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Lynda ResnicAmerican entrepreneur
Country:
 USA |
Linda Resnick: American Entrepreneur
Early Life and Education
Linda Ray Resnick, née Harris, was born in 1944 into a wealthy Jewish family in Baltimore, Maryland. She grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father, Jack, was a film distributor in the 1950s and produced the cult classic horror film "The Blob" in 1958. Her mother, Muriel Goodman, was an interior designer. Resnick attended Harriton High School and briefly studied at a local college before starting her career in advertising. She founded her own agency at the age of 19 and became involved in the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War.
The Pentagon Papers and Legal Battle
Resnick assisted military analyst Daniel Ellsberg in leaking the Pentagon Papers, a series of classified documents that revealed hidden aspects of the Vietnam War. She provided Ellsberg with her copy machine to copy the documents, which he then sent to the New York Times for publication. Resnick faced charges of complicity and was prosecuted for two years before the case was dropped.
Roll Global and Major Brands
Resnick and her husband, Stewart Resnick, founded the holding company Roll Global, which controls various businesses. They are best known for their brands POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, and Teleflora. They also own large citrus and nut farms in California.
Teleflora and The Franklin Mint
Resnick met her husband while he was the president of American Protection Industries. They purchased the flower company Teleflora in 1979, and Resnick became its vice president of marketing and later its president. She introduced the marketing concept of "Flowers in a Gift" in 1982, which involved delivering flowers in unique containers. During her tenure, the company also expanded its product line to include coins, jewelry, collectible dolls, and sculptures, such as those related to the Louvre, Vatican, John Wayne, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe. In 1984, the Resnicks acquired The Franklin Mint, a company specializing in collectibles. Resnick played a significant role in the development of a new business plan for The Franklin Mint.
POM Wonderful and FIJI Water
In 1996, Resnick sponsored medical research on the health benefits of pomegranates. She designed the logo for POM Wonderful and the iconic hourglass-shaped bottle for their drinks and fruit extracts. In 2004, the Resnicks acquired FIJI Water and Resnick led the marketing efforts for the exotic bottled water brand. Under her leadership, FIJI Water became the largest imported bottled water in the United States.
Environmental Initiatives and Challenges
When traditional advertising for FIJI Water started to decline, Resnick launched a campaign highlighting the company's commitment to environmental sustainability and carbon reduction technologies. However, in December 2008, due to a decline in sales, FIJI Water had to lay off approximately 40% of its staff.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Resnick was previously married to publisher Hershel Sinay, with whom she had two children. They divorced in 1969. She is currently married to Stewart Resnick, and they reside in Beverly Hills, California, with a second home in Aspen, Colorado. Resnick co-authored the book "Rubies in the Orchard: How to Uncover the Hidden Gems in Your Business" with Francis Wilkinson in 2000. In the book, she shares details about her life, marketing ideas, and business philosophy, emphasizing the importance of transparency and being a responsible global citizen. Resnick believes that transparency is a new concept in business and that one must be accountable to the planet.
