Nails
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

American International Industries Turns 35

With more than 500 employees and more than 30 acquisitions, the company boasts some of your favorite brands on its growing roster of products,

by NAILS Staff
May 1, 2006
American International Industries Turns 35

 

2 min to read


You could say American International Industry’s (AII) CEO Zvi Ryzman owes his career to Richard Nixon.

As Ryzman tells it, in the early ‘70s he was in a close-out business with a friend when Nixon devalued the dollar. No longer able to import enough merchandise, they had to close down the business. The two were left with a bunch of Korean-made eyelashes, and after a coin toss, the eyelashes belonged to Ryzman. He began selling the eyelashes to beauty supply stores and later bought three other eyelash companies, including Ardell, one of All’s most popular brands today.

Ad Loading...

From those humble beginnings, AII was founded in 1971. Thirty-five years later, with more than 500 employees and more than 30 acquisitions, the company boasts some of your favorite brands on its growing roster of products, including Body Drench, EZ Flow, Gena, GiGi, ibd, and SuperNail. 2005 marked their acquisition of the China Glaze and Seche product lines.



Ryzman cites this phenomenal growth as his proudest accomplishment. “From just five or six small brands that I acquired, cultivated, and built up, I have created this collection of assorted, respected brands that offer head-to-toe resources for the beauty professional,” he says. And AII is likely to continue to expand. “I plan to continue acquiring niche companies that complement our existing brands,” says Ryzman.

AII Brands from A to Y

Andrea, Ardell, Body Drench, Bye Bye Blemish, China Glaze, clean + easy, Clubman Pinaud, Correctionist, DeLore, Duo, European Secrets, EZ Flow, 5 Second Nail, Fright Night, Gyspy Lash, Gena, GiGi, IBD, L'Orbette, Lustray, N'Rage, No-Tweeze/Micro Tweeze, One Touch, RAW, Seche, SuperNail, Surgi-Care, Sweet Mary Jane, Water Works, Winning Nails, Woltra, Youthair

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Business

A row of styling stations at JBW Jeffrey Ching Salon
Business|Articles|Mar 3, 2026

Precision, Passion, and the Business of Beauty

When Bowie Lau and Jeffrey Ching opened JBW Jeffrey Ching Salon in 2011, they weren’t just launching another luxury hair destination—they were building a business rooted in passion, artistry, and thoughtful growth.

Sponsored by Amex

Ad Loading...
Business|Articles|Nov 27, 2024

Prepare for Small Business Saturday® with American Express

The busy holiday season is here, and with it comes jam-packed days, last-minute client requests and booming retail sales. For many salon owners, the highlight of the season is Small Business Saturday® (SBS). This year on Saturday, November 30, consumers can take their shopping into the small businesses in their communities.

Sponsored by Amex

Ad Loading...
Business|Articles|Oct 22, 2024

Success at the Top: Thriving on Madison Ave.

Salon owner Nuri Yurt had a dream of owning a salon on New York City’s Madison Avenue. "Through perseverance, hard work and stellar customer service, he and partner John Kaygisiz founded Toka Salon in 2007.

Sponsored by Amex

Business|Articles|Sep 6, 2024

Vagaro’s New AI Features and Communication Tool Pave the Way for a More Efficient, Profitable Business

Vagaro has consistently been at the forefront of salon software technology, helping businesses be more efficient, create more effective communication, and even improve company culture. Now, Connect by Vagaro, the platform’s two-way communication capability, and Vagaro’s new generative AI tools are giving owners new opportunities to grow and expand.

Sponsored by Vagaro

Business|Articles|Aug 6, 2024

5 Things I Won't Do as a Nail Tech

This list of watch-outs from @jodydoesjels prompted us to reach out to her and learn more. We had already fallen for her hand-painted designs and now we wanted to know more about this list she created to help clients decide if she was the nail tech for them.

Ad Loading...