Saturday, October 31, 2009

Follow the Money: Why you should buy Black


As many of you already know, the Koreans profit 80% of the $9 billion dollar (and growing) industry that is black hair care. If you didn't know that, then you also may not know that African Americans only count for about 5% of the market that was created for us and by us. African American Beauty Suppliers find it very difficult to get a hold in this industry because of:

1. The discrimination that goes on with Korean manufacturers and distributors who hold the monopoly. Korean manufacturers will not sell products to Black owned wholesalers or retailers, and when they do it's at sky high prices. In that same right, Korean retailers don’t buy from Black manufacturers.

2. The rising number of Korean bootleggers manufacturing low quality knock-off products such as Blue Magic, Hair food, and Dax (lanolin with food coloring) for pennies and selling it to you after 400% inflation.

3. The ever growing "CHI" scam (passing off cheap low quality flat irons for various authentic ceramic brand names). Purchasing them for $1.00 each and selling it to you for $30 or more.

4. Manufacturing shaved Yak hair and selling them as "natural" or "human" hair.

It's highway robbery. In my research of Black hair care, I have found that some of the best quality products are made in African American laboratories. However, Korean establishments will not purchase them nor sell them in their stores. So you never see them, or get access to them. Instead you have thousands of young black females walking around with Vaseline and Yak ass hair on their heads thinking they're following good hair practices.

Now, don’t think our anger is misplaced. We certainly don’t blame the Koreans for beating us at our own game, but enough is enough.

The nine billion dollars we put into their pockets every year gets spent in their establishments, and the tax goes into their communities.

And we wonder why our schools can't get enough textbooks or qualified teachers.

We wonder why playgrounds take years to be constructed in our neighborhoods.

We don't spend enough money in our communities.

We have to take back our industry, and this is where you ladies come in. The Koreans may control 80% of the business. But WE control the Money. Buy black owned beauty products from black beauty supply stores. Change the flow of exchange from $9 billion dollars into the Koreans pockets and put it into the hands of Black business owners who live in our communities.

For more information on how where to find black beauty supply stores in your area, visit www.Bobsaone.org