Laurice Rahmé is a French-born businesswoman and entrepreneur. She is the founder and president of Bond No. 9 New York Fragrances.[1]
Early years
Rahmé was born and educated in Paris, France.
She began her professional life as an antiques dealer in Paris. She opened her own shop in Les Halles, on the corner of the Rue Saint-Denis and Rue de la Cossonnerie.[2]
Career
In 1973, Rahmé joined Lancôme as International Training Director, tripling the company's skincare business in the Middle East. In 1976, she assumed the role of Director of the Lancome Institut de Beauté, and relocated to L'Oréal USA's (then Cosmair, Inc.) headquarters in New York, NY, US.[3]
From 1989 to 1995, Rahmé was responsible for introducing the small French company to the US.[4]
Following her work with Annick Goutal, Rahmé became US distributor of Creed fragrances in 1995.[5]
Bond No. 9
In 2003, Laurice Rahmé launched her own fragrance company, Bond No. 9.[6]
In 2011, Rahmé launched the "I LOVE NY" by Bond No. 9 collection. It is a smaller collection of fragrances produced in partnership with the State of New York. The perfume bottles bear the "I Love NY" logo designed by Milton Glaser.
Personal life
Laurice Rahmé currently lives in New York City.
Legal Issues
Two former employees filed a federal suit against Rahmé in 2012 for claims of racism against customers and employees. Rahmé allegedly used a secret code to alert security of when African-American customers entered the store. Rahmé admitted that the code "We need the light bulbs changed" was used to alert security of suspicious individuals, irrespective of race, but also stated that all robberies up to that point were committed by African Americans.[7] The litigants withdrew the suit two years later without retracting their claims, stating that the suit had become too time-consuming and expensive.[8]
Awards and distinctions
Rahmé has sat on the board of directors for the Fragrance Foundation, and was named "Business Woman of the Year" by the Foundation's Business Advisory Council Committee.
In January 2006, she was given the "Beauty/Fragrance Entrepreneur Rising Star Award" at the 9th annual Rising Star Awards, sponsored by Fashion Group International (FGI).[9]
In November 2012, Rahmé received the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) "Innovator of the Year" award.[10]
References
- Mystery Guest: Bond No. 9's Laurice Rahme bloomberg.com, Bloomberg Television, October 11, 2013, retrieved January 5, 2014^
- Julie Earle-Levine. How I Made It: Laurice Rahme, owner-founder of Bond No 9 The Sunday Times, Times Newspapers Ltd, January 16, 2005, retrieved January 5, 2014^
- An interview with Bond No.9 Founder, Laurice Rahme basenotes.net, October 26, 2006, retrieved January 5, 2014^
- Shiva Kumar Thekkepat. The name is Bond Friday, Al Nisr Publishing LLC, January 31, 2008, retrieved January 5, 2014^
- John Biebel. Bond No. 9 Founder and Creator Laurice Rahme At Saks Fifth Avenue, NYC Fragrantica, Fragrantica LLC, December 21, 2011, retrieved January 5, 2014^
- Sharon Feiereisen. Five Minutes with Bond No.9 President and Founder Laurice Rahme theFashionSpot, Totallyher Media, LLC, December 22, 2011, retrieved January 5, 2014^
- Michael F. Former workers at Bond No. 9 perfume shop suing owner Laurice Rahme in $3 million race bias lawsuit NY Daily News, Mortimer Zuckerman, August 14, 2012, retrieved May 6, 2015^
- Richard S. Update: Bond No.9 Racism Charges Dropped Black Enterprise, May 6, 2014, retrieved May 6, 2015^
- Robin K. Perfume news: Rising Star Awards now smell this, January 30, 2006, retrieved January 5, 2014^
- Achiever Awards cew.org, Cosmetic Executive Women, November 2012, retrieved January 5, 2014^