Sundial Brands Named Among the Top 10 Largest Black-Owned Businesses in America
- Debuts at #10 as the only beauty and personal care manufacturer on the BE 100s list
- CEO attributes success in part to company’s purpose-driven Community Commerce model
AMITYVILLE, New York – Sundial Brands, leading skincare and haircare manufacturer renowned for its innovative use of high-quality, culturally authentic natural ingredients and maker of SheaMoisture, Nubian Heritage, Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Culture and nyakio™, today announced its debut on Black Enterprise Magazine’s BE 100s List as the 10th largest black-owned business in America. With a national reach of 35,000 major retailers, an increasing focus on its global strategy and a continual emphasis on new innovations, Sundial is also the only beauty and personal care manufacturer to make this year’s list.
Black Enterprise marks 45 years of listing America’s largest black companies with the publication’s 2017 issue of the BE 100s, universally recognized as the most authoritative analysis and annual ranking of the nation’s top grossing black-owned companies. The BE 100s ranks America’s largest black-owned companies, including automobile dealers, banks, asset managers, investment banks, and private equity firms. The 2017 Top 100 produced total revenues of $27.5 billion.
“This recognition by Black Enterprise is especially meaningful because it is further evidence that companies built with purpose at the center can do well in business while also making a significant positive impact in the world,” said Richelieu Dennis, founder and CEO of Sundial Brands. “Our purpose is ‘empowering people to live more beautiful lives,’ and we strive to do that each day through our Community Commerce business model, which develops communities through entrepreneurship, education and commerce.”
“We continually ask ourselves, our community, our suppliers and other partners, ‘How can we be fairer than fair trade?’ and ‘What is the next evolution and elevation of corporate social responsibility?’” Dennis continued. “So, the challenge to every entrepreneur and every company is how to develop businesses now and for the future that provide the access and opportunity that allow people to create sustainable economic value for themselves, their families and their communities. This has been our work at Sundial alongside our community for 26 years, and it is the foundation upon which our legacy will always stand.”
With a foundation of family heritage and his own cultural experiences, Dennis leads the company’s vision to serve underserved consumers through efficacious products made with natural, certified organic and fair trade ingredients. As a result, he has become recognized in the market for research innovation because of continual testing and incorporation of culturally authentic and globally-sourced ingredients into product formulations. By focusing on diverse unmet skin care and hair care needs, Dennis has led Sundial from selling its products on the streets of New York City to selling in and cocreating a comprehensive portfolio of product offerings with America’s largest retailers across mass, prestige, drug, grocery, beauty supply, natural and other specialty channels.
“Our journey has been phenomenal, yet certainly not easy – and our most challenging days will likely lie ahead as we work towards continuing to achieve things that no black-owned company has done before, in a way that the market has not seen before,” said Dennis. “Still, despite increased competition as big beauty companies directly target us and court the women whom they have spent decades ignoring, we remain centered by one thing – the women we serve. They have always been our inspiration – whether in fighting for equality at retail when no one else did, changing the beauty industry by offering natural products for the needs of women of color or revolutionizing their shopping experience by advocating that they have access to all of their needs in one store. We are proud to have been at the forefront of change towards a more inclusive beauty industry, but our work is far from done.”
Under Dennis’ leadership, Sundial has been certified as a B Corp company and holds a Fair for Life social and fair trade certification. Additionally, in 2015 Sundial was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the United States and received the 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility of the Year Award from WWD/Beauty Inc, while Dennis was a recipient of the Lewis Institute Changemaker Award from Babson College for efforts in challenging the status quo, creating positive social change and making the world a better place.
In 2016, Dennis was named by OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network to the inaugural “SuperSoul 100” list celebrating a dynamic group of 100 trailblazers using their power to move the world forward and whose vision and life’s work are bringing a higher level of consciousness to the world around them and encouraging others to do the same. Also in 2016, WWD/Beauty Inc awarded SheaMoisture the Ad Campaign of the Year Award for its “Break the Walls” efforts, which Dennis led to challenge the beauty industry’s divisive constructs and standardized ideals, redefine the meaning of “normal” in beauty and advocate for the industry to reflect inclusive beauty where “everybody gets love.” Continuing these accolades, in 2017, Dennis was named to Fast Company’s Most Creative People list.
SSI Releases New Data Portal On Beauty Supply Stores
At Cosmoprof in Las Vegas, Strategic Solutions International, Inc. (SSI) debuted a new data portal that provides hard-to-obtain information on beauty supply stores.
The (K)NOW Now is a cloud-based subscription model loaded with information on African American and Hispanic hair care and total market hair care.
“It’s been a long-standing concern for the industry,” said SSI CEO, Romina Brown. “We were only able to report on ROI for retail chains. There was a huge gap in intelligence that had existed ever since the industry has been around. We wanted to illuminate and eliminate that blind spot.”
Information is obtained through customer surveys and with interviews with industry leaders. This allows the portal to remain up-to-date on the breaking trends.
Brown, whose background is in marketing, sales and business development for the African American hair care category, has worked with brands such as ORS and Softsheen-Carson. The information the portal offers will be invaluable for many brands, she said.
“It’s so insightful. We saw a high level of differences. When you look at the leading brands and leading products, it tells you so much,” she said. “(The information) speaks to the type 
of consumer and the behavior of that consumer.”
Companies that are interested in the (K)NOW Now portal can reach out to SSI for customized access to the portal.
To learn more about the (K)NOW Now portal, visit know.ssiconsults.com
Fantasia Hair Care Releases Hair Polisher Heat Protector Styling Gel New Product Conditions, Smoothes and Strengthens Damaged Hair
PARAMUS, New Jersey —Fantasia Hair Care has a new product that will protect, smooth and strengthen damaged hair! Hair Polisher Heat Protector Styling Gel is a lightweight gel that protects hair from damage caused by heat.
The gel’s protective barrier smoothes flyaways and adds definition to waves and curls. It conditions and holds styles, leaving hair feeling silky smooth. It is enriched with wheat protein to help increase moisture and strengthen the hair.
When brothers Paul and Archie Bogosian started Fantasia Hair Care in the early 1960s, they had no idea how popular their line of ethnic hair products would soon become. Fifty-one years later, the company is as popular as ever. The Bogosian brothers are still recognized and revered as innovators in an ever-changing industry. “We believe the Hair Polisher Heat Protector Styling Gel is the perfect addition to this line of products. It’s great for those who want to repair heat damaged hair and increase its moisture,” said Archie Bogosian.
For more information about Fantasia Hair Care, visit www.fantasiahaircare.com.
Andis® Supports Aspiring Barbers With Launch of New Andis Nation™ Scholarships to Paul Mitchell Schools’ Barbering Program
STURTEVANT, WISCONSIN – Andis® Company, an industry leader in men’s grooming tools and education, is now accepting applications for the Andis Nation™ Barber Scholarship to the Barbering Program at Paul Mitchell Schools. Continuing its commitment to education, Andis will offer four, partial scholarships to aspiring barbers – two cosmetologists continuing their education to become licensed barbers and two new students will receive the awards.
“Andis is humbled to play a pivotal role in empowering future professionals through our partnership with Paul Mitchell Schools’ highly respected program,” said Karen Formico, Vice President of Marketing. “Our goal is to aid aspiring barbers on their journey toward a successful career in this fast-growing industry.” Andis and Paul Mitchell will co-launch the scholarship program on their Facebook and Instagram channels. Applicants will be judged by a panel of men’s grooming experts from both Andis and Paul Mitchell. Judging criteria will include essays on motivation to become a barber, community involvement and previous work experience or transferable skills applicable to the industry. Applications will be completed via an online form at: www.andis.com/AndisNationBarberScholarship. Deadline to submit all applications for the scholarship is October 29.
The pursuit of a barbering education through Paul Mitchell Schools is comprised of a multifaceted curriculum featuring hands-on technical training to foster creativity and the development of fundamental business skills. With 27 Paul Mitchell barber school locations in the United States, aspiring barbers will have the opportunity to pursue their careers locally within their communities. Graduates will receive a strong educational foundation, and the long-standing reputation associated with the Paul Mitchell name, as they launch their careers and transition from student to industry professional. For more information on Paul Mitchell Schools’ Barbering Program and to find school locations, visit https://paulmitchell.edu/programs/barbering.
Personal Care Industry to Benefit From Thriving in-cosmetics North America Event
Unprecedented initiatives will enable marketers to tell new stories that sell
- Industry thought leaders will offer exclusive consumer insights
- Manufacturers can learn about the latest ingredients from the world’s most innovative suppliers
in-cosmetics North America
Jacob K. Javits Conference Center
655 W 34th St, New York, USA
11-12 October 2017
Following a successful launch in 2016, in-cosmetics North America returns to New York City in October. The region’s most interactive personal care event has moved to The Javits Center this year, allowing it to accommodate its growing importance and extensive learning programme. Over two days, cosmetic manufacturers from across the region will be able to source the world’s most innovative ingredients, while hearing from some of the experts leading their fields.
Creating a new story
Focus on Marketing: The Story Behind the Science’ is designed specifically for marketers and will help them decipher the science behind global ingredients and innovations that will add a certain je ne sais quoi to the next generation of beauty products. Attendees will be able to join an exclusive guided tour hosted by Cherie Buziak, founder of product development consultancy Beauty Edge, who will highlight key exhibitors and educational sessions.
With the US color market now worth $11 billion and continuing to grow, the tour will take in the all-new Make-Up Bar – a space dedicated to the latest innovations in color cosmetics – that will enable marketers to quickly identify ingredients which can lead to the development of a stand-out product. As demand for color cosmetic products that even skin tone increases, this area of the show is expected to be extremely popular among visitors.
Participants will also be able to explore the new Sensory Bar, which showcases products that provide a unique sensorial experience, such as materials with cooling properties, amazing textures, colors and fragrances.
A leading education programme
Focus
ed on the latest consumer trends, science and regulations the globally recognized in-cosmetics education programme will offer North American cosmetic manufacturers an unmissable opportunity to identify new looks and personal care regimes from around the world, as well as develop their technical knowledge.
Global experts from companies including SeymourPowell, Mintel, PeclersParis, the Institute of Personal Care Science and Euromonitor International are among the speakers confirmed to deliver presentations as part of the event’s Marketing Trends programme.
Mariel Whatley-Brown, Director of Futures at SeymourPowell, will look at the
consumer of 2020, how behaviour is shifting and how brands can tap into this. As consumers create their own products, merging the natural with the scientific, brands are looking to harness these changes for growth. Talking through four key future beauty themes; Work It, Own It, Feel It and Create It, Whatley-Brown will shine a light on these changes and the opportunities they present.
Each theme will be underpinned by insights from beauty experts and early adopters from global cultures known for their forward-facing approach to beauty. In her presentation, Whatley-Brown will demonstrate how these themes can be embraced to inspire new product experiences that future consumers will love.
The millennial consumer is also on the agenda, with Tom Vierhile of GlobalData PLC set to explore how to effectively target one of the most demanding, individualistic and digitally native generations. Millennials’ experience-driven nature means that today’s brands are under growing pressure to challenge the status quo in order to appeal to this age group.
Vierhile’s presentation will explore the opportunities by which to target them in the beauty and personal care space. These include negotiating a balance between the seamless integration of a life online and a desire to express a unique ‘self’; key nuances of this highly sought-after consumer group.
Incorporating all corners of the personal care industry, the Marketing Trends programme also includes a panel discussion from indie beauty leaders Jillian Wright, Founder, Indie Beauty Expo; Jessica Richards, Owner & Founder, Shen Beauty; Desiree Verdejo, Owner, Vivrant Beauty; and Nancy Twine, Founder, Briogeo. The influential panel will explore what it means to be a clean and sustainable independent brand in 2017 and how the movement will evolve.
The education programme will also offer a series of ‘Technical Seminars’. Led by suppliers of raw materials, visitors will be able to familiarize themselves with key personal care ingredients and to listen to cosmetic experts sharing insights on innovative concepts.
Presenters from the likes of Adeka, Bitop and LipoTrue will share their in-depth knowledge and will show the supporting scientific evidence that substantiates the claims associated with their ingredients. In addition, attendees will benefit from exclusive hints on how to get the most out of ingredients in order to meet specific consumer demands.
About in-cosmetics North America
in-cosmetics North America was launched in 2016 and provides more than 100 international exhibitors of ingredients, fragrances, lab equipment, testing and regulatory solutions with a platform to reach 2,000-plus cosmetic manufacturers from across North America. in-cosmetics Asia promotes innovation in ingredients and technologies, providing quality education and consumer insights for formulators, R&D and regulatory professionals. Showcasing local and global industry trends, in the event offers the most cost-effective business and networking opportunities for the personal care ingredients community in the North American market.
