tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Contact 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. She made good on her promise. 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. }); !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); div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', The Soft Sheen Products co-founder was a devoted advocate of Chicagos African-American community. He melted wax in one of the pans, said one of Mr. Gardners four children, Terri Gardner. He was also a board member of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League, as well as co-owner of the Chicago Bulls. Career INFORMATION Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. 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. 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. Words of remembrance and condolences are invited at Edward Gardner In Memoriam Facebook Group page https://www.facebook.com/groups/3117330031746372 Peyrelongue and Gardner are unsure of the impact on employee rolls. About 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. 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. The gentle, conditioning Optimum Care quickly became the industry's best-selling relaxer. He employs fewer than 25 administrators and marketers and outsources manufacturing and packaging operations, sources say. We bring news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and entertained. 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. By the late 1980s, the company was one of the largest Black-owned beauty brands in the country. As the Gardner family began to grow, Mr. Gardner, an educator by profession, began to seek other avenues to generate additional income. B.E. With this war chest, he mounted a campaign that registered more than 200,000 voters. 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. 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. But about six months ago, Namaste began an aggressive marketing campaign for its Organic Root Stimulator products that included advertising in Essence, Ebony and Jet magazines. ]); 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. or. Subscribe to Newsletter Terri Gardner. WebMr. Gary Gardner. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. 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. The company sells its products to salons, beauty supply houses, and such retailers as drug stores and department stores. In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. The post Soft Sheen co-founder, civic leader Edward Gardner dies appeared first on TheGrio. Privacy Policy Beauticians would tell him what they liked, didnt like or what they wished they could buy. Instead of flowers, donations to Chicago State University can be made here. In part, this effort resulted in the election of Harold Washington as Chicagos first Black mayor. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', He was 98. Upon assuming her position, she almost immediately began making significant changes in the company's operations. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', I looked up to him Gary Gardner stated on Wednesday. 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. 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. "L'Oreal is, in fact, a company that was started by a man and his wife, and that's basically the story of Soft Sheen," said Terri Gardner, president of Soft Sheen and daughter of the company's founder. In early 1996, Gary Gardner resigned from his post as Soft Sheen president. . As the years went by, the Gardners continued to work hard and Soft Sheen flourished. cat: 'fashion-beauty', 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. 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. 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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. 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. BE 100s Gardners charitable contributions were in the tens of thousands of dollars to fight gun violence. Their interim leader Terri Gardner, however, was no mere figurehead. Gardiner and his wife, Bettiann, founded Soft Sheen in 1964. 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. By Stefano Esposito Updated Mar 22, 2023, 10:28am PDT Pocket Gardner will remain at the helm of Soft Sheen. Management Betty and Ed Gardner celebrate their street dedication ceremony with members of the Illinois legislature and Chicago City Council. Simultaneously, his wife Denise resigned from her position as vice-president of marketing. Read news from 100s of titles, curated specifically for you. WebTen-year-old Gary Gardner, Soft Sheen s future president, mixed Soft Sheen Hair and Scalp Conditioner and demonstrated it at trade shows. By May 1997, Soft Sheen had released two new lines, Mizani and Hair Werks, that were designed exclusively for use in salons. You replace crime by realizing that as a mother and as a father you have a responsibility to do all you can to give that child the best chance for a happy life. He taught me how to engage people with humanity and humility., Gardners daughter, Terri, said: My father saw the untapped potential of his community. 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. Three boys and one girl: Gary, Guy, Tracy and Terri. 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. 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. only a slight increase over 1996, despite new product introductions and improvements in operational efficiency. 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. ", The White House Correspondents Association Dinner Best Dressed. And in 2012, at the age of 87 and walking with a cane, he led a protest down Western Avenue, his son said. WebEdward Gardner passed away peacefully Monday March 20, 2023, surrounded by family, and loved ones. Impressed with Terri Gardner's leadership abilities, the Soft Sheen board of directors asked her to fill the president and CEO positions on a permanent basis. Unfortunately, those challenges never went away in spite of his tremendous business success.. Master of Business Administration, Northwestern University, 1980. 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. He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we can't achieve." From a young age, his four children, Gary, Terri, Guy, and Tracy, along with his wife Bettiann, were intricately involved in the business. He also taught me how to make mistakes. His enterprise still isn't widely known, even among ethnic hair care industry executives and consultants. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 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. The Rev. She agreed in March 1996. He stuttered as a child. Soft Sheen started as a garage-based business and grew to an international empire that influenced how people all over the world beautified themselves. Soft Sheen Products officially launched in 1964 while Mr. Gardner was still an assistant principal at a local school. 2023 The Citizen Newspaper Group, All Rights Reserved. E-mail oureditor All rights reserved. Principal Subsidiaries: Dyke & Dryden, Ltd. (U.K.; 66%); Soft Sheen Products, Ltd. (Jamaica); Soft Sheen International. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! Gardner will remain at the helm of Soft Sheen. He got teased a lot, Terri Gardner said. }).render('ba25868856a746c68da2b09b1b55bc48'); In the early 1980s Mr. Gardner founded Black on Black Love an organization tailored towards curtailing violence in Chicago. Soft Sheen markets its products in several countries, including Africa, Brazil, and the Caribbean, as well as in the United States. cnx({ } Registry of Corporate Directors. 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. The planned research and development center was almost certain to result in substantial innovations in ethnic hair care products and a steady flow of new product introductions. Despite the success, Mr. Gardner never moved from his neighborhood. aid: '864241', 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. He eventually resigned from the position to wholeheartedly focus on the familys business and launch the line nationwide. The Gardners married in 1950 and from their union four children were born. We never got the wax out of the pan. 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. Sign Up. Distributors say Mr. Gardner and his wife, who was Soft Sheen's marketing chief, commissioned an independent study to prove the products work. ABOUT In addition to his son Gary, survivors include three other children, Terri, Guy and Tracy, and his wife, Bettiann. Entrepreneurs Summit tag: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Chicago State University, https://www.csu.edu/foundation/donate.htm. We went from small mom and pop to a major player in the business, said Gary Gardner. It bothered him deeply that when he saw construction projects on the South Side, often the workers werent Black. All rights reserved. He believed in himself and his ability to not just hope things worked out, but to make sure things worked out. The grassroots organization has been a staple in Chicagos activist community for decades. I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. 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. tag: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', The company had also lagged in product development, not introducing a major new product for more than two years. He taught me to fish. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we cant achieve.. Principal Competitors: Alberto-Culver Company; Carson Inc.; Massimo Enterprises Inc.; Revlon, Inc. Throughout his ownership of the company, he continued to offer exclusive products for his beloved salon customers. Blitzing the city with banners, print and radio advertisements, the campaign registered over 200,000 new voters and helped secure Harold Washingtons victory. 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. He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we cant achieve. Terri Gardner. That gave Mr. Gardner an idea and he began experimenting. Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. 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. He was 98. In part, this effort resulted in the election of Harold Washington as Chicagos first Black mayor. 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. To ensure that the company did not outgrow its capabilities, Gardner deliberately decelerated. "At the trade shows, everyone is bunched up around his table trying to find out more about it.". A private family service is planned. The slowdown was largely due to a consumer trend toward shorter and drier hairstyles, which required fewer styling products. 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. kw: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. The increased consumer use of gels, sprays, and moisturizers, in tandem with the continued sales growth of the Care Free Curl and Optimum Care lines, elevated Soft Sheen's sales to $87.2 million in 1989. based on Chicagos South Side, evolved into one of the nations largest Black-owned businesses. 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. Gardner and his wife Bettiann founded the company in 1964. Everything changed in 1979, however, when Soft Sheen introduced a new product called Care Free Curl. env: 'prod', Jul 1984 - Present38 years 10 months. You dont replace crime by keep on adding more policemen, Mr. Gardner said of the problem. 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. Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. pos: 'right_rail_1', 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. Pet Experts Reveal How to Help. "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. 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. The new signage will hang at 87th and Dobson near the site of the former home of Soft Sheen Products. 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. 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. I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. See Photos. ]); Peyrelongue and Gardner are unsure of the impact on employee rolls. My mother let him know that the pans were off limits because we needed to eat.. Soft Sheen Products Inc. is the top U.S. producer of ethnic hair care products. page_type: 'article', So he worked as a part time salesman selling beauty products to salons. Our purpose in this world wasnt to make money, wasnt to build a gigantic factory and hire a lot of people, Mr. Gardner said. Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. As the oldest, I think I spent the most time with him as a child. No one calls it the nerd prom anymore. 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. Jones adamant Wallabies can be best in the world. Meanwhile, Soft Sheen continued to introduce new products. tude.cmd.push(function() { After pan-bashing, France's Macron faces Labour Day protests. 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. 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. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Background Gardner, Gary Edward was born on August 22, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. Mr. Gardner declined a request for an interview with a curt "I'm not going to talk to you about it.". Keep in mind the child is an extension of youeverything that they do is a reflection of you. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. Gardner sold the business in 1998. She developed new packaging options that helped retailers better manage their inventories, and upgraded the company's computer system to facilitate electronic customer communication. Since the 1970s, its flagship product Black Enterprise magazine has covered African-American businesses with a readership of 3.7 million. Gardner, the co-founder of the hair care company Soft Sheen Products Inc., died Monday surrounded by family. SistersInc. She transitioned him to the basement, Terri Gardner said. He was a part-owner of the Chicago Bulls, and for many years, attended every home game. pos: 'right_rail_3', 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. env: 'prod', Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS Yes. 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. Gardners charitable contributions were in the tens of thousands of dollars to fight gun violence. 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. cat: 'fashion-beauty', He was my father, my hero, my teacher, Gary Gardner said in a news release. url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', env: 'prod', Click here to get the full experience on your screen. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! subcat: '', Soft Sheen started as a garage-based business and grew to an international empire that influenced how people all over the world beautified themselves. 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. Mr. Gardner sold the business in 1998. He was 98. Gardner sold the business in 1998. He taught me how to build, how to fix things, how to drive, and how not to drive. 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. } Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. As an activist and civic leader, Gardner raised $300,000 with Soft Sheens resources 40 years ago, according to a news release. He also cut operational costs, in an effort to boost profits. Warning of exceptionally low staffing levels as nurses strike, NHS services across England facing major disruption after nurses walk out in 28 hour strike over pay, Bangladesh journalists living in fear after PMs enemy of the people remark, Reporters say even seemingly innocuous stories are putting them at risk of assault, intimidation and police action under the Digital Security Act, Macron Faces Labor Day Protests over Divisive Pension Law, 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. 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. He was also a board member of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League, as well as co-owner of the Chicago Bulls. Copyright (c) 2022 Company-Histories.com. 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. By Mary Mitchell Mar 22, 2023, 5:23pm PDT Pocket Find your friends on Facebook. The Gardners married in 1950 and from their union four children were born. } 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. We see them around but we don't know what goes on behind the scenes. WebGardner, Gary Edward was born on August 22, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.