← PHOTO GALLERY: The Business of Black Haircare

CornellMcBride

By Sonja Mack | Published July 28, 2010 | Full size is 500 × 320 pixels

In 1985, Atlanta-based M&M Products had realized a more than 600% growth in sales – from $7 million to $45 million – over the past five years to become the nation’s second largest black-owned manufacturer. Cornell McBride told BLACK ENTERPRISE at the time that the company would continue its growth through hair-color products because black women represented 25% of the market and crossover product introductions as the curl craze hit Scandinavia and Germany. Four years later, McBride and business partner Therman McKenzie were derailed by financial problems and personal conflicts, selling M&M was sold to Johnson Products. (Image: Cornell McBride)

In 1985, Atlanta-based M&M Products had realized a more than 600% growth in sales –…