Grandmother-In-Law: Elizabeth Grant (99)

Daughter-In-Law: Marion Grant (70)

Granddaughter-In-Law: Margot Grant Witz (37)

Three Generation Family Business

Elizabeth is a grandmother, mother, entrepreneur business woman, and of course: a mother-in-law. As the matriarch of the family, Elizabeth, is an outspoken, opinionated, and vivacious queen, famous for starting her multi-million-dollar beauty empire, “Elizabeth Grant Skincare” known the world over. Raised in London, Elizabeth was working as a make-up artist at Elstree Studios in the UK. She worked on many famous faces including: Vivian Leigh, Sean Connery, Robert Taylor, and Noel Coward. In 1945, the last year of WWII, there were commonplace and disruptive bombings throughout London. A bomb blast hit across the street from where Elizabeth was living and the explosion permanently scarred her face. During a visit to the doctor, she discovered the name of an ingredient that was used to treat war wounds. The light bulb went off. She manufactured this ingredient, made her own skincare line, and the rest, as they say is history! At the time it was very unusual for woman to start their own business, but it has grown and expanded to include her daughter-in-law, and grand-daughter-in-law. Now these two are preparing to take over the empire from their mother-in-law.

In 1998 Elizabeth’s Daughter-In-Law, Marion, joined the company as President and moved the growing cosmetic company to Toronto from South Africa, where the three previously lived. Margot, Marion’s daughter, Elizabeth’s Granddaughter, joined the company in 2002 and has worked with her mother and grandmother in-law to continue to expand the family business. Although, the three women are sitting on an extremely lucrative company that employs nearly 200 people, the behind the scenes isn’t always sunshine and roses. Working with family isn’t always smooth sailing, especially when the matriarch and founder is still giving input and making decisions at 100 years old.

To further complicate working with family, Margot’s husband Alex, also works at the company, has invested his own money into the company and is on the board. Alex is extremely passionate and opinionated about EGSC and often vocalizes what he thinks should be done to the company to Marion, his mother in law. Alex and Marion have an incredibly close-relationship. They have lunch together every day and discuss business. Often Marion feels an outsider from those meetings. Margot feels that at home she needs her husband around more, not him plotting and scheming about the family business with his mother-in-law.

Greg is Margot’s brother and Marion’s eldest son. Greg has inherited his father Paul’s business, which is a business/leadership and coaching business. Greg works with EGSC in the capacity he helps to develop their leaders and managers. He was working at EGSC full time in 2015 when the company almost went under. He says that he essentially helped to save the company but at the expense of the relationship with his mother and sister. Now, he’s trying to rebuild his relationships with the two. He is very skeptical about Margot being able to take over the business. He’s nervous that everyone is going to try to take advantage of his mother in law. He’s also skeptical of Alex’s role and ideas for the business. Ultimately, Greg doesn’t agree with the direction that they are taking EGSC and think that they are missing out on the most profitable way to market and steer their empire. He has trouble NOT vocalizing his opinion because he sees it so clearly, but if he does, he knows that it would be at the expense of his family relationships. Not to mention, there is bad-blood history with his wife, (Marion’s daughter-in-law) who works as a client for EGSC and who used to work at the company. That relationship has also been tested.

There’s also another brother named Daniel who is not involved in the business who is regarded as the “black sheep of the family.” Greg admits that Daniel takes advantage of their mother’s money and constantly needs to be bailed out. Greg thinks that Daniel’s only real interest in the company is if it was sold or inherited, and what his share of the pie would be…

Marion and Elizabeth have been in one another’s lives for nearly three decades. However, Elizabeth and Marion didn’t get along in the beginning. Elizabeth has always been all-about herself and her company and couldn’t be bothered with anyone else. To this day she’ll tell you flat out, “I deserve the attention for what I created.” Marion merely tolerated her head-strong and egocentric mother-in-law. Their relationship began to change when Paul, Elizabeth’s son and Marion’s husband passed away in 2010. Paul was a central figure to the family. Loud, charismatic and known for his temper, Paul was both loved and hated by many people. The miracle though: what could have separated many mother and daughters-in-law, instead strengthened their bond.

Today Marion and Elizabeth are extremely close. They live close by one another and see each other every day. Marion tends to each of her mother-in-law’s every needs. Whether that’s personal or business related, the lines are blurred, and simply it doesn’t matter! The three of them get together every week for a family function where work is usually the topic of conversation. Margot admits that she isn’t as close as she wants to be to her grandmother and compares her relationship to EG to that of Marion and EG’s relationship. On the topic of Marion, Elizabeth admits, “You are my best friend because I only tell the truth.” Even if it’s harsh, Elizabeth only says what is on her mind, even at 99 years old.

The ultimate truth about this family: Everything revolves around the business whether one likes it or not. It’s grandmother’s life’s work and entrusting the company to her daughter-in-law means that she needs to have 100% trust. Nothing in between. The weight of carrying on the legacy does cause tension and pressure for Marion and Margot. It’s no secret that even though EG is in terrific health that she’ll one day pass. The family has been preparing for that day for many years. When she does pass Marion will step in as the figure-head of the company, the new “EG,” and Margot will be the main on-camera presence for the company. Marion and Margot will be the new owners of EG skincare. Alex also plans to be a big part of the company’s future, supporting and helping is wife along the way.

Until then, Elizabeth is still involved in the day-to-day of the company. She doesn’t know how not to be. She will have Marion apply samples to her face. Dole out wisdom and advice. If something isn’t done to her liking, she’ll make a stink about it. She will still even go on-camera for shopping networks selling her skincare products! There are trade secrets that EG only trusts to Marion, only furthering their bond.

Margot and Marion have wildly different personalities and very different ideas of how EGSC should be run as well as its future. Perhaps it’s an age difference or perhaps it’s simply differing perspectives, both Margot and Marion don’t always see eye to eye on how the business should be handled. It’s always difficult working with family, but working with in-laws and inheriting a business is a different level.

Although these three generations of women have an incredibly close-knit bond, centered around a successful skincare brand, the future hangs in the balance. Will Marion really be able to fill her mother-in-law’s shoes? Will EG continue to entrust every aspect to her daughter and granddaughter-in-law. Where will Alex and Greg fall into the picture? That’s not even to mention the other family members who live close by and have expressed interest in getting involved. Everyone wants a piece of the business, and everyone has an opinion. But the fact remains: Elizabeth chose Marion, her daughter-in-law to carry on her life’s work.