In part, this effort resulted in the election of Harold Washington as Chicagos first Black mayor. Peyrelongue and Gardner are unsure of the impact on employee rolls. Gary Gardner Despite the success, Mr. Gardner never moved from his neighborhood. 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. Throughout his ownership of the company, he continued to offer exclusive products for his beloved salon customers. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. With this war chest, he mounted a campaign that registered more than 200,000 voters. 40 Under 40 alpha listing Beauticians would tell him what they liked, didnt like or what they wished they could buy. As an activist and civic leader, Gardner raised $300,000 with Soft Sheens resources 40 years ago, according to a news release. Women of Power Summit He was my father, my hero, my teacher, said Gary Gardner, one of Mr. Gardners four children. He was 98. 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. But he says while the couple were busy making their imprint, they had no idea they affected so many people. 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. Although the company refused to release the price of the acquisition, industry analysts estimated it at more than $160 million. We will introduce items that will grow every category we compete in, from hair color through relaxers, styling aids, conditioners, and wave products.'. 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. Three boys and one girl: Gary, Guy, Tracy and Terri. Principal Competitors: Alberto-Culver Company; Carson Inc.; Massimo Enterprises Inc.; Revlon, Inc. Mr. Gardner was also a well-known philanthropist. With amusement rides, bowling, mini-golf and an interactive learning center, the complex boasted the only roller coaster in Chicago at that time. Mr. Gardner was a well-known philanthropist and activist. Gary Gardner. You dont replace crime by keep on adding more policemen, Mr. Gardner said of the problem. 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. Gary Gardner. "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. The Gardners married in 1950 and from their union four children were born. His survivors also include two other children, Guy and Tracy, his wife, seven grandchildren and a great-grandson, the Sun-Times reports. Gardner Its 200-plus products include shampoos, conditioners, relaxers, perms, and gels. In early July 1998, Soft Sheen announced that it had agreed to be acquired by L'Oreal's New York-based U.S. subsidiary, Cosmair Inc. 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. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. "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. ]); 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.'. kw: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', In 1964, he left a career as a popular teacher and assistant principal to ]); 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. Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. He got up early in the morning, telling us Were not going to make it this way meaning lets get to work. Gardner 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. Entrepreneurs Summit 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. 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. url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', Distributors say Mr. Gardner and his wife, who was Soft Sheen's marketing chief, commissioned an independent study to prove the products work. 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. He was also a board member of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League, as well as co-owner of the Chicago Bulls. Suite 3200 The company's presence in overseas markets was also likely to increase, supported by L'Oreal's vast global reach. . His and his wifes love of theater inspired him to re-create one of Chicagos most historic entertainment venues, the Regal Theater. Peyrelongue and Gardner are unsure of the impact on employee rolls. 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. Bio Did we say it over and over and over again? Yes, yes, yes. The Soft Sheen Products co-founder was a devoted advocate of Chicagos African-American community. 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. He was my father, my hero, my teacher. 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. 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. He was 98 years old. Food -- how it is prepared and consumed -- can be a reflection of social status. 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. It bothered him deeply that when he saw construction projects on the South Side, often the workers werent Black. She agreed in March 1996. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', 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. url: 'honoring,the,legacy,of,a,great,chicagoan,and,black,business,giant,edward,g,gardner,passes,away,at,98', In fact, retailers account for approximately 75 percent of its sales, and salons for 20 percent. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Gardner sold the business in 1998. Mr. Gardner declined a request for an interview with a curt "I'm not going to talk to you about it.". 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. WebPeople named Gary Gardner. Frizz Free was the first frizz control product made specifically for ethnic women by an ethnic hair-care products company. Mr. Gardner sold the business in 1998. He was the embodiment of the hard-working, family-focused, responsible Black father. 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. 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. playerId: '4c4274f6-883d-4331-88d6-3a01a54156b9' Gardiner and his wife, Bettiann, founded Soft Sheen in 1964. Edward G. Gardner was a humanitarian, a philanthropist, and a successful businessman, who loved the city of Chicago and Chicago loved him in return. kw: 'mandc,black-haircare,edward-g-gardner,hair-products,haircare,soft-sheen-products', 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? } Staying current is easy with Crain's news delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge. Management divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Gardner will remain at the helm of Soft Sheen. I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. On the side, he would deliver hair care products out of the back of his car to South Side beauty salons. } Gary Gardner. As consumers, we often take for granted all the hard work that goes into building a great company. Education Bachelor of Science, University Illinois, Chicago, 1975. As an activist and civic leader, Gardner raised $300,000 with Soft Sheens resources 40 years ago, according to a news release. }); !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); Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. Soft Sheen Products Inc. is the top U.S. producer of ethnic hair care products. Soft Sheen started as a garage-based business and grew to an international empire that influenced how people all over the world beautified themselves. Gardner Conditioning was particularly important to preserve the health of black hair, which tended to dry out under the stress of styling and chemical processing. Michelle Harris (8th) praised the Gardners saying that they are the epitome of what an African American entrepreneur is. subcat: '', tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Edward G. Gardner, Co-Founder of Soft Sheen Products, Passes (L to R) Back row: State Rep. Marcus Evans (33), Alderman Michelle Harris (8) and State Sen. Jacqueline Collins (16). Soft Sheen started as a garage-based business and grew to an international empire that influenced how people all over the world beautified themselves. Meanwhile, Gardner continued giving Soft Sheen a makeover, with many of her efforts focused on improving customer relations. The company produces embroidery application softtware for the craft and industrial market. 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. ]); Gary Gardner. BE 100s 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. Upon assuming her position, she almost immediately began making significant changes in the company's operations. The Citizen Newspaper Group That drove him to anger, said Gary Gardner. With this war chest, he mounted a campaign that registered more than 200,000 voters. Soft Sheen Products officially launched in 1964 while Mr. Gardner was still an assistant principal at a local school. 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. Soft Sheen He reduced employment 27 percent, to 620 employees, between 1984 and 1988 by not replacing workers who left. }).render('ba25868856a746c68da2b09b1b55bc48'); He was a part-owner of the Chicago Bulls, and for many years, attended every home game. Soft Sheen will become a division of Cosmair while L'Oreal will expand its ethnic research and development activities to Chicago. His enterprise still isn't widely known, even among ethnic hair care industry executives and consultants. That gave Mr. Gardner an idea and he began experimenting. 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. 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. 'Going forward, this opportunity will magnify Soft Sheen's success on multiple levels,' she observed. 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 was 98. Harold Washington Edward G. Gardner, co-founder of Soft Sheen Products, died Monday. Edward G. Gardner, co-founder of Soft Sheen Products }); EVENTS The company sells its products to salons, beauty supply houses, and such retailers as drug stores and department stores. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Chicago State University: www.csu.edu/foundation/donate.htm. (Photo by Jerome Photography). 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. He eventually resigned from the position to wholeheartedly focus on the familys business and launch the line nationwide. In 1994, the company posted only a .6 percent increase over 1993 sales. '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 gentle, conditioning Optimum Care quickly became the industry's best-selling relaxer. 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 St. James Press, 2000. Keep in mind the child is an extension of youeverything that they do is a reflection of you. See Photos. Dallas/Fort Worth Area. The grassroots organization has been a staple in Chicagos activist community for decades.