160 million. Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. Dismayed by the level of violence in the community, in the 1980s he created the non- profit organization, Black On Black Love. aid: '864241', Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS 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. WebTen-year-old Gary Gardner, Soft Sheen s future president, mixed Soft Sheen Hair and Scalp Conditioner and demonstrated it at trade shows. 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. A private family service is planned. The company also began selling its products in foreign markets. pos: 'right_rail_1', In a September 1998 interview with Black Enterprise, Gardner explained the company's decision to join L'Oreal. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. 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. kw: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', Soft Sheen Products, Inc. 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. Education Bachelor of Science, University Illinois, Chicago, 1975. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. "Gary slipped this line in through the back door very discreetly, but it's hot as a firecracker," says Kelly Murphy, president of New Jersey-based distributor East West Sales Network, who isn't representing Namaste's products but wishes he were. In part, this effort resulted in the election of Harold Washington as Chicagos first Black mayor. The slowdown was largely due to a consumer trend toward shorter and drier hairstyles, which required fewer styling products. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! 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. cnx({ 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. Gardner and his wife Bettiann founded the company in 1964. In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. The company expected its global expansion to drive sales up to $150 million by the middle of the 1990s. The entrepreneur created Soft Sheens first Hair and Scalp conditioner. As the years went by, the Gardners continued to work hard and Soft Sheen flourished. In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. "I'm very comfortable that this organization is capable of helping Soft Sheen meet the vision that we set years ago.". 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. Gardner 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. Edward G. Gardner was a humanitarian, a philanthropist, and a successful businessman, who loved the city of Chicago and Chicago loved him in return. ", The White House Correspondents Association Dinner Best Dressed. I was his assistant when he made product deliveries. 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. Soft Sheen co-founder, civic leader Edward Gardner dies. subcat: '', He was my father, my hero, my teacher, Gary Gardner said in a news release. Principal Competitors: Alberto-Culver Company; Carson Inc.; Massimo Enterprises Inc.; Revlon, Inc. '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. The popularity of Care Free Curl drove revenues up at an almost unbelievable pace, from $500,000 in 1979 to $55 million by 1982. He taught me to garden. In 2012, at age 87, Gardner organized more than 1,000 protesters in response to a South Side construction sites lack of Black workers. 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. Distributors say Mr. Gardner and his wife, who was Soft Sheen's marketing chief, commissioned an independent study to prove the products work. 1995 sales were about $94 million, considerably short of Gardner's expectations. 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. Gary Gardner. Its 200-plus products include shampoos, conditioners, relaxers, perms, and gels. 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. The company's presence in overseas markets was also likely to increase, supported by L'Oreal's vast global reach. He was my father, my hero, my teacher, said Gary Gardner, one of Mr. Gardners four children. Three boys and one girl: Gary, Guy, Tracy and Terri. Shaking in dogs could mean a number of different things. Since the 1970s, its flagship product Black Enterprise magazine has covered African-American businesses with a readership of 3.7 million. Keep in mind the child is an extension of youeverything that they do is a reflection of you. Suite 3200 tude.cmd.push(function() { Gary Gardner. } He was also a board member of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League, as well as co-owner of the Chicago Bulls. 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.'. He was also a board member of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League, as well as co-owner of the Chicago Bulls. WebMr. Now, retail outlets can't stock enough of the products. Beauticians would tell him what they liked, didnt like or what they wished they could buy. env: 'prod', }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; aid: '864241', Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Betty and Ed Gardner celebrate their street dedication ceremony with members of the Illinois legislature and Chicago City Council. WebPeople named Gary Gardner. Gary Gardner. Gardner and his wife Bettiann founded the company in 1964. 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. 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. We bring news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and entertained. Once again, the Gardners started thinking about selling their 33-year-old business. Gardner, Edward G. 1925 | Encyclopedia.com (Provided) Edward Gardners early efforts at making Black hair care products started in the family kitchen, with his } He was a part-owner of the Chicago Bulls, and for many years, attended every home game. BE 100s 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. Sales Partnership Solutions He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we cant achieve.. Harold Washington Edward G. Gardner, co-founder of Soft Sheen Products, died Monday. 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. 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. It expanded its offerings to a myriad of social services including after-school programs and employment training. Edward Gardner passed away peacefully Monday March 20, 2023, surrounded by family, and loved ones. He was 98. See Photos. 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. His survivors also include two other children, Guy and Tracy, his wife, seven grandchildren and a great-grandson, the Sun-Times reports. Despite such optimistic predictions, Soft Sheen did not have great success in penetrating foreign markets, and domestic sales continued to make up the great bulk of its revenues. Education Bachelor of Science, University Illinois, Chicago, 1975. Find your friends on Facebook. subcat: '', Gardner will remain at the helm of Soft Sheen. tude.cmd.push(function() { He taught me the value of a strong work ethic. based on Chicagos South Side, evolved into one of the nations largest Black-owned businesses. Terri had previously served as Soft Sheen's executive vice-president of advertising, as well as president of Brainstorm Communications, the company's ad agency. 31. He started off on [his wifes] stove. pos: 'right_rail_2', Edward Gardner, co-founder of Soft Sheen, dies at 98 Its an entrepreneurial quality that allowedhim to create a business despite the challenges of institutional and individual racism. url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', Staying current is easy with Crain's news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge. Read news from 100s of titles, curated specifically for you. At twelve, he took me to work with him on Saturdays, where I learned to make hair products. 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. Management Its distribution system was inefficient and slow, with orders taking ten days to be filled. WebEdward Gardner passed away peacefully Monday March 20, 2023, surrounded by family, and loved ones. 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. 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. He was 98, his family said. L'Oreal found it shared a lot "in common values" with Soft Sheen, he added. cnx.cmd.push(function() { Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! See Photos. He stuttered as a child. Gary Gardner. Click below to see everything we have to offer. 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 will remain at the helm of Soft Sheen. It had to go out in the alley. 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. WebGardner, Gary Edward was born on August 22, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. page_type: 'article', Background Gardner, Gary Edward was born on August 22, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Soft Sheen co-founder, civic leader, Edward Gardner dies The Gardners married in 1950 and from their union four children were born. In May, the family hired a financial advisory firm to review Soft Sheen's options, prompting a flurry of rumors that the company was for sale. 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. 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. 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. In the late 1980s, the ethnic hair care market began to soften, with overall industry growth slowing to around three percent a year. Instead of flowers, donations to Chicago State University can be made here. 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. Masthead. As the Gardner family began to grow, Mr. Gardner, an educator by profession, began to seek other avenues to generate additional income. 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. In India, where 42 million women have the disease, cultural stigmas can make the delay even longer, Why Is My Dog Shaking? No one calls it the nerd prom anymore. 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. He taught me how to build, how to fix things, how to drive, and how not to drive. Soft Sheen co-founder, civic leader Edward Gardner dies - Yahoo To boost sales, she doubled the company's advertising budget, and began developing new television commercials. 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. Terri Gardner. Soft Sheen will become a division of Cosmair while L'Oreal will expand its ethnic research and development activities to Chicago. Industry insiders speculate that Mr. Gardner, flush with cash from the sale of the family business, is funding Namaste by himself. 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. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 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. Mr. Gardner was also a well-known philanthropist. 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. The Citizen Newspaper Group He believed in himself and his ability to not just hope things worked out, but to make sure things worked out. As consumers, we often take for granted all the hard work that goes into building a great company. Career 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. All rights reserved. Gary Gardner 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? In 2012, at age 87, Gardner organized more than 1,000 protesters in response to a South Side construction sites lack of Black workers. Unfortunately, those challenges never went away in spite of his tremendous business success.. Last year, the $80-million Chicago-based company was sold to French cosmetics giant L'Oreal SA for an estimated $100 million-plus. Another major product introduction soon followed. Soft Sheen Products officially launched in 1964 while Mr. Gardner was still an assistant principal at a local school. Edward G. Gardners hair care line started in his home basement and grew to be one the largest Black-owned businesses of its kind in the nation. Edward G. Gardner, co-founder of Soft Sheen Products and beloved philanthropist, dead at 98 Mr. Gardner donated tens of thousands of dollars to causes that sought to end gun violence and helped create the nonprofit Black On Black Love. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', He employs fewer than 25 administrators and marketers and outsources manufacturing and packaging operations, sources say. ABOUT page_type: 'article', Gary Gardner, President, Soft Sheen Products Inc., 1993 Elizabeth Garrett, Professor of law, deputy dean for academic affairs, Univ. 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. } Finally, we can read about how these great companies came about with Company Histories.. He taught for several years in Chicago Public Schools and was also an administrator. He was my father, my hero, my teacher. Gardner sold the business in 1998. Mr. Gardner was a well-known philanthropist and activist. The company produces embroidery application softtware for the craft and industrial market. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. 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. 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. 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. Soft Sheen Products, Inc. -- Company History The new signage will hang at 87th and Dobson near the site of the former home of Soft Sheen Products. 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. tag: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', ". In part, this effort resulted in the election of Harold Washington as Chicagos first Black mayor. We never got the wax out of the pan. He reduced employment 27 percent, to 620 employees, between 1984 and 1988 by not replacing workers who left. 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. ]); He was 98 years old. (Photo by Jerome Photography). Their interim leader Terri Gardner, however, was no mere figurehead. 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. }); !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); 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 It bothered him deeply that when he saw construction projects on the South Side, often the workers werent Black. That gave Mr. Gardner an idea and he began experimenting. He overcame it. She made good on her promise. 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. My father saw the untapped potential of his community. url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', targeting: { Last month he signed a law to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, despite months of strikes, One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites, Philippines, China to discuss fishing rights in South China Sea-Marcos. I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. He was 98 years old. Ads tout the products' natural ingredients, herbs and vitamins. Soft Sheen finished 1997 with sales of $94.5 million. For more than half a century, the family has shared their husband, father, father-in- law, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather proudly and unselfishly with the world. 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. 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. Gary Edward Gardner (born August 22, 1954), American Throughout his ownership of the company, he continued to offer exclusive products for his beloved salon customers. cat: 'fashion-beauty', 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.
