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Combe Incorporated

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Combe Incorporated
Company typePrivate
IndustryCosmetics
Founded1949; 75 years ago (1949)
New York, U.S.
FounderIvan Combe
Headquarters
White Plains, New York
,
U.S.
Area served
64 countries and territories
ProductsHaircare
OwnerCombe family
Websitecombe.com

Combe Incorporated, based in White Plains, New York, is an American personal-care company founded in 1949 by Ivan Combe. Combe products are sold in 64 countries on six continents. Ivan Combe primarily promoted the brand names instead of the company name. Combe owns the brands Just for Men, Sea-Bond, Vagisil, and Grecian Formula.[1]

Combe was the originator of the Clearasil brand in 1950, but sold the rights to it in 1961 to Richardson-Merrell.[2]

In October 2002, Combe acquired J.B. Williams, thereby adding such longtime names as Brylcreem, Aqua Velva and Cepacol to its brand stable.[3]

In January 2011, Combe sold its cough remedy and skin care business to Reckitt Benckiser, and its foot care business (including Odor-Eaters) to Blistex.[4][5]

In September 2019, rumours spread about Combe endorsing Joe Biden for presidency, which came from the company's strategic marketing head of US and Canada. This rumour was false.

In December 2020, Combe invested in Virtue Labs, a biotech hair care brand, formulated with a patented bioidentical keratin protein.[6]

In May 2023, Combe acquired the brand Astroglide and company BioFilm from the Wray Family.[7]

Key dates

  • 1949: Ivan Combe founds a company.
  • 1951: Combe introduces Clearasil.
  • 1952: The company's offices move from Manhattan to White Plains, New York.
  • 1961: Clearasil is sold to Richardson-Merrell.
  • 1974: Combe's first manufacturing plant opens in Illinois.
  • 1974: Combe launches Vagisil.[1]
  • 1987: Just for Men is introduced.
  • 2000: Ivan Combe dies.[8]
  • 2002: J.B. Williams is acquired.
  • 2011: Sale of cold remedy/skin care business to Reckitt Benckiser, and sale of foot care business to Blistex.
  • 2019: Combe is rumoured to have endorsed Joe Biden for presidency, which was a false claim.
  • 2020: Investment in Virtue Labs.
  • 2023: Biofilm is acquired, along with their product Astroglide.


References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "History of Combe Inc". FundingUniverse. 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  2. ^ Clearasil : For Clear Skin, brandslex.de
  3. ^ Combe Inc. To Acquire J.B. Williams Company, Inc., happi.com, September 30, 2002
  4. ^ Reckitt Benckiser grows in US with Combe brands, OTC Bulletin, January 21, 2011, p. 1
  5. ^ Blistex Acquires U.S. and Global ODOR-EATERS Brand, prnewswire.com, January 3, 2011: "Blistex Inc. today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the ODOR-EATERS® line of foot care products from Combe Incorporated."
  6. ^ "Combe Inc. Announces Majority Investment in Prestige Hair Care Brand Virtue Labs". businesswire.com. 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  7. ^ Inc, Combe (May 25, 2023). "Creator of Iconic Personal Care Brands COMBE Inc. to Acquire ASTROGLIDE®, Fastest Growing Personal Lubricant Brand in the U.S." PR Newswire. Retrieved 2023-10-02. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ Ravo, Nick, "Ivan D. Combe, 88, Marketer Of Clearasil and Just for Men", The New York Times, January 17, 2000
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