Marcus Griffith

A Pioneer in Manufacturing and International Trade. He departed us on Saturday January 24, 1998. His legacy in the business world is widely known throughout Europe, the Carribean and Africa. His company, HAIRLOX, is one of the few Black manufacturers with market penetration throughout the world. In addition to thousands of US retailers, wholesalers and retail chain stores in 43 states, HAIRLOX served independent sales agents and importers in 35 foreign countries from London, Nairobi, Johannesburg through Trinidad and Brazil. Marcus M. Griffith began his business career in New York City as a salesman and later joined the Fuller Products Company of Chicago.

In 1955, he founded his own company, Beauty Queen and began manufacturing cosmetics and operating beauty salons. In 1956 he established the first and only 24 hour beauty salon in Washington, DC, Beautyrama, and expanded it into the largest chain of salons serving the woman of color, employing more than 150 beauty operators. Marcus Griffith served as President of the DC Chamber of Commerce and many other boards and commissions concerned with business development of the city. Nationally he was a founding member of the American Health and Beauty Aids Institue and elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Manufacturers.

He received the DC Exporter of the Year Award from the US Small Business Administration and the Export Excellence Award from the DC Office of International Business. Moreover, he was a mentor, advisor and friend to many other young business persons and will be sorely missed by all in the business community.

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