Korean BSS Topic Agains: Black-owned Entrepreneur Interviews

[PinkGirlFluff]

I have read a lot of the comments and I must say that from personal experience I have had the best experience at a bss owned by Africans. The shop is very small but the service is the bomb! I hate the feeling of going to other bss's and being followed. I hate how no matter what I have on or how many times I go into a bss I get treated like my money is not paying their bills. I don't go as much anymore because I feel as though my money is hard earned and should be used at places where my business is appreciated.

I also do not feel like I owe any business anything. I pay taxes like the next person and I don't feel obligated to support anyone that is not willing to treat me like a human being. I also don't get my nails done for the same reason. I am tired of bad service and people feel like they are doing me a favor. You aren't doing me a favor if you are not giving me something for the free.

And as far as hurting my community with the absence of bss stores. All of the asian owned bss stores in my city are in the hood. I have to travel outside the burbs to areas that look H.A.M. to go to one. I do not see how they help those communites at all. If anything they have expanded their stores as the communities around them have turned from bad to worse. Maybe that's just how it is down south. I do hope this is a unique story because I hate to hear about small businesses taking money from a community and not creating jobs or giving back outside of paying taxes like we all do. I believe in giving back to the community that gave so much to you.

That is all.

Please excuse the typos but I'm at work and typing fast.

 

[PinkGirlFluff]

BTW I decided that I won't be going back to the bss stores that give bad service. If I need something bad enough I can get them online or at major retail chains. But I am totally for people protesting unfair practices of any kind. Power to the Consumer!!!

And if people think that protesting or writing or just engaging in any type action against something does not work I need you to google about Debit Card fees with a major bank. People were not feeling it, let this bank know they weren't feeling it, and things changed. When enough people say that something is not cool things do change! Trust and believe that!

 

[NappiShawti]

I think i saw an article like this a while back and it actually stopped me from buying anything from Asian run BSS.

Now...in Orlando there's these chains of Beauty Depots....but there is a Super Beauty Depot that i go to...i am under the impression that it is Black owned. Because all i see working in the store are Black people...and i like that WAY more than going into a strange Asian BSS....i have nothing against Asian ppl personally...but in THIS case...i'm down to boycott because this is a group of people that actually HATE me and MY people. Ya know?

I say we start it bruh.

Hi I am just seeing this & I would like to say PLEASE DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE COLOR OF THE PEOPLE WORKING AT THE STORE!

I am a young black woman & i work in a korean owned BSS in ATL. A very popular chain. Our stores (we have several locations) are all owned by an older korean couple. All cashiers & many stock people who work directly w/the customers are BLACK! However at the end of the day we all make minimum wage while the korean owners are very rich & spend lavishly at black customers expense.

Refund/return= dont even think about it! Those ppl do not like giving customers their money back They dont care abt pissed off customers either & i've heard them laugh when a cust say they will never shop at our store again They kno they hav another location down the street that u will go to not knowin that they own that 1 too! so they are still getting ur $$ regardless.


Dont mean to rant but i used to b under the impression that some stores were black owned too until i started working there.

SUPER. BEAUTY. DEPOT by the way is DEFINITELY not black owned hun. They have 2 major stores in atl by greenbriar & south dekalb mall. i heard they started up in florida but after amassing a large debt they had to expand & create more stores in atl after stiffing some employees out of their checks.

if anybody wanna kno the real deal about these koreans i have stories 4 days!

 

[JeterCrazed]

I was under the impression that they were a panethnicity. Whatever.

NE Way...if, as you say, the Koreans control the distribution is there any way to cut in on that aspect?
Should the retailers be willing to buy in the quantities the Koreans do to make a difference?

Yes! That is all they need to do! Lol
The Koreans don't own just one store as black establishments do. They own 3 or 4 stores. The Korean Association creates co-ops and band together to buy larger quantities.

You know, I didn't even know what food co-ops were until I was reading this book "Things white people like". White people get together and buy directly from farms in large quantities and split the cost. I tried to do it with my own family and it turned into a complete mess.

Black people get together for Beauty conferences every year at Bronner Brothers and distributors are there ready to make deals. Distributors if different races are available to talk face to face.

Someone could start a co-op here. Find a distributor, find out what everybody wants, buy from them and one person ships it out. Not only would you be helping each other out, you'd be aware of where your dollar is going.

I'm not with the boycotting races or ethnicities. That's not cool at all.Jumping to conclusions is getting everybody nowhere. Many of the Chinese restaurants in my area are Korean. I became very friendly with the people of the restaurant as a kid and I asked him, " Aren't you Korean?" He asked me how I knew. He looked Korean! Some people aren't even culturally aware enough to know what a Korean face or name looks like. The whole idea just has no direction.

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[naturalgyrl5199]

Arabs only come from one country-Saudi Arabia.

I don't agree with a boycott, but I don't see it working either. The research is not being done to find the paper trail. Buying from black businesses who use Korean Distributors doesn't make sense at all. My opinions aside, the enemy hasn't even been clearly identified. Koreans put each other out of business all the time. Go to Rosalee in East Orange and so much as mention that you shop at Macy and they will probably throw you out. Putting Korean BSS out of business hurts your own community. These people pay for your police officers and school. You're hurting black manufacturers like Dudley's. The Koreans buy from them by the truck load. The whole thing is misguided.


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No...I thought Arab, meaning Arabic-descent. Arabic-speaking. Egyptians, Libyans and other North African (Saharan countries) identify their descent as Arabic, or the country of birth. Those from Saudi Arabia call themselves "Saudis", and so forth....Middle Eastern countries that speak Arabic, or are of Arabic descent is not limited to "Saudi Arabians", etc. I agree that you can't say "Muslim" because Muslim is the religion, not so much an ethnicity...

As far as it not working, I understand your concern. But trust me, they are not interested in "helping the community"...They are more concerned with "helping themselves". Community isn't just about who lives there. They may contribute $$ to the economy...but blacks in those communities don't benefit. Koreans don't even shop in these areas, they send their $$ to relatives overseas, shop out of town in bigger cities, etc. They don't even LIVE in the communities they work in. I don't think this thing is misguided I think we are on to somthing. I do agree that we must identify the enemy and it is the distributors....African-American owners can buy directly from Dudley's if they want to but they are lacking capital (lots of $$$). That's what we have to help provide them with. I think we need more AA representatives in the BSS business to speak up on this. However the intervew with the AA BSS owner was on point, and some thing I had heard of before. I had already conciously stopped going to small BSS's this summer upon hearing it.

We should not, DO NOT have to just "accept" this. When whites weren't having that debit card fee fiasco they spoke up and got results. Why can't we?

 

[TrueBeliever]

Yes! That is all they need to do! Lol
The Koreans don't own just one store as black establishments do. They own 3 or 4 stores. The Korean Association creates co-ops and band together to buy larger quantities.

You know, I didn't even know what food co-ops were until I was reading this book "Things white people like". White people get together and buy directly from farms in large quantities and split the cost. I tried to do it with my own family and it turned into a complete mess.

Black people get together for Beauty conferences every year at Bronner Brothers and distributors are there ready to make deals. Distributors if different races are available to talk face to face.

Someone could start a co-op here. Find a distributor, find out what everybody wants, buy from them and one person ships it out. Not only would you be helping each other out, you'd be aware of where your dollar is going.

I'm not with the boycotting races or ethnicities. That's not cool at all.Jumping to conclusions is getting everybody nowhere. Many of the Chinese restaurants in my area are Korean. I became very friendly with the people of the restaurant as a kid and I asked him, " Aren't you Korean?" He asked me how I knew. He looked Korean! Some people aren't even culturally aware enough to know what a Korean face or name looks like. The whole idea just has no direction.

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I see what you mean now. I completely agree. There is power in ownership.
The idea of a co-op is great, BTW. I can really see a good outcome and that is certainly something I would buy into.
I just feel like a boycott is a short term result if at all and it does not result in ownership.

 

[Bnster]

...
I'll never forget...me and my lil sister had to go off on this Asian man in his BSS bc my mom had accidentally paid him w/ a $100 bill when she thought she gave him a 10. This dude didnt even give my mother a receipt...and she was crying...i was waiting for her and my sister in the car and this other lady came out and knocked on my car window to tell me that man had my mama crying for her money back...while he stood there lying that he didn't have it.

I told him i would hop cross that counter and give him what he's worth! he threatened to call the police...so i told him if he would just do the right thing and give my mom her money back it would all be cool....so after lying and lying he reached in his POCKET and gave her the $100 she gave him. He gave her the wrong change and everything...it was messed up bc my dad had gave her that as part of an anniversary gift.

I'll NEVER forget that day! ....

SmilingElephant Oh my G.. how can people be like that. Evil with a capital E. J.... help these people, just pure evil. That just shows you they want to rip people off and not earn it properly. Glad you were there for your mom at the time. That whole thing makes me sick.

I feel uncomfortable going into those big chain stores and only rarely I would go in and spend not much there. There is a smaller asian own BSS I go in with better ease and looks like a honest business man. However it doesn't mean that I don't wished that it was blacked own. The other day I was in there picking up a hair dye for my brother and we started talking. He mentioned he hasn't seen me for a long time - I bought my relaxer stuff from there the price was good. Then I asked did he know that my ex-HS mother died and he did and they (the wife and him) went to the viewing. He told me that he will always remember their family cause it was them that started sending their customer to that store. Initially he had only 4 customers. Any how, this guy is smart he is starting to carry those products that we are raving on here and Youtube about like Kinky Curly Knot Today, Taliah Waajid, Mixed Chics, Curls... etc. Sometimes it is so hard to get these products you don't care where you get it.

They hire a few black people, but I also as the big chains they watch the customers. As a black person I am very conscious going into stores, cause of the stupid black people shoplifting and the stereotype gets subjected to the next black person walking into the store.

If I had the money I would open up a BSS, yet there is so much more to it especially getting the supplies, so much business knowledge is needed. Then dealing with the idiots wanting to shoplift from you.

 

[naturalgyrl5199]

JeterCrazed,

^^^^I didn't see your previous post about ownership....You are spot on! That needs to be the ULTIMATE goal.

 

[JeterCrazed]

No...I thought Arab, meaning Arabic-descent. Arabic-speaking. Egyptians, Libyans and other North African (Saharan countries) identify their descent as Arabic, or the country of birth. Those from Saudi Arabia call themselves "Saudis", and so forth....Middle Eastern countries that speak Arabic, or are of Arabic descent is not limited to "Saudi Arabians", etc. I agree that you can't say "Muslim" because Muslim is the religion, not so much an ethnicity...

As far as it not working, I understand your concern. But trust me, they are not interested in "helping the community"...They are more concerned with "helping themselves". Community isn't just about who lives there. They may contribute $$ to the economy...but blacks in those communities don't benefit. Koreans don't even shop in these areas, they send their $$ to relatives overseas, shop out of town in bigger cities, etc. They don't even LIVE in the communities they work in. I don't think this thing is misguided I think we are on to somthing. I do agree that we must identify the enemy and it is the distributors....African-American owners can buy directly from Dudley's if they want to but they are lacking capital (lots of $$$). That's what we have to help provide them with. I think we need more AA representatives in the BSS business to speak up on this. However the intervew with the AA BSS owner was on point, and some thing I had heard of before. I had already conciously stopped going to small BSS's this summer upon hearing it.

We should not, DO NOT have to just "accept" this. When whites weren't having that debit card fee fiasco they spoke up and got results. Why can't we?

I went to high school with lots of Egyptians, Arabs, Pakistani, Bengali, Indian.... It is not proper to call an Egyptian an Arab. It's like calling an African-American an African. Or a Bengali an Indian. Not proper.

Anyone can buy directly from Dudleys or any other distributor with the right size order. The interviewee is saying that capital isn't the problem. That's #2 where he's confused.

And in doing a lil research, I realized that I've patronized that BSS in the OP when they were in South Orange. They were 2 doors down from a Korean BSS before they decided to move to EO. I wonder y he didn't tell that story. I had no idea that it was black-owned at the time.

ETA: whether or not they want to support our communities, the fact remains that they do. They pay rent to pay property tax. They generate sales tax. They generate foot traffic to support nearby businesses. Can't count how many times I stopped at the black owned Rita's on the corner after picking up a Relaxer. Everyone is missing the bigger picture. Microeconomics is at work here.

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[Tamster]

I agree with a co-op idea. I also think it is important for people to not patronize these beauty supply stores.

 

[faithVA]

I don't think it has to be an either/or type of deal. All effective movements try various strategies at the same time.

I also don't think this has to be about being against a people but wanting fairer business practices from distributors, the beauty supply associations, etc.

 

[JeterCrazed]

I hope my black co-parts will wake up, do some research, stop jumping on every band wagon, and stop selling each other short. Does everybody on this thread know what it takes to open a BSS? The licenses? Who has called their state consumer affairs?

If I wanted my own hair, I'd call the Hindu temple in flushing during the holy holidays and ask the Swamis if they would mind selling me some sacrafices. If you make a donation to the temple, they will talk to you. People talking bout standing up for their beliefs and hollering about conflict diamonds. People blaming the Jews? The war in Darfur is black. I don't see how Christians wearing wigs. They don't even know they're supporting Hinduism DIRECTLY. IGNORANCE IS A DISEASE... NO... A PLAGUE.


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[Tamster]

@JeterCrazed the idea DOES have direction, and the reason why it was focused on Korean owned BSS is because they are the largest owners of BSS in the nation.

I do not agree with boycotting entire races and thats not what this is about, either. It's about directing money back into the community but it is also about showing that we (black people) will not patronize organizations that have a proven track record of disrespecting us both on an organizational level and on a micro level (with their customers).

A co-op is a great idea and I would be interested to know if BOBSA has attempted that route. I suspect they have considered that, but I don't know.

 

[faithVA]

I hope my black co-parts will wake up, do some research, stop jumping on every band wagon, and stop selling each other short. Does everybody on this thread know what it takes to open a BSS? The licenses? Who has called their state consumer affairs?

If I wanted my own hair, I'd call the Hindu temple in flushing during the holy holidays and ask the Swamis if they would mind selling me some sacrafices. If you make a donation to the temple, they will talk to you. People talking bout standing up for their beliefs and hollering about conflict diamonds. People blaming the Jews? The war in Darfur is black. I don't see how Christians wearing wigs. They don't even know they're supporting Hinduism DIRECTLY. IGNORANCE IS A DISEASE... NO... A PLAGUE.


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If there is something we are missing, we are listening. It's not possible for everyone on this thread to know all the details of this situation that is why sharing information is a good idea.

 

[Meloe18]

ugh, i cant...so much irony, anyways though

 

[TrueBeliever]

To Jetercrazed
I'm sure somebody here knows how to start a BSS if they are so inclined. If not, most places have a public library and chamber of commerce.
It's not like the information is a secret to anyone who wants to know more.

Not sure where the 2nd paragraph is going.

 

[Tamster]

Basically because it's the rare and glorious occassion when boycotts produce the desired result.
I think there are more effective ways of achieving the same goal that have to do with taking this industry back through competition.
Also, think of the wealth and jobs that would create in the black community.

I know that we have some alternatives to patronize now and it's great to build a list and let others know. But, I'm all about ways we can infiltrate this industry and grow and compete as well.

Also, the old adage applies that 'if you build it, they will come'. If we have nice stores (not those tacky eyesores you see right now with the Koreans/whatevers) with good quality products and service, I think that will make a huge difference.
A boycott might produce results in the short term but if we still do not own this industry in the end, a boycott is useless.

i agree... so directing business away from these crap BSS and TO black owned ones seems like a great start no???

--------

unless we all plan to open our own BSS.... (cause we all have start up capitol just laying around right????) then i see NOTHING wrong with diverting business away from these nonblack owned businesses to ALREADY EXISTING black owned businesses.

 

[TrueBeliever]

i agree... so directing business away from these crap BSS and TO black owned ones seems like a great start no???

--------

unless we all plan to open our own BSS.... (cause we all have start up capitol just laying around right????) then i see NOTHING wrong with diverting business away from these nonblack owned businesses to ALREADY EXISTING black owned businesses.

I didn't think everyone had to but we do need a few MORE to divert business to.

But remember, it's quality over quantity. The existing black BSSs need to first be able to step it up in that aspect.

 

[JeterCrazed]

If there is something we are missing, we are listening. It's not possible for everyone on this thread to know all the details of this situation that is why sharing information is a good idea.

People are NOT listening. I was asked to get a professional opinion from my aunt at civil rights and she said for people to call their State Consumer Affairs. Has ANYONE called?

And if course there's no way for people to know everything about the situation but they have decided already that they will only patronize black owned businesses. With such little knowledge of the situation, people have already made a conclusion.

White people did their research on the debit card fees BEFORE freezing their a$$es off in Zucatti park. They made themselves more aware FIRST. Now don't get me wrong. White people do some of he DUMBEST stuff too. Putting money in derivatives and wondering where your money went is just not smart. Then they're listening to Michael Moore when he says that Wall Street made derivatives complicated to confuse people out of their money. These people cabs differentiate y=2x and you put your money on it? Wars are going on in this world and people have forgotten why their fighting. This is following those same patterns.

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[JeterCrazed]

To Jetercrazed
I'm sure somebody here knows how to start a BSS if they are so inclined. If not, most places have a public library and chamber of commerce.
It's not like the information is a secret to anyone who wants to know more.

Not sure where the 2nd paragraph is going.

I'm saying that people have already made up their minds BEFORE the research bit. By many of the posts, its obvious that many, too many, don't know.

I'm so glad the poster from China was able to first hand account that in the East, every order is not worth rolling out of bed. They don't abide by the customer is always right code. They demand mutual respect and are not willing to sell respect for an order.

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[TrueBeliever]

Or you may call your local office of consumer development if you want startup capital for your own BSS.

 

[TrueBeliever]

I would not be too hard on the posters here. Maybe someone will be inspired to do the necessary legwork that will lead to actions that make a difference.

The fact that some of us, including me, are uninformed about this industry does not mean that we will stay that way. This thread had started a conversation and already I have learned a lot of things about this industry that I didn't know before.

 

[Tamster]

I didn't think everyone had to but we do need a few MORE to divert business to.

But remember, it's quality over quantity. The existing black BSSs need to first be able to step it up in that aspect.

yes.. and thats going to happen over night how? i mean i get your point, but that is a long term critique that we have heard over and over.

 

[JeterCrazed]

I would not be too hard on the posters here. Maybe someone will be inspired to do the necessary legwork that will lead to actions that make a difference.

The fact that some of us, including me, are uninformed about this industry does not mean that we will stay that way. This thread had started a conversation and already I have learned a lot of things about this industry that I didn't know before.

That's the spirit.
I guarantee that perspectives will change. You will realize what black people are doing WRONG. I believe Jimmy owns the property his BSS sits on. He's taken dermatology and chemistry classes to know what the ingredients are. He need to be up here posting hair care tips.

He's done his research. I've done mine. I hope everybody will do theirs. Koreans are not the threat.

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[TrueBeliever]

yes.. and thats going to happen over night how? i mean i get your point, but that is a long term critique that we have heard over and over.

You want this to happen fast?
Has anything worth it been an overnight achievement?

 

[Tamster]

You want this to happen fast?
Has anything worth it been an overnight achievement?

obviously nothing is going to happen fast but the "black bss need to step it up" is chat that we have heard over and over again ... and i agree. i just dont get why you cant do both.

 

[ms-gg]

People can talk all they want and criticize all they want, but I know what "I," Ms-gg is going to do. I have been troubled by this issue ever since I heard about the discriminatory practices about 6 or 7 years ago.

I just believe that if you are down for the cause, you are and if you aren't, then you aren't. If you have a lot of knowledge of the industry, then share with us your knowledge instead of criticizing about what we don't know! Talk is cheap. With unemployment at 15-16% nationally in the black community, I don't see anything wrong with trying to help our own.

 

[TrueBeliever]

obviously nothing is going to happen fast but the "black bss need to step it up" is chat that we have heard over and over again ... and i agree. i just dont get why you cant do both.

*I love not waiting too long for reply posts *

Anyway, you keep hearing it because people want to see them step it up and they have yet to do so. I understand they can't without patronage but they also can't without good business sense.

I do want to discuss more about the idea of a co-op though. As much crap as I buy from BSSs, I am a prime customer for a good alternative.

 

[JeterCrazed]

*I love not waiting too long for reply posts *

Anyway, you keep hearing it because people want to see them step it up and they have yet to do so. I understand they can't without patronage but they also can't without good business sense.

I do want to discuss more about the idea of a co-op though. As much crap as I buy from BSSs, I am a prime customer for a good alternative.

The above is what I'd like to declare "the point."

 

[JeterCrazed]

Or you may call your local office of consumer development if you want startup capital for your own BSS.

They most certainly can! Cory Booker is tweeting free money all the time.