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Paul Mitchell Professional Salon Products, manufactured by John Paul Mitchell Systems, skyrocketed to the number one retail spot in the professional salon product market in 1980 and has remained a top seller ever since. Sold only through professional hairstylists, Paul Mitchell Professional Salon Products paved the way for similar hair care companies and since its inception in 1980 has revolutionized a relatively dormant industry into one of the most exciting in the world.
Masterminding the company is sales and marketing dynamo John Paul Deloria, ceo and co-founder. Founded by DeJoria and world renowned hairdresser, the late Paul Mitchell, the company is still privately held by DeJoria and the Paul Mitchell estate.
The Beginning
In 1980, ripe for a change, DeJoria joined forces with America's most influential hair designer and his friend of eight years, Paul Mitchell. Together they introduced Hair Sculpting, a revolutionary hair setting and styling method, as an integral part of their professional hair care system. Mitchell's vision to maximize the hairdresser's time and talents with modem styling tools, coupled with DeJoria's sales, marketing and business savvy, launched a progressive company that was destined to lead the way in professional hair care. The popularity of Paul Mitchell Professional Salon Products is in the high quality and simplicity that was born from necessity. With the formulations for a superior sculpting lotion, shampoo, and conditioner already underway, the straightforward black and white packaging was all the founders could afford. Though the company was bankrolled on only $700, the limited capital and low risk surprisingly enough gave Mitchell and DeJoria the freedom and spontaneity they needed to make their unique business decisions work. The packaging conveyed their image and information in a simple, inexpensive way, while the products themselves performed like nothing else on the market.
How John Paul DeJoria went about designing a "fewer moving parts" system that has allowed John Paul Mitchell Systems to escape the contamination of high overhead is a continual source of interest to entrepreneurs and traditional business people alike. To the approximately 56 independent Paul Mitchell distributors worldwide, DeJoria's distribution and marketing plans mean money in the bank. Unlike many multi-million dollar corporate leaders who spend most of their time behind their desks, DeJoria's method of operation is...