# Johnson Products Co.

Type: Company

Source: Retail Intelligence Brief — https://getretailbrief.com/entity/johnson-products-co
Canonical HTML page: https://getretailbrief.com/entity/johnson-products-co

## Timeline

- **2026-07-06**: Death — George E. Johnson Sr. passed away at his home in Chicago at age 99.
- **2025**: Final Media Reflection — Johnson gave an interview to the Chicago Tribune, recounting his entrepreneurial philosophy.
- **1993**: Company Sold — Johnson Products Co. was sold to a white-run firm, ending Black ownership and beginning a period of decline.
- **1954**: Company Founding — Johnson founded Johnson Products Co., entering the nascent ethnic hair care market.
- **1929**: Move to Chicago — Johnson’s family relocated to Chicago when he was 2 years old.
- **1927**: Birth — George Ellis Johnson born in Richton, Mississippi.

## Recent coverage (1 stories)

### Afro Sheen Founder Dies at 99, Ending 72-Year Retail Dynasty
2026-08-01 18:25:09 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 3

George E. Johnson Sr., founder of Johnson Products Co. and the creator of Afro Sheen, died this week at 99. His company dominated ethnic hair care retail from 1954 until its 1993 sale, redefining multicultural beauty aisles. The loss spotlights both the historic power of targeted consumer marketing and the fragility of minority-owned brands in retail M&A.
Full story: https://getretailbrief.com/story/afro-sheen-founder-george-johnson-dies-99-retail-legacy

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