Korean BSS Topic Agains: Black-owned Entrepreneur Interviews

[Mo to the...]

Racists whites screamed in 2009 at tea parties, "We need to take our country back" well I propose in 2011 we as black people need to take our haircare industry back. We are the only people on this planet with this type of hair, the only people! Who knows what is best for black hair except for other people with-black hair?


That is why that typef stuff rubbed me the wrong way. Too many people always looking to exploit the black community. Damn shame. If they were successful, how could any independent blogger compete with a force that produced 4-5 videos a day? SMH

Guuurl, don't get me started on that, "We need to take our country back" mess. I was like "take it back from who"?? White Americans are still the majority and the 1% that runs everything are white, sooooo....

Not only that but Native Americans were here first so shouldn't they be the ones saying that?? Me and my husband were like 'what'???

 

[JeterCrazed]

Racists whites screamed in 2009 at tea parties, "We need to take our country back" well I propose in 2011 we as black people need to take our haircare industry back. We are the only people on this planet with this type of hair, the only people! Who knows what is best for black hair except for other people with-black hair?


That is why that typef stuff rubbed me the wrong way. Too many people always looking to exploit the black community. Damn shame. If they were successful, how could any independent blogger compete with a force that produced 4-5 videos a day? SMH

Those white people do realize that the black vote alone cannot decide a President, right? Those people outside picketting voted for Barack. They just don't wanna admit it in front of their lil friends... closeted Democrats

 

[Tamster]

Oh wow. I just read a post at Lipstickalley that put things into perspective about naturallycurly.com. Wow.

http://www.lipstickalley.com/showpost.php?p=8496112&postcount=215 (peep the quoted post). This does run DEEP.

ohwell: dude if thats true about Leila and Nik... I'll be upset. Really upset. Leila is a really sweet, hard working person who built her shii from the ground up. I already said what I thought of Nik. that's........ ugh.

 

[JeterCrazed]

Go to www.kkk.com sometimes. They really believe that black people have taken over America. It's fascinating. Take note that these people are lower class. Talkiing about how black men are out raping white women when the majority of rapes by white women are white men! They are really shot out. They truly believe this stuff.

ETA:
http://www.howtotakebackamerica.org/

 

[Guitarhero]

Well, my dad had such a business and he had to get out. Mind you, he's a successful enterpriser and he had other businesses for years until he retired...but he also spoke on these issues of the distributors and how the manufacturers operate. So, hopefully, you are not implying that blacks are unnecessarily whining, nagging and complaining from hangups...cuz my family doesn't have any of that.

 

[naturalgyrl5199]

I guess I just need to focus on buying products from supermarkets, natural food stores, or salons. Might as well give my folks my hard earned $$.

 

[JeterCrazed]

lmao! don't know if you're agreeing/disagreeing or making fun of my wordiness, lol,.. but it doesn't matter,.. that video was funny!

I was being sincere

 

[JeterCrazed]

I stated 'an Asian resturant' in my initial response, not specific Asian resturants or cuisines.

My point is/was it don't matter what your staple foods are, lol. You are in a business, I was willing to pay for your service and you didn't have what I wanted when I wanted it which is your dessert.

Say that you did go to an Asian resturant and for some UFOish reason, they ran out of rice. Would you give them the side eye, get angry, and refuse to come back? Would you shout out to the rooftops to others not to patron this particular business? Doubt it. You'd probably just right it off as 'oh, the rice must be good here since you are out!' and change your desires accordingly.

We cut other races so much slack, but we expect people who look like us to have it all together.

Don't get me wrong. I think that a business should operate in it's capacity regarless of race, but I just notice a double standard, that's all.

Actually, I would cancel my order and/or never go back. That's just how I am. I have a loooooooong boycott list. Many of which are already out of business.

 

[JeterCrazed]

Another black-owned BSS. Address in video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLJbhI27e7c

 

[davisbr88]

This is exactly why I stopped going to the BSS near me.
I was a regular customer for years and only received decent service (like a half-smile and less obvious following of me in the store) after I kept coming back, always making huge purchases (I was addicted to hair LONG before I knew about LHCF)
Anyway, I used to hate how they would look at me like they just knew I was going to steal something right when I walked in the door. As if I was some common criminal.
And it doesn't help that I have a young looking face and I am so short. They would be extra mean to me until they realized I was an adult. And then they'd be less mean. And then a little less after I pulled out my debit card. So they not only discriminate against black women, but especially young black women.
Refused to support them any longer years ago. And now I get everything from the grocery and spend less than $20 a month. Take that, jerks!

 

[SmilingElephant]

Yes! The retail store buys products from the black owned haircare company at a discount. Then they raise the price to make a profit. Everyone wins.

Oh...okay

I understand that better now.

 

[Lucie]

Great thread, great information. I will do my part to educate myself and those around me to the BSS practices. Ever since Vevster put me on to Djehuty Ma'at-Ra (the owner of DHealthstore.Com) I really started to become more aware of who I was giving my money to. I usually would go to health stores north of me in Queens and purchase my products. Now I just save my money to buy what I need from him in bulk.

Also, I forgot who mentioned it (I read all 8 pages, LOL) but it touched me to think of people buying Fendi, Gucci, et cetera and they don't even want one of us strutting down their runway. That gave me a LOT to think about.

I am going to start doing my research now. Thanks for everyone that participated in this thread with ideas and comments because I need to be more conscious, stop talking about the problem and doing my best to get with others who want to be a part of the solution. Love y'all ladies.

 

[SmilingElephant]

I freakin when we have topics like this! I learn SO much....there are so many brilliant minds here!

And even when we don't agree...i like hearing everyone's opinions about things like this.

True......not ALL the Koreans/Asians are out for Black blood...there ARE nice people in ALL races. There is EVIL in ALL races as well. This thread as i said earlier...has made me look at things differently as a Black person.

A lot of this business stuff...I DON'T know about...so i ask questions to get a better understanding. Now....i still feel that i should stay away from Asian BSS's....

But like JeterCrazed kept saying....about how in Eastern cultures....its important to build a relationship between businesses. I've been letting that sit on my mind....bc it is true...they are not raised in the completely same environment as we are in the Western Hemisphere. I'm not sure if its China or what...but there is a country where they are training employees at different companies to even learn to smile in a business atmosphere....i learned that in my Sociology class last week.

Maybe we should see if there is a way to encourage our companies to understand the value in this principle so that they will be willing to put more effort into building these relationships? All it takes is to reach the heart. The Black distributors and companies need to know and see exactly who they are representing so that they will feel the need to put forth more effort in having successful business relationships with the Asians....hustle harder. It sounds to me that the Asians have a tight grip on our hair....so to get out a tough spot...you got sit there a minute and vigorously rub it out.

I don't mean put these people out of business completely...but just do something where we are benefiting from our own market. So i guess that would mean (Just an Idea)....that we buy most of our products from places like Target, CVS, Walmart...yadda yadda down the line...and for those who can...buy from the Black companies online.

If you need weave....only go to the Asians for THAT purpose if you can't find it anywhere else...don't buy anything else from their store.

Now that we know that Sally's is not Asian run....buy a few things from there....the thing i like about Sally's is that their selection caters to EVERYBODY...so i really don't feel like they are trying to exploit us at all. I really don't feel that from them....

the point is..we need to get our money circulating into our community.

 

[davisbr88]

After reading this thread, I am totally gung ho for a boycott (or promoting one, at least, since I don't shop there anyway... lol). I think a good next step after this would be a pledge signing, where people would pledge to only shop at Black owned BSS for a certain amount of time (or forever) and in turn, those owners could provide some sort of benefit to the customers to make it worth their while for the extra money or extra miles or whatever they might have to drive to get to their specific store. There could also be some sort of fund for donations to help support the black-owned shops. Just something to make sure they at least stay afloat and to encourage new entrepreneurs to go into business, knowing they will have some source of support.

 

[JeterCrazed]

Great thread, great information. I will do my part to educate myself and those around me to the BSS practices. Ever since Vevster put me on to Djehuty Ma'at-Ra (the owner of DHealthstore.Com) I really started to become more aware of who I was giving my money to. I usually would go to health stores north of me in Queens and purchase my products. Now I just save my money to buy what I need from him in bulk.

Also, I forgot who mentioned it (I read all 8 pages, LOL) but it touched me to think of people buying Fendi, Gucci, et cetera and they don't even want one of us strutting down their runway. That gave me a LOT to think about.

I am going to start doing my research now. Thanks for everyone tha

t participated in this thread with ideas and comments because I need to be more conscious, stop talking about the problem and doing my best to get with others who want to be a part of the solution. Love y'all ladies.

So Iman, Garcelle Bovais (sp?), Naomi Campbell, Halle Berry, Alek Wek... None of them count... Please pick up an Italian Vogue even if you borrow it from a library. Go to some runway shows. Black models are plenty. LVMH celebrates black models well.


Sadly, there isn't a market for black media in the fashion industry in America. The ads abroad are VERY different.

http://www.vogue.it/en/vogue-black

Mostly every woman is natural, at that!

Oh, and @SmilingElephant, here are your Barbie Dolls...

http://www.vogue.it/en/vogue-black/the-black-barbie-issue/2010/02/the-black-barbie-issue

ETA: Don't get me started on Curvy Vogue. I thought I saw a picture of my own a$$ in there once. Had to do a double take..

 

[SmilingElephant]

^^And they are beautiful...but can i go to Toys R Us and buy them for my little cousins?

Thanx for that though...very beautiful

 

[JeterCrazed]

^^And they are beautiful...but can i go to Toys R Us and buy them for my little cousins?

Thanx for that though...very beautiful

I do all my shopping at home
http://www.amazon.com/Mattel-R9927-...=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1320110714&sr=1-6

Go Barbie... did ya Big Chop!:woohoo2:
I don't know where these rumors start. Black Barbie died, no black models in fashion, Liz Claiborne was on Oprah and Oprah kicked her off the show... It's like we expect to be oppressed.

Black entrepreneurs probably sell out because success starts to feel funny...or like a setup.

ETA:
http://www.amazon.com/Barbie-Collec...toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1320111205&sr=1-71

 

[SmilingElephant]

So what is the agreement here ladies?...ya'll done got a lil quiet on meh.

 

[Tamster]

*ignores the ignorant*

so about our boycott, I say we start a brand new planning thread. What say you ladies?

 

[JeterCrazed]

 

[TrueBeliever]

I have read and enjoyed this thread (minus the childishness).

To implement a successful boycot, participants have to either be willing to do without their staples (sacrifice for the cause) or have a viable alternative.

The way to remove the Korean/Muslim foothold on the BSS industry is to get the consumer to see that there is a better alternative.

 

[JeterCrazed]

I have read and enjoyed this thread (minus the childishness).

To implement a successful boycot, participants have to either be willing to do without their staples (sacrifice for the cause) or have a viable alternative.

The way to remove the Korean/Muslim foothold on the BSS industry is to get the consumer to see that there is a better alternative.

When did the Muslims come in?

Sent from my HTC Inspire™

 

[TrueBeliever]

When did the Muslims come in?

Sent from my HTC Inspire™

I used the wrong terminology. I should've said Arab instead of Muslim as a number of BSSs in my area are owned by Arabs (not sure which countries though.)

But, in any case, they are not black owned. I've only ever known of 2 black owned BSSs in my area and they are not located in the same city.

I can't see a boycott working but it looks like that's the idea people are running with.

 

[Tamster]

TrueBeliever why cant you see it 'working'? and what is your definition of success?

 

[Raspberry]

I think the biggest roadblock is finding alternative vendors of weave hair, for all other products avoiding the BSS is fairly easy. I may have missed a post addressing this but any ideas?

The BSSs I've been too have rows and rows of products but I hardly see those aisles trafficked as opposed to the wigs, weaves, and styling tools (rollers, combs, brushes, du-rags, etc).

ETA: I'm thinking more about women who don't shop online and are all about frequenting stores that are close to their house.. maybe that should be addressed as well - encouraging black women to see online hair resources as a viable alternative. Yea shipping can be pricey but you don't buy most hair products every day (unless you're on LHCF )

 

[Tamster]

Raspberry we did discuss these things earlier in the thread. we are still trying to figure out the weave issue, but i think that target, walgreens, walmart perplexed i iknow) are viable alternatives for regular products. buying strictly online is not a good alternative for lots of people. just not cost effective.

 

[JeterCrazed]

I used the wrong terminology. I should've said Arab instead of Muslim as a number of BSSs in my area are owned by Arabs (not sure which countries though.)

But, in any case, they are not black owned. I've only ever known of 2 black owned BSSs in my area and they are not located in the same city.

I can't see a boycott working but it looks like that's the idea people are running with.

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.


Sent from my HTC Inspire™

 

[TrueBeliever]

@TrueBeliever why cant you see it 'working'? and what is your definition of success?

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.

 

[TrueBeliever]

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.


Sent from my HTC Inspire™

I was under the impression that they are a panethnicity as there are several Arab states. 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?

 

[faithVA]

I can't see a boycott working but it looks like that's the idea people are running with.

I think people are open to alternatives. Do you have a different direction you think may be more viable.