KBSS Boycott Planning Thread
- Thread starter Tamster
- Start date
SmilingElephant
Well-Known Member
So i guess everybody is in the planning forum since this one seems to have died down yeah?
lilyofthenile
New Member
I offer you ladies my full support! I'll do the same in the UK. I will boycott the Asian owned BSS' and I will support black companies.
Stormy
Well-Known Member
Hey ladies! 
I'm in support of this cause too. It will be easy for me to boycott KBSS since I stopped going to them months ago. Even then, I only bought some shower caps because I was right near one. We have some black ones here in Atlanta so I support those. I'll definitely spread the word!
Stop the KBSS sounds good to me since it's a little more specific, but I see you all pretty much decided on a name. I'm still down!
I'm in support of this cause too. It will be easy for me to boycott KBSS since I stopped going to them months ago. Even then, I only bought some shower caps because I was right near one. We have some black ones here in Atlanta so I support those. I'll definitely spread the word! Stop the KBSS sounds good to me since it's a little more specific, but I see you all pretty much decided on a name. I'm still down!
tiffers
Whisper "bleep boop" to yourself when you're sad.
Hey chicas!
A few updates:
bludaydreamer has stepped up and bought us a domain! OperationBuyItBlack.com, ya'll!
Isn't she awesome? 
davisbr88 Came up with a great idea regarding Youtube videos. Please come on over to the forum and weigh in.
A mission statement still needs to be chosen. Only three people have given their opinion, but they all favor number one. Since our name will officially be chosen tomorrow, so will the mission statement. Please read the five statements and give your opinion.
We still need 2 or 3 people to help with Facebook
We still need someone who is efficient in HTML to help set up the blog and the website.
I came up with an idea for content on the blog and need input.
Come over to the forum and help us out!
A few updates:
bludaydreamer has stepped up and bought us a domain! OperationBuyItBlack.com, ya'll!
Isn't she awesome? davisbr88 Came up with a great idea regarding Youtube videos. Please come on over to the forum and weigh in.
A mission statement still needs to be chosen. Only three people have given their opinion, but they all favor number one. Since our name will officially be chosen tomorrow, so will the mission statement. Please read the five statements and give your opinion.
We still need 2 or 3 people to help with Facebook
We still need someone who is efficient in HTML to help set up the blog and the website.
I came up with an idea for content on the blog and need input.
Come over to the forum and help us out!
Anakinsmomma
Well-Known Member
I haven't read the whole thread, so forgive me if this was addressed. Will the website have a state/country listing contact info for black owned bss in different areas?
Tamster
New Member
Hey chicas!
A few updates:
bludaydreamer has stepped up and bought us a domain! OperationBuyItBlack.com, ya'll!
davisbr88 Came up with a great idea regarding Youtube videos. Please come on over to the forum and weigh in.
A mission statement still needs to be chosen. Only three people have given their opinion, but they all favor number one. Since our name will officially be chosen tomorrow, so will the mission statement. Please read the five statements and give your opinion.
We still need 2 or 3 people to help with Facebook
We still need someone who is efficient in HTML to help set up the blog and the website.
I came up with an idea for content on the blog and need input.
Come over to the forum and help us out!
oh wow... thank you for buying the domain... i guess that means the name is Operation Buy It Black?
i mean we were still deciding... but ok.
Off to the forum! sorry for being MIA, I've been working from 9-10:30 today.
bludaydreamer
Well-Known Member
Sorry if I jumped the gun. 
I am 8.5 hours ahead of the states and no one was on.
I am 8.5 hours ahead of the states and no one was on.
bludaydreamer
Well-Known Member
UPDATE: I registered both operationbuyitblack.com and operationbuyitblack.org. GoDaddy is now saying that operationbuyitblack.com may be unavailable - it will take 72 hours to resolve, so OPERATIONBUYITBLACK.ORG will be the site to use. I am setting it up now and hopefully it will be up by tomorrow.
Carisa
New Member
Hi, Ive been sending out mass emails to the women on this site to join the stop the BSS page/boycotting group so far but just in case I missed someone-
There are 2 different pages for the stop the bss movement on fb - 1 is a “like” page and the other is a “group” page.
My name is Chanelle Chanele on fb (link below).
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000777037327
Add me if your interested in joining the fb group and please include your lhcf name because I'm getting a lot of emails/request at one time.
P.S.- sorry if I emailed some of you twice! I may forget who I already sent certain messages too!
ETA: I wasn't able to email some of you on this site so I am tagging you in this msg-tailormade84 [FONT="]@heyfranz, @greenandchic, [/FONT][FONT="]@bratt4212002[/FONT][FONT="] , [/FONT]@MyAngelEyez~C~U[FONT="] , @taz007, @Willow00, @CocoT, @optimusprime
[/FONT]
There are 2 different pages for the stop the bss movement on fb - 1 is a “like” page and the other is a “group” page.
My name is Chanelle Chanele on fb (link below).
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000777037327
Add me if your interested in joining the fb group and please include your lhcf name because I'm getting a lot of emails/request at one time.
P.S.- sorry if I emailed some of you twice! I may forget who I already sent certain messages too!
ETA: I wasn't able to email some of you on this site so I am tagging you in this msg-tailormade84 [FONT="]@heyfranz, @greenandchic, [/FONT][FONT="]@bratt4212002[/FONT][FONT="] , [/FONT]@MyAngelEyez~C~U[FONT="] , @taz007, @Willow00, @CocoT, @optimusprime
[/FONT]
Last edited:
BostonMaria
Well-Known Member
I haven't been to a Sally's or Asian BSS in a very long time. I definitely don't and won't support them! I buy either at CVS, Walgreens, online Minority owned stores, or a local Dominican BSS. That's it.
Miss*Tress
Well-Known Member
Yes; good idea.
bludaydreamer
Well-Known Member
Yes there will be a Google Doc (link or actual) on the website. We are still compiling the list and developing the website. www.OperationBuyItBlack.org:yep:
ms-gg
Aka frostoppa
Yeah, I have to fall back for awhile as well (school is taking up my whole entire LIFE
erplexed). But I am still in full support 
Guitarhero
New Member
Today I'm going to be buying some hair products and I will take my business to Walgreen, not the BSS's that are not Black or Hispanic-owned. Secondly, I will fill out an acquisition slip at my public library to include books from Devin Robinson.
For those wishing to help Black business, please take advantage of these workshops if you can. Also, for those with business degrees or even aspiring towards it, have you considered applying for employment with the few Black distributorships in the U.S.?
______________________________________
http://www.beautysupplyinstitute.com/
WELCOME TO BEAUTY SUPPLY INSTITUTE
The only option you will ever need to embark on beauty retailing
We are an educational institution for individuals that aspire to become beauty supply store owners. We have met the needs of thousands of information-seeking entrepreneurs. This industry presents its fair share of hurdles and pitfalls. However, we take the guessing out of your life, while leveling the competitive playing feel for those who don’t have the guidance. We have many options to get you to your Grand Opening date: Online Courses, Conferences, Resource Materials, Consulting and more. Some of our Effective Products
· How to Get Funding class
· Increasing Store Sales class
· Annual Conference
· Beauty Supply System
· Capstone Elite Membership
Our promise to you is that you will get all the information you need to get your store opened or performing better. There are plenty of organizations and groups who make claims to deliver business training and information. What sets us apart is our specific knowledge gained from opening and running our own beauty supply stores from ground up. We’ve done it for ourselves, we’ve done it for clients from coast to coast and we can do it for you. Our experienced team help remove the myths that many people believe exists in this industry. You will benefit from our proven track record throughout the United States and in several foreign countries.
Top Myths
· I can save money doing it myself
· I can save money having a store owner help me
· Stores Costs $200,000 to open
· Asians don’t do business with Blacks
· It’s hard to get "hair accounts"
· Asians dominate the industry
· Economy is too bad for a store to be successful
· Without hair accounts, my business will fail
· If you are within 3 miles of another store you can't get products
Click here for Mythbusters
We pride ourselves on being an investment where you will see the returns, instead of being an expense or a cost. Once you’ve received our training or assistance, we are positive you will agree. Take advantage of everything we have put together for you. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals!
For those wishing to help Black business, please take advantage of these workshops if you can. Also, for those with business degrees or even aspiring towards it, have you considered applying for employment with the few Black distributorships in the U.S.?
______________________________________
http://www.beautysupplyinstitute.com/
WELCOME TO BEAUTY SUPPLY INSTITUTE
The only option you will ever need to embark on beauty retailing
We are an educational institution for individuals that aspire to become beauty supply store owners. We have met the needs of thousands of information-seeking entrepreneurs. This industry presents its fair share of hurdles and pitfalls. However, we take the guessing out of your life, while leveling the competitive playing feel for those who don’t have the guidance. We have many options to get you to your Grand Opening date: Online Courses, Conferences, Resource Materials, Consulting and more. Some of our Effective Products
· How to Get Funding class
· Increasing Store Sales class
· Annual Conference
· Beauty Supply System
· Capstone Elite Membership
Our promise to you is that you will get all the information you need to get your store opened or performing better. There are plenty of organizations and groups who make claims to deliver business training and information. What sets us apart is our specific knowledge gained from opening and running our own beauty supply stores from ground up. We’ve done it for ourselves, we’ve done it for clients from coast to coast and we can do it for you. Our experienced team help remove the myths that many people believe exists in this industry. You will benefit from our proven track record throughout the United States and in several foreign countries.
Top Myths
· I can save money doing it myself
· I can save money having a store owner help me
· Stores Costs $200,000 to open
· Asians don’t do business with Blacks
· It’s hard to get "hair accounts"
· Asians dominate the industry
· Economy is too bad for a store to be successful
· Without hair accounts, my business will fail
· If you are within 3 miles of another store you can't get products
Click here for Mythbusters
We pride ourselves on being an investment where you will see the returns, instead of being an expense or a cost. Once you’ve received our training or assistance, we are positive you will agree. Take advantage of everything we have put together for you. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals!
Guitarhero
New Member
http://hiphopwired.com/2009/11/18/16106/
Activist Devin Robinson Calls For Boycott Of Non-Black Owned Beauty Supply Stores
» by Danielle Canada *snip*
The plight of a Black woman takes new heights when she takes part in the time old tradition of going to a beauty supply store.
Millions of us have the same story of being followed watched and monitored in the stores often by people who know nothing about us or our fascination with the very product they sell.
Chris Rock recently highlighted the struggle of Black women to maintain and obsess over something as simple as tresses in his film “Good Hair” and while Chris made his point on the big screen, another man is stepping up to do the same in communities nationwide.
Although he has less notoriety and less fame, Professor and Black activist Devin Robinson has started a national boycott of non-Black owned beauty supply stores to send a message. The message he hopes to send is one of equal treatment, one of fair distribution and one that can ultimately pump millions of dollars back into the Black community. This Black beauty supply owner and founder of “Taking It Back Black Campaign” schools men and women on the skills needed to successfully own and operate their own store.
If this is your first time hearing about the boycott it's not too late to join in, you have until November 22 to “go against the grain” and take your business where it is appreciated. Hell, if these discriminatory practices really infuriate you, why not extend it? Professor Robinson sat down with HipHopWired to tell us what motivated him to start the boycott, the huge economic implications it could bring and exactly what we can do to help.
HHWired: How did you really get into the beauty supply industry, did you hear about the struggles Black women go through your wife or daughter?
Devin Robinson: No, What happened was, I got thrown out of a beauty supply store. I owned a barber shop and a salon and I was in there shopping for supplies, I was prepared to spend about a thousand dollars that day and because I was browsing the guy didn't like it, it was a Korean guy, he grabbed a golf club and threatened me and kicked me out of his store. I left quietly, caught me on a good day. I left and sat in front of my salon, and said I got to do something about that. I don't think that's right. I am a professional business person, how is he treating the younger people the less fortunate people, maybe dressing a little more intimidating or aggressive than I was that day. And I decided to open my store, I called the landlord who had my salon I said listen I want a beauty supply store right next to my shop, I paid them 5,000 dollars that day, I didn't have no experience, no industry experience no contacts, nothing, I assumed like any business, you got the money you can get in. That's not the case. That's when I really learned what it was about.
So how do you go about being successful in the beauty supply industry?
Devin Robinson: First you got to know business, that's the first thing. You got to know how to run a good business, you got to cater to your business, many special occasions I missed, many vacations I missed, that's the first thing you need to do is learn to sacrifice. And then once you get in, customer service and persistence is really what made me successful. There was some products that I wanted I had to get it, when I opened my store, it took me 4 to 6 months to get wigs. Distributor would not sell me there hair.
You would call them and they'd say no?
Devin Robinson: They wouldn't come out and say no, they would say here's our fax number and download these forms we get back to you and you'd never hear from them……I eventually started getting call backs and I call and say I'm calling on behalf of Ms. Kim, she's the owner of the business, call me back, I started getting phone calls……then one thing that really worked for me, I lived in Korea for a year in the mid 90s, so I know the food, the culture, and when I got to different distributors I would befriend them using that……they let me in and let their guard down, not knowing they were letting their guard down for the wrong person.
What was the final straw for you in the hair business when you decided to do the boycott?
Devin Robinson: I opened the stores I sold them to other black people. I appeared in the black hair DVD in a documentary in 2007, they filmed my store and they were like this young guy is doing this. I had a scene on there where I had people emailing calling me about help. So I decided to write a book, “Taking It Back: How to Become a Successful Black Beauty Supply Store Owner.” After I did that I wound up being on Michael Baisden several times, I've been on his show six times since then. I was featured in Ebony magazine in 2008 and when that happened, more calls came in of people needing help. So I decided that I needed to sell my store so that I could really help people get into this business. Being a business store owner I'm in the trenches. It's harder for me to help anyone when I'm fighting my own battle. So I decided to sell it to other Blacks and I started the crusade, started the University, started the courses and started traveling. I was teaching people how to set their own stores up.
The boycott is from November 16 through the 22. So really break it down for me. Are there certain products we shouldn't buy? Or in general just go to Black owned stores?
Devin Robinson: Here's what we gotta do. Where the problem really lies is in the distributors. There's really only one full scale Black distributor in the country everyone else is Asian. That's part of the problem. We got Luster's, we got Dudley's, Bonner Brothers, they manufacture so we still have some Black manufacturers out there but when those products get shipped to the distributor that's where they decide to channel it to the Asian stores. That's where they sell it to the Black stores at higher prices and give them the run around. So they're sending their products to the Asian stores and we're having a hard time. What I'm planning to do is send people to the Black owned stores only. If we shop at Black owned stores only, these distributors are only going to get orders from Black owned stores. They're going to start to see a decline in sales at the Asian stores and if they can realize that wait a minute, we have that power and that leverage they will have no choice then but to open up the books and operate fairly to the Black owned stores. They may not do it in just that one week but I'm prepared to do it make this one week into two weeks and into a month as we move forward. I want to start with a week, small successes so businesses can see. We're talking about $66 ½ million a week so if we do this one week that's $66 ½ million going to the Black community. That's really what I'm trying to do, send a message to the distributors that you need to open the doors and operate fairly. You got a Black retailer coming to you? You need to operate fairly.
Devin Robison: See that's part of the problem. That's been part of our problem historically. We haven't seen 100% cooperation in pretty much anything that we've done. It's gotta become viral. You do have those people who are price sensitive but once they see a cause and people start to see that the support is spreading I think that people will get on board and see that once we hand our money to the Asian owner we're sending that money directly out of our community. So you may be sending less for that item or transaction but you're spending way more in the big picture. Now you have no tax revenues. You have deplorable conditions in your churches, in your schools and you have crime because we don't have the tax revenue to bring police officers out. We start to pay a price for that. You pay a price because you gotta pay for security systems for your homes. We pay on the back end in having a crime infested community because of the lack of revenue circulating in that community.
How do you plan to market this on a National level?
Devin Robinson: The press releases are going out we're still trying to get the attention of national media and syndicated shows. A lot of people in the local circuits are picking up the story. I'm very proud, I'm happy about that. If we could get CNN and MSNBC on board it's a long shot but if we could get them to cover the stories that'd be great. Right now we have the support of Reverend Al Sharpton, Michael Baisden, Warren Ballentine, these are people that are promising to cover the boycott for that entire week. I don't have a national platform; I've never had a national platform. So I'm just working with the media friendly folks that will open the doors and get this message out. That's what I'm relying on.
Is there a directory for the Black beauty supply stores so people can find out where they are in their area?
Devin Robinson: Yes on our website TakingItBackBlack.com. There are also courses there for people who want to get in and there's a directory telling you where all the Black owned stores are.
Okay good. Any final words? Is there anything you want to say to get people motivated to go out and participate in this boycott?
Devin Robinson: We have to let people know that this is an economic hate crime. We are being victimized throughout our communities. The Black people are being singled out to be exploited but not allowed to obtain power through entrepreneurship. It's an economic hate crime and we've got to continue to be persistent and pursue it through legal action, through economic action, through moral and civil action. This is something we've definitely gotta do.
Activist Devin Robinson Calls For Boycott Of Non-Black Owned Beauty Supply Stores
» by Danielle Canada *snip*
The plight of a Black woman takes new heights when she takes part in the time old tradition of going to a beauty supply store.
Millions of us have the same story of being followed watched and monitored in the stores often by people who know nothing about us or our fascination with the very product they sell.
Chris Rock recently highlighted the struggle of Black women to maintain and obsess over something as simple as tresses in his film “Good Hair” and while Chris made his point on the big screen, another man is stepping up to do the same in communities nationwide.
Although he has less notoriety and less fame, Professor and Black activist Devin Robinson has started a national boycott of non-Black owned beauty supply stores to send a message. The message he hopes to send is one of equal treatment, one of fair distribution and one that can ultimately pump millions of dollars back into the Black community. This Black beauty supply owner and founder of “Taking It Back Black Campaign” schools men and women on the skills needed to successfully own and operate their own store.
If this is your first time hearing about the boycott it's not too late to join in, you have until November 22 to “go against the grain” and take your business where it is appreciated. Hell, if these discriminatory practices really infuriate you, why not extend it? Professor Robinson sat down with HipHopWired to tell us what motivated him to start the boycott, the huge economic implications it could bring and exactly what we can do to help.
HHWired: How did you really get into the beauty supply industry, did you hear about the struggles Black women go through your wife or daughter?
Devin Robinson: No, What happened was, I got thrown out of a beauty supply store. I owned a barber shop and a salon and I was in there shopping for supplies, I was prepared to spend about a thousand dollars that day and because I was browsing the guy didn't like it, it was a Korean guy, he grabbed a golf club and threatened me and kicked me out of his store. I left quietly, caught me on a good day. I left and sat in front of my salon, and said I got to do something about that. I don't think that's right. I am a professional business person, how is he treating the younger people the less fortunate people, maybe dressing a little more intimidating or aggressive than I was that day. And I decided to open my store, I called the landlord who had my salon I said listen I want a beauty supply store right next to my shop, I paid them 5,000 dollars that day, I didn't have no experience, no industry experience no contacts, nothing, I assumed like any business, you got the money you can get in. That's not the case. That's when I really learned what it was about.
So how do you go about being successful in the beauty supply industry?
Devin Robinson: First you got to know business, that's the first thing. You got to know how to run a good business, you got to cater to your business, many special occasions I missed, many vacations I missed, that's the first thing you need to do is learn to sacrifice. And then once you get in, customer service and persistence is really what made me successful. There was some products that I wanted I had to get it, when I opened my store, it took me 4 to 6 months to get wigs. Distributor would not sell me there hair.
You would call them and they'd say no?
Devin Robinson: They wouldn't come out and say no, they would say here's our fax number and download these forms we get back to you and you'd never hear from them……I eventually started getting call backs and I call and say I'm calling on behalf of Ms. Kim, she's the owner of the business, call me back, I started getting phone calls……then one thing that really worked for me, I lived in Korea for a year in the mid 90s, so I know the food, the culture, and when I got to different distributors I would befriend them using that……they let me in and let their guard down, not knowing they were letting their guard down for the wrong person.
What was the final straw for you in the hair business when you decided to do the boycott?
Devin Robinson: I opened the stores I sold them to other black people. I appeared in the black hair DVD in a documentary in 2007, they filmed my store and they were like this young guy is doing this. I had a scene on there where I had people emailing calling me about help. So I decided to write a book, “Taking It Back: How to Become a Successful Black Beauty Supply Store Owner.” After I did that I wound up being on Michael Baisden several times, I've been on his show six times since then. I was featured in Ebony magazine in 2008 and when that happened, more calls came in of people needing help. So I decided that I needed to sell my store so that I could really help people get into this business. Being a business store owner I'm in the trenches. It's harder for me to help anyone when I'm fighting my own battle. So I decided to sell it to other Blacks and I started the crusade, started the University, started the courses and started traveling. I was teaching people how to set their own stores up.
The boycott is from November 16 through the 22. So really break it down for me. Are there certain products we shouldn't buy? Or in general just go to Black owned stores?
Devin Robinson: Here's what we gotta do. Where the problem really lies is in the distributors. There's really only one full scale Black distributor in the country everyone else is Asian. That's part of the problem. We got Luster's, we got Dudley's, Bonner Brothers, they manufacture so we still have some Black manufacturers out there but when those products get shipped to the distributor that's where they decide to channel it to the Asian stores. That's where they sell it to the Black stores at higher prices and give them the run around. So they're sending their products to the Asian stores and we're having a hard time. What I'm planning to do is send people to the Black owned stores only. If we shop at Black owned stores only, these distributors are only going to get orders from Black owned stores. They're going to start to see a decline in sales at the Asian stores and if they can realize that wait a minute, we have that power and that leverage they will have no choice then but to open up the books and operate fairly to the Black owned stores. They may not do it in just that one week but I'm prepared to do it make this one week into two weeks and into a month as we move forward. I want to start with a week, small successes so businesses can see. We're talking about $66 ½ million a week so if we do this one week that's $66 ½ million going to the Black community. That's really what I'm trying to do, send a message to the distributors that you need to open the doors and operate fairly. You got a Black retailer coming to you? You need to operate fairly.
Devin Robison: See that's part of the problem. That's been part of our problem historically. We haven't seen 100% cooperation in pretty much anything that we've done. It's gotta become viral. You do have those people who are price sensitive but once they see a cause and people start to see that the support is spreading I think that people will get on board and see that once we hand our money to the Asian owner we're sending that money directly out of our community. So you may be sending less for that item or transaction but you're spending way more in the big picture. Now you have no tax revenues. You have deplorable conditions in your churches, in your schools and you have crime because we don't have the tax revenue to bring police officers out. We start to pay a price for that. You pay a price because you gotta pay for security systems for your homes. We pay on the back end in having a crime infested community because of the lack of revenue circulating in that community.
How do you plan to market this on a National level?
Devin Robinson: The press releases are going out we're still trying to get the attention of national media and syndicated shows. A lot of people in the local circuits are picking up the story. I'm very proud, I'm happy about that. If we could get CNN and MSNBC on board it's a long shot but if we could get them to cover the stories that'd be great. Right now we have the support of Reverend Al Sharpton, Michael Baisden, Warren Ballentine, these are people that are promising to cover the boycott for that entire week. I don't have a national platform; I've never had a national platform. So I'm just working with the media friendly folks that will open the doors and get this message out. That's what I'm relying on.
Is there a directory for the Black beauty supply stores so people can find out where they are in their area?
Devin Robinson: Yes on our website TakingItBackBlack.com. There are also courses there for people who want to get in and there's a directory telling you where all the Black owned stores are.
Okay good. Any final words? Is there anything you want to say to get people motivated to go out and participate in this boycott?
Devin Robinson: We have to let people know that this is an economic hate crime. We are being victimized throughout our communities. The Black people are being singled out to be exploited but not allowed to obtain power through entrepreneurship. It's an economic hate crime and we've got to continue to be persistent and pursue it through legal action, through economic action, through moral and civil action. This is something we've definitely gotta do.
Guitarhero
New Member
Last thing, invite bloggers who have featured this discussion to join us (or we them) so we can be a unified front. Boycotts have been called before but who participated in large-scale? This is the time.
morehairplease
Well-Known Member
What an awesome thread ladies! You have my full support.
Last edited:
Tamster
New Member
beauty supply mafia: the ugly business of cutting blacks out of the beauty market
Frank Mohadou closed the door to the beauty supply business he was struggling to keep, in the slice of space he obtained from his sister. The still night held no comfort for the African native as he slid behind the wheel of the $250-a-month car he could barely afford.
Study: About 9,800 beauty supply business nationwide; but only 300 black-owned.
He ignored the thought of going home; knowing soon he would have to find another place to live since the people he was staying with were drifting apart.
Instead, he sat; his anxiety and frustration combed into a manageable silence as he contemplated ways to grow his business. Just then, a Korean-American stepped up through his thoughts and across his path to stop at his storefront.
They often waited until he was gone to peek inside his store, Mohadou said. He knew he was an outsider. He didn’t speak their language. But he was trying to break into their world – a billion dollar market that primarily services black hair.
For almost 50 years, the Korean-American community has dominated the black beauty supply market by opening large stores, buying out smaller black- owned ones and using the faces of black celebrities on their products and black employees in their stores to grow their businesses in the black community.
Mohadou—who declined to speak further with a Cascade Patch reporter after an initial interview, citing a fear of retaliation—said “The little thing I was doing, they were trying to stop me,” said Mohadou, then a father of two with another child on the way. “There is no way back. I was able to learn English and put a little business together. I can’t quit.”
Mohadou didn’t know it, but things were about to get worse.
The Ugly Side of Beauty
Mohadou left the Ivory Coast in 1997 with the intention of going to school in America and then returning home. But his plans changed.
He learned English through a church group in New York before leaving to attend Georgia State University where he earned degrees in chemistry and finance.
He was unemployed the day he walked into his sister’s braiding salon and discovered a pack of human hair cost $80. Professionals got it for $50. “I just got laid off, so I said let me find out where the hair came from,” Mohadou said. What he discovered was a closed market.
He learned there were four central distributors serving a large portion of the beauty supply stores in the country, all Korean-owned. Aron Ranen, who produced a documentary in 2006 on the beauty supply business, reported that these distributors only worked with other Koreans in order to dominate the market.
Devin Robinson, owner of Atlanta’s Beauty Supply Institute, said about 9,800 beauty supply business existed nationwide; but only a little more than 300 were black-owned.
“The Koreans strategically make it harder for us to get into the business. They have the supplies the customers want,” Robinson said.
Beauty Masters is one of the larger Korean-owned beauty supply stores with seven locations in Atlanta.
Lucien Poko, general manager for Beauty Masters, said 90 to 95 percent of the stores’ customers are black; and so are the store’s employees.
He balks at the idea that Koreans dominate the market.
“It’s just business,” said Poko, who is from Senegal. “Everybody is free to open what they want to open. It’s the way you handle your business. Koreans dominating the business, this doesn’t make sense. You can open up your business. You are free to do what you want.”
Making the Cut
Mohadou couldn’t find anyone to sell to him when he first started more than eight years ago. Then he met an American-born Korean distributor in New York who would sell him hair at $14 a pack.
Mohadou traveled by MARTA to deliver the hair door-to-door to his customers. After a while, he established a trust with the owner who increased his orders, decreased his price and sold him hair on credit.
Still, his customers had a preference. They wanted the name brands; the Korean brands. And there were about 25 to 30 of them. Many beauty salons said they often go to the Korean stores because they can’t find what they need at the black-owned stores. That’s because they can’t get the supplies, Ranen and Robinson said. Mohadou found out that Koreans were getting their hair from Jinny United. But a Jinny representative refused to sell him hair.
Mohadou wasn’t convinced. When he found several Korean stores less than 5 miles apart from each other, he threatened to sue and attempted to get other black owners to join him.
Between manufacturing, distributing and selling hair care products, Korean-American entrepreneurs appeared to control all major components
of the beauty supply business, he found.
“They sell it to us
at higher prices or they deliver the products late to the black-owned stores. Sometimes they don’t allow orders from us at all.”
“You can’t be within 5 miles of one of our customers,” she told him.
They recoiled at the idea.
Mohadou went back to Jinny. This time, he spoke to another representative who allowed him to place an order.
Then Mohadou went to a Korean store to sell the hair. When the woman told him to wait a moment, Mohadou thought she was off discussing the price.
But then the woman returned.
“Where did you get the hair? Who sold it to you?”
Mohadou froze, puzzled.
“We all worked together to make this hair, so I know you stole it?”
Mohadou then realized:
He handed the woman a business card and left.
He obtained the space in his sister’s salon and started selling the hair. Now, Koreans were popping up at his store front, hoping to find out where he got the hair.
He later discovered that someone complained to Jinny that he was selling the hair at gas stations. Mohadou never got a chance to defend himself.
When he returned to Jinny, the representative who thought he was working for a Korean store when she allowed him to place his orders, would no longer sell to him.
Then the New York distributor, who he now called brother and to whom he often sent presents, told Mohadou he was leaving the business.
Mohadou had seen it happen before. Another Black owner had to close her store when her contact went out of business. And still, many others closed because they weren’t able to buy quality hair, he said.
“It’s a very ugly business,” Mohadou said.
Making It Grow
About six years earlier, Jinny United also refused to do business with All-n-1 Beauty Supplies, Inc. for the same reason, Owner Robbie Conwell said. A manager with Jinny United declined to comment on their policies in selling to beauty supply stores. Poko with Beauty Masters said he has never had any problem getting supplies from Jinny. “They have their own rules. I don’t know what their rule is, but I don’t have any problem with them,” Poko said.
The Korean president of the Georgia Beauty Supply Association said through an interpreter he didn’t know anything about the issue. The 12-year-old association has 50 members who are all Koreans.
When Jinny turned down Conwell, she found an Indian company that would sell her human hair. She urged other black owners to find a different path. “They have to do something different,” Conwell said. “Show (the customers) something the Koreans don’t have. “The biggest money is in hair. They are not going to succeed if they don’t make contacts the Koreans don’t have.” Robinson said Korean stores dominated the business because they do better at business than Black owners.
“They do better as a group. They live together. They live their lives frugally and they are committed to long and intense labor, which is necessary for success.”
And, there was one other reason: “We give power to the owners instead of power to the customers,” Robinson said.
As a result, he said.
They find the Koreans’ control intimidating, he said.
If Mohadou was intimidated by their control, he didn’t let that stop him. And eventually, he found a way inside the network.
His New York contact didn’t forget about his loyal customer who relied so heavily on him; who often asked about his family and had befriended his girlfriend. He had another contact for Mohadou.
“How much money do you have?” he asked Mohadou. Mohadou had $7,000. It wasn’t enough. His contact told him to get more money and don’t worry about the $900 he owed him.
“I was a little black boy trying to sell hair to Koreans. That was not possible.”
“There are 96 percent Black customers and only 3 percent black owners,”
Mohadou started Sou-sou, an informal savings plan popular in the Caribbean, to raise more money. He asked 12 people, including his sister, to provide $1,000 a month with each person collecting $12,000 monthly. His sister gave him her share and Mohadou was able to send the $24,000. Normally, it took about $400,000 to open an account, Mohadou said.
Frank Mohadou closed the door to the beauty supply business he was struggling to keep, in the slice of space he obtained from his sister. The still night held no comfort for the African native as he slid behind the wheel of the $250-a-month car he could barely afford.
Study: About 9,800 beauty supply business nationwide; but only 300 black-owned.
He ignored the thought of going home; knowing soon he would have to find another place to live since the people he was staying with were drifting apart.
Instead, he sat; his anxiety and frustration combed into a manageable silence as he contemplated ways to grow his business. Just then, a Korean-American stepped up through his thoughts and across his path to stop at his storefront.
They often waited until he was gone to peek inside his store, Mohadou said. He knew he was an outsider. He didn’t speak their language. But he was trying to break into their world – a billion dollar market that primarily services black hair.
For almost 50 years, the Korean-American community has dominated the black beauty supply market by opening large stores, buying out smaller black- owned ones and using the faces of black celebrities on their products and black employees in their stores to grow their businesses in the black community.
Mohadou—who declined to speak further with a Cascade Patch reporter after an initial interview, citing a fear of retaliation—said “The little thing I was doing, they were trying to stop me,” said Mohadou, then a father of two with another child on the way. “There is no way back. I was able to learn English and put a little business together. I can’t quit.”
Mohadou didn’t know it, but things were about to get worse.
The Ugly Side of Beauty
Mohadou left the Ivory Coast in 1997 with the intention of going to school in America and then returning home. But his plans changed.
He learned English through a church group in New York before leaving to attend Georgia State University where he earned degrees in chemistry and finance.
He was unemployed the day he walked into his sister’s braiding salon and discovered a pack of human hair cost $80. Professionals got it for $50. “I just got laid off, so I said let me find out where the hair came from,” Mohadou said. What he discovered was a closed market.
He learned there were four central distributors serving a large portion of the beauty supply stores in the country, all Korean-owned. Aron Ranen, who produced a documentary in 2006 on the beauty supply business, reported that these distributors only worked with other Koreans in order to dominate the market.
Devin Robinson, owner of Atlanta’s Beauty Supply Institute, said about 9,800 beauty supply business existed nationwide; but only a little more than 300 were black-owned.
“The Koreans strategically make it harder for us to get into the business. They have the supplies the customers want,” Robinson said.
Beauty Masters is one of the larger Korean-owned beauty supply stores with seven locations in Atlanta.
Lucien Poko, general manager for Beauty Masters, said 90 to 95 percent of the stores’ customers are black; and so are the store’s employees.
He balks at the idea that Koreans dominate the market.
“It’s just business,” said Poko, who is from Senegal. “Everybody is free to open what they want to open. It’s the way you handle your business. Koreans dominating the business, this doesn’t make sense. You can open up your business. You are free to do what you want.”
Making the Cut
Mohadou couldn’t find anyone to sell to him when he first started more than eight years ago. Then he met an American-born Korean distributor in New York who would sell him hair at $14 a pack.
Mohadou traveled by MARTA to deliver the hair door-to-door to his customers. After a while, he established a trust with the owner who increased his orders, decreased his price and sold him hair on credit.
Still, his customers had a preference. They wanted the name brands; the Korean brands. And there were about 25 to 30 of them. Many beauty salons said they often go to the Korean stores because they can’t find what they need at the black-owned stores. That’s because they can’t get the supplies, Ranen and Robinson said. Mohadou found out that Koreans were getting their hair from Jinny United. But a Jinny representative refused to sell him hair.
Mohadou wasn’t convinced. When he found several Korean stores less than 5 miles apart from each other, he threatened to sue and attempted to get other black owners to join him.
Between manufacturing, distributing and selling hair care products, Korean-American entrepreneurs appeared to control all major components
of the beauty supply business, he found.
“They sell it to us
at higher prices or they deliver the products late to the black-owned stores. Sometimes they don’t allow orders from us at all.”
“You can’t be within 5 miles of one of our customers,” she told him.
They recoiled at the idea.
Mohadou went back to Jinny. This time, he spoke to another representative who allowed him to place an order.
Then Mohadou went to a Korean store to sell the hair. When the woman told him to wait a moment, Mohadou thought she was off discussing the price.
But then the woman returned.
“Where did you get the hair? Who sold it to you?”
Mohadou froze, puzzled.
“We all worked together to make this hair, so I know you stole it?”
Mohadou then realized:
He handed the woman a business card and left.
He obtained the space in his sister’s salon and started selling the hair. Now, Koreans were popping up at his store front, hoping to find out where he got the hair.
He later discovered that someone complained to Jinny that he was selling the hair at gas stations. Mohadou never got a chance to defend himself.
When he returned to Jinny, the representative who thought he was working for a Korean store when she allowed him to place his orders, would no longer sell to him.
Then the New York distributor, who he now called brother and to whom he often sent presents, told Mohadou he was leaving the business.
Mohadou had seen it happen before. Another Black owner had to close her store when her contact went out of business. And still, many others closed because they weren’t able to buy quality hair, he said.
“It’s a very ugly business,” Mohadou said.
Making It Grow
About six years earlier, Jinny United also refused to do business with All-n-1 Beauty Supplies, Inc. for the same reason, Owner Robbie Conwell said. A manager with Jinny United declined to comment on their policies in selling to beauty supply stores. Poko with Beauty Masters said he has never had any problem getting supplies from Jinny. “They have their own rules. I don’t know what their rule is, but I don’t have any problem with them,” Poko said.
The Korean president of the Georgia Beauty Supply Association said through an interpreter he didn’t know anything about the issue. The 12-year-old association has 50 members who are all Koreans.
When Jinny turned down Conwell, she found an Indian company that would sell her human hair. She urged other black owners to find a different path. “They have to do something different,” Conwell said. “Show (the customers) something the Koreans don’t have. “The biggest money is in hair. They are not going to succeed if they don’t make contacts the Koreans don’t have.” Robinson said Korean stores dominated the business because they do better at business than Black owners.
“They do better as a group. They live together. They live their lives frugally and they are committed to long and intense labor, which is necessary for success.”
And, there was one other reason: “We give power to the owners instead of power to the customers,” Robinson said.
As a result, he said.
They find the Koreans’ control intimidating, he said.
If Mohadou was intimidated by their control, he didn’t let that stop him. And eventually, he found a way inside the network.
His New York contact didn’t forget about his loyal customer who relied so heavily on him; who often asked about his family and had befriended his girlfriend. He had another contact for Mohadou.
“How much money do you have?” he asked Mohadou. Mohadou had $7,000. It wasn’t enough. His contact told him to get more money and don’t worry about the $900 he owed him.
“I was a little black boy trying to sell hair to Koreans. That was not possible.”
“There are 96 percent Black customers and only 3 percent black owners,”
Mohadou started Sou-sou, an informal savings plan popular in the Caribbean, to raise more money. He asked 12 people, including his sister, to provide $1,000 a month with each person collecting $12,000 monthly. His sister gave him her share and Mohadou was able to send the $24,000. Normally, it took about $400,000 to open an account, Mohadou said.
Tamster
New Member
(CONT)
A week later, a sales representative confirmed the receipt of the money. They would work with him. But he had to create his own line.
“They couldn’t sell me the same brand name. So I had to think of a name, find a picture, come up with my own graphics and design.”
Mohadou, who went on to open FIBS Beauty Supply on Lee Street with the help of two partners, designed African Poney, Compassion and Carmen.
But not many customers were willing to take a risk on an unfamiliar brand. He sold his first brand for $40 a pack and gave away the second pack.
“I had to work on the hair for a year before I made a profit,” he said.
Then, Mohadou saw a change.
“People would come to the store, sit and wait or they would come back,” Mohadou said. Some drove from as far away as Marietta. They wanted to support the Black-owned business.
When a woman in Conyers wanted to drive to the store, Mohadou drew the line. She would be spending more in gas than on the product, he said. Still, Mohadou was touched by the support.
“I wish things work well so I can come back and help,” Mohadou said. - Kimathi Lewis, Cascade Patch
were you aware of the likely business model of your local beauty supply store? how do you feel about the domination of koreans in the beauty supply industry and what needs to happen for there to be an equal playing field and marketplace for all?
A week later, a sales representative confirmed the receipt of the money. They would work with him. But he had to create his own line.
“They couldn’t sell me the same brand name. So I had to think of a name, find a picture, come up with my own graphics and design.”
Mohadou, who went on to open FIBS Beauty Supply on Lee Street with the help of two partners, designed African Poney, Compassion and Carmen.
But not many customers were willing to take a risk on an unfamiliar brand. He sold his first brand for $40 a pack and gave away the second pack.
“I had to work on the hair for a year before I made a profit,” he said.
Then, Mohadou saw a change.
“People would come to the store, sit and wait or they would come back,” Mohadou said. Some drove from as far away as Marietta. They wanted to support the Black-owned business.
When a woman in Conyers wanted to drive to the store, Mohadou drew the line. She would be spending more in gas than on the product, he said. Still, Mohadou was touched by the support.
“I wish things work well so I can come back and help,” Mohadou said. - Kimathi Lewis, Cascade Patch
were you aware of the likely business model of your local beauty supply store? how do you feel about the domination of koreans in the beauty supply industry and what needs to happen for there to be an equal playing field and marketplace for all?
Tamster
New Member
Ladies, I do not intend to be a sourpuss, nor a dictator... or anything like that.
While I do appreciate bludaydreamer's website efforts,I hope that we can still respect the poll and discussion that we've had re: naming for the past few days.
The poll is scheduled to close at 9pm CST. At that time, we will see where we are at.
I do have an idea on how we can incorporate both buy it black and stop the bss (the name currently leading in the poll), esp in light of the domains being bought.
I just hope that in the future, decisions that can effect major parts of the campaign are discussed either here or on the forum, so that we can at least get a sense of consensus, as this is a group effort.
Thanks.
While I do appreciate bludaydreamer's website efforts,I hope that we can still respect the poll and discussion that we've had re: naming for the past few days.
The poll is scheduled to close at 9pm CST. At that time, we will see where we are at.
I do have an idea on how we can incorporate both buy it black and stop the bss (the name currently leading in the poll), esp in light of the domains being bought.
I just hope that in the future, decisions that can effect major parts of the campaign are discussed either here or on the forum, so that we can at least get a sense of consensus, as this is a group effort.
Thanks.
Mo to the...
New Member
Hey chicas!
A few updates:
bludaydreamer has stepped up and bought us a domain! OperationBuyItBlack.com, ya'll!
davisbr88 Came up with a great idea regarding Youtube videos. Please come on over to the forum and weigh in.
A mission statement still needs to be chosen. Only three people have given their opinion, but they all favor number one. Since our name will officially be chosen tomorrow, so will the mission statement. Please read the five statements and give your opinion.
We still need 2 or 3 people to help with Facebook
We still need someone who is efficient in HTML to help set up the blog and the website.
I came up with an idea for content on the blog and need input.
Come over to the forum and help us out!
This probably is too late but I went to the site as it is now and I'm not good with HTML but there are so many websites that have a very easy set up template. The one I like that is UBER cheap is weebly.com. Check it out and let me know.
Tamster
New Member
Before I leave for the night...
It seems that by the poll, sheer numbers... that Stop the BSS should be the name of the movement, boycott, campaign, etc.
Ithink that is a pretty clear majority.
(operation, project, etc) Buy it Black should be the name of the planning forum - as in the domain name that has been bought? That should be direct people to the planning forum.
How does that sound? I'm trying to be diplomatic here. Either way, I think we should go with what the poll states.
So, facebook, twitter, blog, emails, etc the official front should be Stop The BSS.
It seems that by the poll, sheer numbers... that Stop the BSS should be the name of the movement, boycott, campaign, etc.
Ithink that is a pretty clear majority.
(operation, project, etc) Buy it Black should be the name of the planning forum - as in the domain name that has been bought? That should be direct people to the planning forum.
How does that sound? I'm trying to be diplomatic here. Either way, I think we should go with what the poll states.
So, facebook, twitter, blog, emails, etc the official front should be Stop The BSS.
Mo to the...
New Member
I agree with you. Being diplomatic and taking everyone's feelings/thoughts into consideration is the best way to go as long as it doesn't deter from our overall goal/mission.
tHENATuRALhAiRpRoJEcT
Well-Known Member
@Carisa @BlackMasterPiece, @bludaydreamer, @Anakinsmomma, @aprils13, @BlaqBella, @charislibra, @dancinstallion, @chocolat79, @davisbr88, @dollface0023, @DrC, @empressri, @fashion87, @fatimablush, @Golden75, @ingenious_mind, @JasmineLatice , @Je Ne Sais Quoi, @JerriBlank, @Katherina @Keen @Kimberly @Kn0ttyByNatur3 @Lucie @LunadeMiel @lynnstar @Magnolia85 @Missdelicious1 @ms-gg @Mz.MoMo5235 @nathansgirl1908 @naturalmanenyc @Nayna @nicole625 @nisemac @NJoy @princessnad @renkosi @Rocky91 @runwaydream @shockolate @SkySurfer @Stepiphanie @Stormy @Tamster @tHENATuRALhAiRpRoJEcT @truequeen06 @WhippedButterCreme @winterinatl @yorkpatties @Zedster
http://www.facebook.com/pages/STOP-the-BSS/212378475501941
... PLEASE send me your email addy if your would like to be the facebook admins
https://twitter.com/#!/STOPtheBSS (pm me for password if needed)
http://www.youtube.com/user/STOPtheBSS?feature=mhee (pm me if password needed)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/STOP-the-BSS/212378475501941
... PLEASE send me your email addy if your would like to be the facebook admins
https://twitter.com/#!/STOPtheBSS (pm me for password if needed)
http://www.youtube.com/user/STOPtheBSS?feature=mhee (pm me if password needed)
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