Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company, which was incorporated in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1910 by Madam C. J. Walker, was a cosmetics manufacturer that produced African-American cosmetics and hair care products. It was considered the most widely known and financially successful African-American-owned business of the early twentieth century. The company ceased operations in July 1981.
However, Madam C. J. Walker’s legacy lives on. Her brand has been revived by Unilever subsidiary Sundial Brands, known for its SheaMoisture hair products, which bought the rights in 2013. Sundial’s founder, Richelieu Dennis, has also bought her 34-room New York mansion, Villa Lewaro, with plans to turn it into a think-tank for black women entrepreneurs. Her products are still available through Sundial Brands.
A short heads up of Sundial Brands
Sundial Brands is a New York-based beauty and personal care products company that was founded in 1991 by Richelieu Dennis. The company is recognized for its innovative use of high-quality and culturally authentic ingredients, and its brands include SheaMoisture, Nubian Heritage, Madam C.J. Walker, and nyakio. Sundial has championed inclusive beauty and has served the unmet needs of consumers of color through its robust innovation pipeline, product offerings, and purpose-driven business model. Sundial’s approach complements the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) to accelerate growth while increasing positive social impact. Sundial Brands was acquired by Unilever in 2017 and operates as a standalone unit within Unilever.
Sundial’s founder, Richelieu Dennis, continues to lead the business as CEO and Executive Chairman. As part of the acquisition agreement, Unilever and Sundial created the New Voices Fund with an initial investment of US$50 million to empower women of color entrepreneurs. The intention is to scale the Fund to US$100 million by attracting investments from other interested parties. Sundial’s products are still available through Sundial Brands, and the company has reported negative revenue from investments in the fourth quarter of 2021, including unrealized losses on marketable securities of $43.8 million, due to fluctuations in share prices from its portfolio of equity cannabis-related investments.
Sundial’s mission is to create and sustainably grow brands that inspire people to live more beautiful lives. The company’s products are made with natural and organic ingredients, and it is committed to ethical and sustainable business practices. Sundial’s Community Commerce business model, B Corp, and Fair for Life certifications complement the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) to accelerate growth while increasing positive
