Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; env: 'prod', In early 1999, the company unveiled Frizz Free, an anti-frizzing product that contained conditioners and oils to combat dryness and damage. In fact, retailers account for approximately 75 percent of its sales, and salons for 20 percent. page_type: 'article', And in 2012, at the age of 87 and walking with a cane, he led a protest down Western Avenue, his son said. Edward Gardners early efforts at making Black hair care products started in the family kitchen, with his wifes pots and pans. Click below to see everything we have to offer. Ads tout the products' natural ingredients, herbs and vitamins. 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. 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. based on Chicagos South Side, evolved into one of the nations largest Black-owned businesses. That gave Mr. Gardner an idea and he began experimenting. Gary He was also a board member of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League, as well as co-owner of the Chicago Bulls. As the years went by, the Gardners continued to work hard and Soft Sheen flourished. Soft Sheen markets its products in several countries, including Africa, Brazil, and the Caribbean, as well as in the United States. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', cnx({ 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. All rights reserved. kw: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,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. url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', 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. "My father saw the untapped potential of his community. } baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', He was 98, his family said. 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. Gary Gardner. 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. . After over 30 years of business, the Gardners sold Soft Sheen Products to LOreal. And now his work is done; he belongs to the ages. ABOUT In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Chicago State University: www.csu.edu/foundation/donate.htm. or. Get the best business coverage in Chicago, from breaking news to razor-sharp analysis, in print and online. 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. We never got the wax out of the pan. The Gardners married in 1950 and from their union four children were born. }); !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 2000, Ed converted an 84,600 sq. page_type: 'article', He stuttered as a child. 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. CHICAGO (CBS) -- Many are mourning the loss of Edward Gardner, a Chicago titan in business and philanthropy. By May 1997, Soft Sheen had released two new lines, Mizani and Hair Werks, that were designed exclusively for use in salons. Soft Sheen started as a garage-based business and grew to an international empire that influenced how people all over the world beautified themselves. He was 98 years old. In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. 31. The answer seemed to lie, first, in research and development. Although the company refused to release the price of the acquisition, industry analysts estimated it at more than $160 million. 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. She transitioned him to the basement, Terri Gardner said. Sign Up. Gary Gardner. The company produces embroidery application softtware for the craft and industrial market. ]); According to Terri Gardner, One of my dads greatest qualities was his perseverance. WebEdward Gardner passed away peacefully Monday March 20, 2023, surrounded by family, and loved ones. Gary Edward Gardner (born August 22, 1954), American Privacy Policy He loaned his creative staff, along with significant advertising dollars, to create the signature voter registration campaign, Come Alive October 5. I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. 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 made his own way.. WebGary Edward Gardner, American manufacturing executive. Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. A private family service is planned. page_type: 'article', Unfortunately, those challenges never went away in spite of his tremendous business success.. It bothered him deeply that when he saw construction projects on the South Side, often the workers werent Black. The company sells its products to salons, beauty supply houses, and such retailers as drug stores and department stores. } 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. 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. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! 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. But he says while the couple were busy making their imprint, they had no idea they affected so many people. (Photo by Jerome Photography). 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. He also taught me how to make mistakes. Mr. Gardner declined a request for an interview with a curt "I'm not going to talk to you about it.". Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. 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. Soft Sheen Products officially launched in 1964 while Mr. Gardner was still an assistant principal at a local school. }).render('ba25868856a746c68da2b09b1b55bc48'); Education Bachelor of Science, University Illinois, Chicago, 1975. 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 entrepreneur created Soft Sheens first Hair and Scalp conditioner. Terri Gardner. If you saw Ed Gardner out after work or on weekends, he had us, his children, in tow. 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 98 years old. He taught me how to engage people with humanity and humility., Gardners daughter, Terri, said: My father saw the untapped potential of his community. 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. To ensure that the company did not outgrow its capabilities, Gardner deliberately decelerated. A private family service is planned. Finally, we can read about how these great companies came about with Company Histories.. The popularity of Care Free Curl drove revenues up at an almost unbelievable pace, from $500,000 in 1979 to $55 million by 1982. Gardner, the co-founder of the hair care company Soft Sheen Products Inc., died Monday surrounded by family. He eventually resigned from the position to wholeheartedly focus on the familys business and launch the line nationwide. 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. Principal Subsidiaries: Dyke & Dryden, Ltd. (U.K.; 66%); Soft Sheen Products, Ltd. (Jamaica); Soft Sheen International. He taught me how to build, how to fix things, how to drive, and how not to drive. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. "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.". Mr. Gardner told the Chicago Citizen that he and Mrs. Gardner are blessed to have been honored for their many contributions over the years. He rallied his troops.. 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. 1964: Gary and Bettiann Gardner begin Soft Sheen in the basement of their home. 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. Mid-1980s-90s: Second-Generation Gardner Leadership. See Photos. 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. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. targeting: { WebMr. Soft Sheens Edward G. Gardner showed what Black life could be He built his family a beautiful home on the South Side of the city and co-founded a business that provided steady employment so others could do the same. Once again, the Gardners started thinking about selling their 33-year-old business. 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. learn how over 7,000 companies got started! Ald. Mr. Gardner was also a well-known philanthropist. "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. Gardiner and his wife, Bettiann, founded Soft Sheen in 1964. Edward G. Gardner, co-founder of Soft Sheen Products 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. Edward Gardner passed away peacefully Monday March 20, 2023, surrounded by family, and loved ones. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. 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. 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. Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we can't achieve." About Meanwhile, Gardner continued giving Soft Sheen a makeover, with many of her efforts focused on improving customer relations. env: 'prod', 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. Gary Gardner He was 98 years old. In 1996, the Gardners established an pos: 'right_rail_1', tag: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', 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. Dismayed by the level of violence in the community, in the 1980s he created the non- profit organization, Black On Black Love. WebTen-year-old Gary Gardner, Soft Sheen s future president, mixed Soft Sheen Hair and Scalp Conditioner and demonstrated it at trade shows. 1-877-812-1590, Companies scramble to keep abortion off annual meeting agendas, With WWE deal, Ari Emanuel doubles down on contact sports, Gunman kills three at Michigan State; suspect found dead, Sponsored Content: Food insecurity set to grow as emergency SNAP benefits end, Outcome Health execs convicted in federal fraud case, The Most Powerful Women In Chicago Business. Gardner, Edward G. 1925 | Encyclopedia.com 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.
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