| By Shea Zephir |
Blacks are still the largest racial minority in the US to date. They are the driving force of pop culture, the leaders of mainstream culture, and the key influencers of major global brands. The 2013 Nielsen African-American consumer report reveals that black consumerism is expected to increase from $1 trillion to $1.3 trillion by 2017. Blacks shop more frequently than any other total market household, but black businesses, agencies, and media are struggling to maintain the black consumer. Even the U.S. Census Bureau stated, “Black business is the fastest growing piece of American business.” If black business is on the rise, why is it that the black retail sector is the area in which black entrepreneurs finish last?
In the book “Race and Entrepreneurial Success” researchers found that black businesses lacked in startup capital, had limited educational experience compared to White and Asian counterparts, and often discontinued family businesses that could have served as a platform for teaching industry survival strategies. Author Maggie Anderson of “Our Black Year” attributed the lack of black retail success to limited access to networks and latent racism.
The changes on 125th Street reflect this disturbing trend. Mass retailers are taking over while our beloved mom and pop shops are being bought out and becoming distant memories. I am still trying to comprehend why Macy’s is moving to a new location on 125th Street instead of re-opening the 125th Street Mart. The Mart could have been reopened with new retailers and more importantly some of the former exclusive vendors who represented the culture Harlem is so famously known for and sought after. Then I began to inquire about how our own community feels about supporting black owned businesses. Is customer service worse in black owned businesses? Are black retailers way more expensive than traditional retailers? Do Black retailers carry less inventory in comparison to other stores?
Supporting Black Business is imperative to Black progression in politics, economics, and education. Stay connected to the networks of Black retailers and offer them suggestions about what you would like to see in their stores and make a conscious effort to interact with these businesses. If the stores are out of your price range, ask about sale promotions. Utilize the local shops as well as online Black discounted retailers like: Black Mark-it, Ujamma Deals, Black Biz Hookup, or HBCU Daily Deals. There are a host of Black owned businesses working hard to sit at the same table as major conglomerates. If we are the top consumers spending the most money but still have the highest unemployment rate it is time to support the communities that are suffering the most and that means, starting right at home with us.
HOW TO SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESS RETAILERS
- Research local black businesses in your neighborhood. The Around The Way app is a great tool for this.
- Make supporting Black Business a priority. Dedrick Muhammad Senior Director of NAACP Economic Programs says, only five cents of every Black consumer dollar goes toward Black-owned businesses.
- Share the information you discover with family and friends.
- One bad experience is not a generalization for other businesses. Report your experience to store management and based on that assessment make a decision about that retailer