Black women were in love with Carol’s Daughter products — even before proprietor Lisa Price brought Carol’s Daughter into existence.
They were in love with, and secretly yearning for, a line of products that would specifically cater to women with coffee-colored complexions and caramel-coated skin. For decades they pined for products that would enhance their appearance, complement their naturally curly hair texture, make them feel good about themselves, and become a product they could claim as their own.
Carol’s Daughter is the quintessential embodiment of that concept. This explains why, once Carol’s Daughter products pierced the consciousness of black America, it exploded off the shelves of stores in shopping malls, a rare feat for a new business venture. Rarer still is the fact that Price’s company, while in its relative infancy, was featured on the likes of “Oprah,” “The Tyra Banks Show” and “Good Morning America.” Carol’s Daughter has attracted investors from the crème de la crème of entertainment, including Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, Jay-Z, Jimmy Iovine, Tommy Mattola and Mary J. Blige.
Speaking of Mary J. Blige, who is the current spokeswoman for Carol’s Daughter, Price collaborated with the Queen of Hip Hop Soul for the fragrance line, My Life, which was unveiled at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans over the Fourth of July holiday. It will officially debut on the Home Shopping Network on July 31.
“I am Carol’s Daughter and my fans are Carol’s Daughter users,” the music legend said. “So it just made sense to partner.”
What doesn’t make sense is the meteoric rise of Carol’s Daughter’s popularity in such a short time. At the New Orleans Convention Center during Essence Fest, throngs of attendees stood 20 and 30 deep to get a glimpse of Mary J., who appeared at the Carol’s Daughter booth. In the French Quarter, Carol’s Daughter and Dillard’s hosted a pop-up store and invited Jada Pinkett Smith, Trey Songz, El DeBarge, Mary Mary and Chris Paul among others to participate in the two-day affair, which brought shoppers to the brink of hysteria.
“It feels amazing. It’s just amazing to me. When I was first here six years ago, I was down here by myself giving out samples. I just left Mary J. Blige at the convention center where we have a booth there and now I’m here with Chris Paul and Trey Songz. So it just goes to show that hard work pays off,” says Price.
–terry shropshire
