Women-owned firms advance despite tough times.But Paula Kent Meehan's Redken Labs retains top spot Four of the five largest women-owned businesses on this week's List reported increased revenues last year, even though 1991 was a recessionary year. Under founder-Chairman Paula Kent Meehan, No. 1-ranked Redken Laboratories Inc., a Canoga Park-based manufacturer and distributor of hair and skin care products, boosted revenues to $150 million from $140 million in 1990. Redken President John Hammer John William Hammer born 27 September 1935 in Sunbury, Victoria, Australia. He founded Superules, an Australian rules football competition for those over 35 years of age at a meeting at the Zero Inn, Nhill, Victoria in 1980. attributed the growth to an increase in advertising and the success of new products intended for use by hairstylists in salons. Two of the new products were Trust, used by hairstylists for permanent waves  The introduction to this article may be too long. Please help improve the introduction by moving some material from it into the body of the article according to the suggestions at , and Shades EQ, a hair coloring product. "A salon Salon, annual exhibition of art works chosen by jury and presented by the French Academy since 1737; it was originally held in the Salon d'Apollon of the Louvre. By the mid-19th cent. the Salon had become an expression of conservative, established tastes in art. client would rather give up sugar in their coffee than hair color every
six weeks," Hammer noted.
Redken also added 48 employees to the payroll during 1991. As sales of new products advanced, production lines were working closer to capacity and more labor was needed to run them, Hammer explained. Also, as Redken increased its advertising, new employees were hired in the advertising and corporate communications Corporate communications is the process of facilitating information and knowledge exchanges with internal and key external groups and individuals that have a direct relationship with an enterprise. departments, Hammer said. Revenues of No. 2-ranked Mrs. Gooch's Natural Foods also grew, to $81.3 million from 1990's estimated $75 million. President Sandy Gooch conceded con·cede v. con·ced·ed, con·ced·ing, con·cedes v.tr. 1. To acknowledge, often reluctantly, as being true, just, or proper; admit. See Synonyms at acknowledge. 2. her Sherman Oaks-based grocery business has been able to weather the recession more successfully than other businesses because "people do need to eat." One specific contributing factor to the higher revenues was the closure of one small Mrs. Gooch's store in the South Bay and the opening of a larger store in its place. The larger store is able to handle more customers and thus produce greater sales, she explained. Also, sales at Mrs. Gooch's stores grew because more and more consumers are interested in trying to offset the high cost of health care by eating healthy foods, which is what Mrs. Gooch's stores specialize spe·cial·ize v. 1. To limit one's profession to a particular specialty or subject area for study, research, or treatment. 2. To adapt to a particular function or environment. in, she said. Likewise, revenues of Los Angeles-based Gilda Marx Industries, a designer and manufacturer of bodywear, surged to $46 million from $36 million in 1990. Co-chairman Gilda Marx said the No. 3-ranked company's 20 percent business jump is a reflection of both customer loyalty and a business that is recession-proof. Even during a recession consumers still exercise and buy clothes to exercise in, Marx said. Helping to spur her firm's overall sales, she reported, Dallas-based JC Penney sold 54 percent more of Gilda Marx apparel last year than in 1990, Marx said. Business practices that helped Gilda Marx weather the recession included tight control of inventory levels and attention to servicing stores that carry the company's products, she added. Of the five largest women-owned businesses on this week's List, only the revenues of No. 4-ranked General Welding welding, process for joining separate pieces of metal in a continuous metallic bond. Cold-pressure welding is accomplished by the application of high pressure at room temperature; forge welding (forging) is done by means of hammering, with the addition of heat. Supply remained the same at $26 million. No. 5-ranked Harden hard·en v. hard·ened, hard·en·ing, hard·ens v.tr. 1. To make hard or harder. 2. To enable to withstand physical or mental hardship. 3. Industries reported a $3 million revenue advance last year to $25 million. Owner Barbara Nyden Rodstein said during mid- mid- pref. Middle: midbrain. 1990 she and the vice president of operations re-evaluated the company's direction and evaluated business areas that needed to be improved. Los Angeles-based Harden manufactures bath fixtures and accessories. The company's entire growth last year came from that mental process of tearing tear·ing n. Epiphora. down the product line, reviewing it, analyzing it and figuring out where to place it so it would sell, Rodstein said. |
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