aid: '864241', Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. env: 'prod', 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. According to CBS News, a private family service is planned. According to Terri Gardner, One of my dads greatest qualities was his perseverance. } Gardner will remain at the helm of Soft Sheen. } As the oldest, I think I spent the most time with him as a child. Yes. . L'Oreal found it shared a lot "in common values" with Soft Sheen, he added. Betty and Ed Gardner celebrate their street dedication ceremony with members of the Illinois legislature and Chicago City Council. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Soft Sheen Products Inc., a relatively small Chicago-based company, will help its new parent fill that hole. By the late 1980s, the company was one of the largest Black-owned beauty brands in the country. Peyrelongue and Gardner are unsure of the impact on employee rolls. They eventually moved into an old factory at 87th and Dobson and renovated the building that would become Soft Sheens new campus. Black Enterprise is a black-owned multimedia company. Gardners death was confirmed by his children in a statement. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', "My father saw the untapped potential of his community. Staying current is easy with Crain's news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge. Most importantly, he taught me how to engage all people with humanity and humility, said Gary Gardner. 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. E-mail oureditor 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. 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. She made good on her promise. The Gardners married in 1950 and from their union four children were born. 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. Soft Sheen's research and development staff were to be included as part of the new facility. ]); '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. Edward Gardner passed away peacefully Monday March 20, 2023, surrounded by family, and loved ones. All rights reserved. ]); Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. The creator and founder of Soft Sheen hair care products held many titles in his long life, but his family said his legacy will be in his dedication to others. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Agreement. cat: 'fashion-beauty', Instead of flowers, donations to Chicago State University can be made here. I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. To boost sales, she doubled the company's advertising budget, and began developing new television commercials. That drove him to anger, said Gary Gardner. In September 2012, at the age of eighty-seven, Edward Gardner led over a thousand demonstrators protesting the lack of Black workers on local construction crews. He was also a board member of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League, as well as co-owner of the Chicago Bulls. 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. Subscribe to Newsletter Education Bachelor of Science, University Illinois, Chicago, 1975. We never got the wax out of the pan. He was 98, his family said. '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. SistersInc. He taught me how to build, how to fix things, how to drive, and how not to drive. In 2012, at age 87, Gardner organized more than 1,000 protesters in response to a South Side construction sites lack of Black workers. In fact, retailers account for approximately 75 percent of its sales, and salons for 20 percent. Gary Gardner described the goings on in the family kitchen as somewhere between a science lab and a cooking experiment.. targeting: { (Provided) Edward Gardners early efforts at making Black hair care products started in the family kitchen, with his In fact, he created a nonprofit organization called Black On Black Love to address violence. Gary Gardner. Gardner sold the business in 1998. subcat: '', Get the best business coverage in Chicago, from breaking news to razor-sharp analysis, in print and online. He was 98 years old. That gave Mr. Gardner an idea and he began experimenting. We went from small mom and pop to a major player in the business, said Gary Gardner. Another of her initiatives involved restructuring and consolidating the company's warehouse operations, a move that increased on-time shipments and improved service levels. 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. To ensure that the company did not outgrow its capabilities, Gardner deliberately decelerated. of Chicago Law School, 2000 Ronald G. Garriques Michelle Harris (8th) praised the Gardners saying that they are the epitome of what an African American entrepreneur is. 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. 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. He was 98. Meanwhile, Gardner continued giving Soft Sheen a makeover, with many of her efforts focused on improving customer relations. Yes, yes, yes. 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. 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. WebMr. Juris Doctor, Northwestern University, 1980. 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. 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. 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. 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Member of American Health and Beauty Aids Institute. He also taught me how to make mistakes. Mr. Gardner, the son of a warehouse worker and a seamstress, had to overcome much in his early years. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Soft Sheen Products officially launched in 1964 while Mr. Gardner was still an assistant principal at a local school. He was 98 years old. Since the 1970s, its flagship product Black Enterprise magazine has covered African-American businesses with a readership of 3.7 million. or. Blitzing the city with banners, print and radio advertisements, the campaign registered over 200,000 new voters and helped secure Harold Washingtons victory. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. The new signage will hang at 87th and Dobson near the site of the former home of Soft Sheen Products. He was my father, my hero, my teacher, Gary Gardner said in a news release. Copyright 2023 inkl. See Photos. 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 believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we cant achieve. Terri Gardner. While Mr. Gardner worked the field and perfected new hair products, Mrs. Gardner ran the operations of their budding business by balancing books and purchasing supplies. On the side, he would deliver hair care products out of the back of his car to South Side beauty salons. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', His and his wifes love of theater inspired him to re-create one of Chicagos most historic entertainment venues, the Regal Theater. 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. Namaste's seven-item line -- priced from $7 to $13 -- includes fertilizing serum, fertilizing balm, hair "mayonnaise" and carrot oil. 2023 The Citizen Newspaper Group, All Rights Reserved. page_type: 'article', Beloved Chicago philanthropist Edward Gardner, the co-founder of Soft Sheen Products hair care company, died Monday at age 98, CBS News reports. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', "I'm very comfortable that this organization is capable of helping Soft Sheen meet the vision that we set years ago.". B.E. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Chicago State University, https://www.csu.edu/foundation/donate.htm. 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. With amusement rides, bowling, mini-golf and an interactive learning center, the complex boasted the only roller coaster in Chicago at that time. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!
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