Fashion Fair Cosmetics Expands Globally into South Africa

CHICAGO - Dec. 30, 2014 - PRLog -- Visionary owner of Chicago based media empire that owns EBONY Magazine, Johnson Publishing Company, Linda Johnson-Rice along with its transformative CEO, Desiree Rogers have joined forces to establish the Fashion Fair cosmetics footprint in South Africa. Fashion Fair is a subsidiary company of Johnson Publishing Company.

Earlier in April this year, a delegation from Chicago which included Desiree Rogers and Connie Jackson, General Manager of Fashion Fair UK and Europe were hosted in South Africa by the former mayor of Harare, Muchadeyi Masunda who is the Chairman of Old Mutual Zimbabwe and Deputy Chairman of Zimplats Holdings, one of the largest platinum mines in the world that is currently listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Desiree Rogers met with Daniel Reichenberg, Chief Financial Officer of Stuttafords, the most prestigious high-end retail department store chain in South Africa. The two executives discussed the vast opportunities and challenges facing South African businesses and how the two iconic companies could build synergies by bringing the Fashion Fair Cosmetics line in South Africa.

According to Euromonitor, South Africa’s cosmetics sector is one of the largest in the world valued at more than $2 billion. South Africa has experienced a growth rate of at least ten percent over the last five years in this sector far outpacing any other market in this region. The country also has a burgeoning middle class population of 11 million households, which will accelerate the demand for beauty care products in South Africa.

Rogers also met with the Mayor of Johannesburg, Mpho Parks Tau, at his council chambers where they discussed the needs for the cities of Chicago and Johannesburg. In her capacity as Chairman of Choose Chicago, Desiree Rogers elaborated to Mayor Parks Tau how her organization is working diligently to increase the number of international visitors to the city of Chicago and expressed a strong interest in working with Mayor Parks Tau and his office to achieve this objective.

This December, Fashion Fair launched exclusively at Stuttafords department stores at Eastgate Mall in Johannesburg and Menlyn Park in Pretoria, South Africa. This is the first phase of a rollout of the cosmetic line in seven high-end department stores across South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe over the next 18 months.

Martin Munangatire, Chairman of the Zimbabwe Trade & Cultural Expo (ZTCE) and Dave Marongwe, ZTCE Executive Director who are based in Chicago partnered with Johnson Publishing Company in this venture. Their group has successfully forged a roadmap for American based companies interested in expanding or pursuing new business ventures in Africa.

About Johnson Publishing Company, LLC
Johnson Publishing Company (JPC) was founded in 1942 by John H. Johnson and is a lifestyle company inspired by the African-American experience. JPC is the preeminent publisher of EBONY and JET magazines and the parent company of Fashion Fair Cosmetics. The company has had an unparalleled impact on Black America and reaches more than 70% of African-American adults annually. Please visit www.johnsonpublishing.com for more information.

About Fashion Fair
Fashion Fair is the largest black-owned cosmetics company in the world.  The company began in 1973 to address the lack of cosmetic products on the market for women of color.  Fashion Fair Cosmetics remains deeply rooted in the African-American experience.  The brand's focus remains dedicated to offering products, services and education that address the unique complexion needs for women with deeper skin tones.  The line can be found in department stores across the United States as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, countries in Africa, the Caribbean, France and other countries around the world.  For more information, visit www.fashionfair.com.

About Zimbabwe Trade & Cultural Expo
ZTCE is the consulting, brokerage and investing organization based in Chicago that the world's top companies, entrepreneurs and investors trust for enduring results and a partner that is committed to thriving in emerging markets in Sub-Sahara Africa. The primary focus of the organization is the creation of new markets, increased trade, investment opportunities and partnerships between African, American, and international corporations. For more information, visit www.ztce.org.