FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JH Partners Invests in Ouidad Hair Care And Announces Beauty & Haircare Industry Vet, Hillary Solomon, as CEO and President of Newly Established Ouidad Holdings, LLC
SAN FRANCISCO – June 22, 2007 – JH Partners, a San-Francisco-based private equity firm, announced it has made an investment in the New York and Connecticut-based companies Ouidad Salon Corp and Ouidad Products Corp through a newly incorporated entity, Ouidad Holdings, LLC. The new entity is bringing on long time beauty and haircare industry vet, Hillary Solomon, formerly of Frederic Fekkai and Kiehl’s Since 1851 to be CEO and President of the business.
Both companies were founded by the renowned curly hair expert Ouidad, and business partner, Peter Wise. Ouidad pioneered the curly haircare category over 20 years ago when she opened the first hair salon dedicated to clients with wavy and curly hair. One of NYC’s top salons, it attracts a global clientele that includes celebrities, socialites, members of the press and other NYC influentials. It is here that stylists practice Ouidad’s signature Carving & Slicing® cutting technique that is also taught to accredited affiliate stylists across the nation.
Ouidad is also the creator of an award-winning, signature haircare line that meets the many needs of women, men and children with a variety of curly hair types. The comprehensive Ouidad collection is currently only sold in the Ouidad Salon on 57th Street in Manhattan, select salons with Ouidad Certified Stylists and online at www.ouidad.com.
“We love differentiated beauty brands that can speak with authority
to their customers,” said Michael John, of JH Partners. “We feel
that Ouidad is not only a brilliant curly hair stylist, but possibly the only
stylist who has dedicated her 30 year career to developing products and cutting
techniques specifically for people with curly hair. As a result, she truly
is the authority in this space, with an incredibly loyal customer base, and
we are proud to have entered a partnership with her.”
Hillary Solomon will be the new President and CEO of Ouidad Holdings LLC,
beginning June 25th 2007. Hillary is a haircare and beauty industry veteran,
being one of the first on the team to help launch the now highly regarded
and well known Frederic Fekkai haircare brand, and most recently as Head of
Global Marketing for Kiehl’s Since 1851, a division of L’Oreal,
a brand that is known for its devotion to its strong customer following.
“We are thrilled about our newly established partnership with JH Partners and with the imminent arrival of Hillary to the Ouidad family. Hilary’s experience, combined with the Ouidad brand’s commitment to stellar, first-of-its-kind, curly hair innovations, will help continue our leadership and authority in the curly hair category,” offers Ouidad.
The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About Ouidad Salon
Since 1982, Ouidad (pronounced wedod) was the first stylist and salon owner
in the country to specialize in curly hair. Today editors at national fashion
and beauty magazines consult Ouidad regularly and consider her to be the "Queen
of Curl." Ouidad is also the author of Curl Talk, a book that addresses
all curly hair issues and that is sold at bookstores nationwide. Her salon
is located on 57th street in Manhattan, and serves a loyal clientele who fly
in from all over the world to get the Ouidad “Carving & Slicing®”
proprietary method of cut and style.
About Ouidad Products
Ouidad Products are based on Ouidad’s scientific and practical understanding
of curly hair's special needs. The products are a full line of protein and
vitamin enriched hair products that work with antioxidants to make curls defined,
soft, shiny and manageable. They are currently found in the Ouidad Salon,
at a few select salons with Ouidad Certified Stylists, and at www.ouidad.com
About JH Partners
JH Partners is a San Francisco-based private equity firm focused on investments
in growth-oriented middle market consumer products and services companies.
The firm distinguishes itself among private equity firms in that each of its
principals has senior-level operating experience building middle-market consumer-related
businesses. JH Partners has been instrumental in aiding the growth of powerful
consumer brands, including Bare Escentuals, Jurlique, Peet’s Coffee
& Tea, Design Within Reach and Frette, among others. In 2006, the firm
raised $350 million in its second institutional fund to follow its inaugural
$200 million institutional fund from 2004. Additional information may be found
at www.jhpartners.com.
