Deborah Carver, founder of Creative Age Publications and an iconic leader in the professional beauty industry, retired in December 2020. She began in the publishing industry in 1971 with the launch of Creative Age, which produced advanced medical and technical magazines such as Emergency Medical Services, Dialysis & Transplantation and Nutritional Support Services. Then in 1990, Carver switched directions, selling off the medical titles and adding pro beauty magazines to the lineup instead—ultimately redefining Creative Age as a leading media source for the professional beauty industry. Creative Age titles included NAILPRO, Beauty Launchpad, DAYSPA, Beauty Store Business, MedEsthetics, The Colorist, MAN and Eye Lash. Ever the idea-maker and innovator, Carver also launched the ahead-of-its-time interactive digital publication Beauty Etc. for the professional makeup artist, as well as the first nail magazine dedicated to the consumer audience, Nail It!.
Over the years, Creative Age won 22 Maggie Awards, one ABBY, three Eddie and Ozzie Awards, 10 finalist certificates of excellence and an Intercoiffure Press Award. Additionally, Carver was named City of Hope’s 2018 Spirit of Life Award honoree for her dedicated fundraising efforts for cancer research and treatments.
On a personal note, I have worked alongside Deborah for the past 14 years. She trusted, encouraged and supported me throughout all of my endeavors with NAILPRO and Creative Age. She gave me the opportunity to become a leader myself within the nail industry, for which I am so grateful. She has left an indelible mark on all those she touched in this industry. –Stephanie Lavery
“When Deborah and I first met, I knew she was a pioneer. Together we shaped an industry, supported each other’s endeavors and laughed over my concern that Creative Age might get mixed up with Creative Nail. Ever-present at every show, event and meeting, she has been consistently active in making our industry a better place for everyone involved.” –George Schaeffer, founder of OPI and CEO of Aloxxi
“Everyone should aspire to be like Deborah Carver: strong, smart, creative, entrepreneurial and a kind human being! Deb will always be my friend, and I admire her life.” –Tony Cuccio, founder and president of Star Nail Products and Cuccio Naturalé
“In 1994, I took my first 1/3-page ad with NAILPRO. Over the next year, I got to know Deborah. She was always stylishly dressed in a beautiful hat as her signature. You could not miss her from the floor of any major industry trade shows. She would stop by, saying ‘hi’ to every nail manufacturer/distributor. It didn’t matter whether you were a big company with a fancy booth or a startup with a 10x10 space. She connected people through her bright personality and NAILPRO magazine. We will miss seeing her efforts in the pages of NAILPRO. The LeChat family and I wish her much luck as she moves into her next adventure in life.” –Newton Luu, president of LeChat
“Deborah Carver is a beauty industry icon, innovator and visionary who transformed the professional beauty media business with Creative Age, a powerful publishing house that has driven our business forward for the last 30 years. I’ve known Deborah since the beginning of her career: As a businesswoman, she trailblazed the publishing industry before everyone else by creating forward-thinking titles to promote every aspect of the professional beauty business, from medical aesthetics to makeup to hair to nails. With DAYSPA, for example, Deborah created the professional spa business bible, and with Beauty Launchpad she did the same for upscale salons. She has worked tirelessly for the industry, omnipresent at every trade show, going through each and every aisle, meeting with every manufacturer and vendor. She was always exemplary—a representative like no one else, always dressed beautifully, bringing the industry to the highest level of professionalism. On a personal level, Deborah has been a true friend, proving herself time and time again to be someone who you could count on when you needed help. If I ever needed a shoulder to cry on, she was there for me. She is the captain of her own boat and her own destiny, and there will never be anyone who can replace her.” –Lydia Sarfati, CEO and founder of Repêchage
