- Ampro
Ampro is an ethnic hair care and cosmetics company founded in 1947. Its product line includes shampoos, conditioners and salon products. The company’s original product line, PRO STYL gel, continues as the number-one selling styling gel in the country. Ampro's 20 current brand names include
Pro Styl andClear Ice . [ [http://sev.prnewswire.com/retail/20050514/CLF03913052005-1.html "Ampro Releases New Hair Care Line"] ]The company's products are sold through conventional channels that target low income consumers (including health and beauty retailers such as
Wal-Mart ,Walgreen ’s,Dollar General ,Sally Beauty Supply ,Kroger ,Eckerd ,Fred’s , andRite Aid ) as well as through a large network of individually owned regional beauty supply stores. [ [http://www.amprogel.com/index.cfm?section=wwd&page=faq "Frequently Asked Questions"] ]The company is a charter member of the national
Ethnic Product Manufacturing Association and its President,Jack Sammons , was the first president of that trade group. [ [http://www.beautystorebusiness.com/industry_update/industry_update0305.htm "Multicultural Companies Launch EPMA"] ]The company's history began in 1947.
Irvin Lansky , (no relation toMayer Lansky ) owned a dry goods store onBeale Street inMemphis, Tennessee , and began to sell ethnic hair care products. Immediately seeing the potential in the lines, Lansky formed Vogue Distributing Company, a beauty supply product wholesaler. Lansky then expanded the enterprise with a Memphis retail location called Vogue Beauty and Barber Mart, and it was here that he began manufacturing his own ethnic hair care products. He developed a line called "Ampro," short for American Products, which is still manufactured today. [ [http://www.amprogel.com/index.cfm?section=wwa&page=about "AMPRO: About Us"] ] Ampro Industries' current manufacturing facility is a few miles away from the original shop on Beale Street in Memphis. [ [http://www.amprogel.com/index.cfm?section=wwa&page=about "AMPRO: About Us"] ]Mr. Lansky died in April 2001. His daughter, Cheri Rudner, is chairman of the Ampro board, and her husband Henry, is the company's chief executive officer. [ [http://www.amprogel.com/index.cfm?section=wwa&page=about "AMPRO: About Us"] ]
The company continues to launch new product lines, including Purple Rain in 2005, [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3235/is_200504/ai_n15060103 MMR, "Ampro Launches Purple Rain Hair Care Gels"] ] and is becoming increasingly involved in African-American community causes. [ [http://www.advertisingagencynews.com "Hair Care Giant Ampro Calls on Red Deluxe for Special Campaign"] ]
References
External links
* [http://www.amprogel.com The Ampro Website]
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