Kamau's Business Blog Page - The World's 1st Black and Minority Business Blog!
Friday, December 10, 2004
ENTREPRENEUR UNCOVERS ETHNIC NICHE IN BILLION DOLLAR CATALOG INDUSTRY
New York, NY - Frustrated at trying to find what she thought were simple ethnic items, one enterprising entrepreneur has stumbled upon a niche in the 60 billion dollar catalog industry. Yuwanda Black, founder of EthnicHomeDecor.com and EthnicVendors.com, published the 2004 Ethnic Vendors Holiday Catalog this November.Yuwanda Black
Publisher of Ethnic Vendors
Feeling that the need for type of catalog is long overdue, Ms. Black says it will be an annual publication. She expounds, "Many minorities feel as if their wants, needs, and tastes are not mainstream. Initially, the music industry made the same mistake with hip-hop music. Now, it is the most popular form of music among American youth - of all races."
Further underscoring her point, she adds, "According to the University of Georgia's Selig Center for Economic Growth, by 2007, the spending power of America's ethnic minority groups will outpace the growth in white consumer spending by more than 80 percent."
Ms. Black feels strong that in order to capture this emerging base with surging spending power, more companies must first market directly to ethnic consumers - and that means introducing products and services that appeal to their culture.
The 2004 Ethnic Vendors Holiday Catalog features an array of products -- from handpainted wall hangings imported from Uganda to a barbecue grilling rack.
The Ethnic Catalog Published by Yuwanda Black
Asked if the catalog targets African Americans exclusively, Yuwanda states, "I am asked that question a lot -- and the answer is no. To explain, we seek products and services that appeal to an ethnic audience, but the product itself doesn't have to be ethnic."
Her point is clarified when you run across the barbecue buddy, in the catalog. The barbecue buddy is a grill/barbecue rib rack. Although the product in and of itself is not ethnic, it holds wide appeal for African Americans, an ethnic demographic.
Ms. Black states, "One day, I hope to be able to find mudcloth pillows as easily as I encounter floral designs. So, I'm doing my little part to make that happen." You can visit Ethnic Vendors Click Here
THE NEW BUSH ADMINISTRATION: CAN IT MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER?
Tammy Camper, host of the Tammy Says Show
Visit Her Site at: Tammy Says
Washington, DC - The election is over and a new administration is quickly taking shape. What does this mean for the small business owner? Will the issues that effect business owners like healthcare, contract bundling, access to capital, and tax reform be duly addressed during the 2nd term of the Bush administration? Tammy Camper, host of the Tammy Says show will find out what is on the minds of the leading authorities for small business on Monday, December 13 when the show entitled "The New Administration: Can It Meet the Diverse Needs and Diversity of the Small Business Owner?" airs.
Monday's show will be aired as a round-table discussion format with representation from the National Small Business Alliance, Hispanics Impacting Public Policy, Project 21, Springboard Enterprises, National Urban League, National Black Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Lt. Governor Michael Steele (MD) and more.
"I am pleased that these organizations and business leaders will come together to discuss these issues and how we move forward to make sure the needs of small business owners are met," says Tammy, Host of the Tammy Says show. "It has become apparent that there is a need for this type of show since the Tammy Says show's most recent numbers tracked over 900,000 viewers for the month ending October 2004 and our newsletter now goes out to more than 40,000 people on a weekly basis. The Tammy Says show is broadcast on SurfNet Media Group, an Internet digital entertainment media and publicly traded company.
"Producing shows on Public Policy, Technology, Finance, Insurance and other areas that impact small businesses has become my mission," says Tammy. Upcoming shows and guests for the remainder of December include Black Enterprise, Venture Capital for Minorities, Veteran Small Business Owners and Taxation. Now aired on Monday and Thursday, the show is adding an additional day to the lineup; Wednesday, which will be dedicated to Women Business Owner topics and will also be moving to terrestrial radio with a show in the Raleigh, North Carolina market.
About the Tammy Says Show
The Tammy Says show is a free Internet radio medium that produces shows to bring the business subject matter experts up close and personal to the small business community. Rather than put the "spin" on the things that are heard and seen heralded every day in the news media, host Tammy Camper delivers the facts on subjects that can impact a company's bottom line. The Tammy Says show is owned by entrepreneur Tammy Camper and is a woman-owned, minority-owned company. For more information or to access the show or hear past shows, visit: Tammy Says . Send show questions to showtopic@tammysays.com
Thursday, December 09, 2004
THE ISLAND DEF JAM MUSIC GROUP APPOINTS SHAWN "JAY-Z" CARTER TO PRESIDENT AND CEO, DEF JAM RECORDINGS
New York, NY - The Island Def Jam Music Group, a division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, today announced Grammy Award-winning superstar Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter to President & CEO of Def Jam Recordings. The announcement was made today by Antonio "LA" Reid, Chairman of The Island Def Jam Music Group, to whom Jay-Z reports. In addition Jay-Z will continue to run Roc-A-Fella, which was recently purchased by IDJ. The appointment is effective January 3, 2005 and Jay-Z will be based at IDJ's New York headquarters.
"After ten years of successfully running Roc-A-Fella," said Mr. Reid, "Shawn has proven himself to be an astute businessman, in addition to the brilliant artistic talent that the world sees and hears. We are fortunate that he has agreed to take over as president & CEO of Def Jam Recordings. I can think of no one more relevant and credible in the hip-hop community to build upon Def Jam's fantastic legacy and move the company into its next groundbreaking era."
"I have inherited two of the most important brands in hip-hop, Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella, said Mr. Carter. LA Reid and the Universal Music Group have given me the opportunity to manage the companies I have contributed to my whole career. I feel this is a giant step for me and the entire artist community."
Since 1995, Jay-Z and his Roc-A-Fella artists have dominated the rap industry and set the trends for a generation. Not just with an extensive catalog and talented artists and producers, but with a profitable brand that spawned a clothing line (Rocawear), films (Fade to Black, Backstage, Streets Is Watching, State Property), a nightclub (40/40 Club) and a successful sneaker line (Reebok's S. Carter shoe collection). Moreover, Jay-Z has founded three philanthropic organizations, including The Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund, Team Roc, and the annual Jay-Z Santa Claus Toy Drive. With a string of multi-platinum albums, SRO concerts and more than 30 million albums sold worldwide on his Roc-A-Fella label, there are no thresholds that Shawn Carter has not crossed. That is what made his Grammy-nominated, The Black Album such a phenomenon -- a groundbreaking autobiographical statement that was not only one of the most important records of 2003/2004, but perhaps the most important record of Jay-Z's legendary career.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN SHOPPERS ONLINE - WHERE ARE THEY?
Long Beach, CA - Online shopping generates hundreds of millions of dollars in sales every single day. Some of the key players are Amazon.com, eBay.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and tons of others that are popular online and offline such as Walmart.com and Target.com. This past November alone, online shoppers spent 8.8 billion dollars, up 19% from last November's spending of 7.4 billion.With online shopping being so popular, why are some African-Americans still talking about how skeptical they are to use their credit cards on the web? Perhaps there are some in the Black community that are unaware of the facts. According to an article on BlackNews.com, here are four common misconceptions about buying online:
1) Buying online is not safe. If this were true, then why do 100 million consumers make purchases online everyday? Technology is so advanced that online credit card transactions are anywhere from 99% - 100% secure. That's safer than ordering over the phone. Plus, many sites now allow their customers to pay by check online, which is even safer.
Be careful, however, about shopping anywhere online. Make sure that the web site is reputable and looks safe. Also, be sure to have the right firewalls and virus protection on your computer to prevent anyone from hacking your info.
2) Buying online is expensive because of shipping charges. Not true. In most cases, shipping is just a few dollars more. However, most companies will offer you free shipping if you spend more than $40 or $50 dollars. Also, a lot of retailers will lower their prices online so that the shipping costs will add up to the regular price of the item.
3) Buying online is difficult and time-consuming. Wrong again. Buying online is one of the easiest things to do on a computer. Opposed to walking up and down aisles in the store, you can search for an item online and find it in seconds. In addition, you can have a whole cart full of stuff, and not even have to bear the weight of pushing it. Online shopping can minimize your time spent in a store by up to 50%, leaving you hours more in the day to do other things.
4) Returning an item is complicated. Actually, returning an item couldn't be more simpler. First of all, it's easier to keep track of your receipt because you can store it in your email. Secondly, you can use the same packaging to return items, and most online retailers will pay for the shipping. Thirdly, retailers with storefronts will allow you to return or exchange items ordered online at their physical location nearest you.
"Over the past three years, there has been a significant increase in African-American online spending, but not significantly enough," comments Dante Lee, CEO and president of Diversity City Media. "We as a community have to stop putting ourselves behind when it comes to technology. Online buying has been safe and secure for nearly ten years now."
Lee's company is the multicultural marketing and retail firm that owns BlackNews.com and BlackPR.com. In 2005, they plan to launch a black-focused online shopping portal called BlackShopping.com, as well as a PR campaign to educate Blacks about how safe and secure online shopping is.
However, there's more than just that - African-Americans also seem to be hesitant about other web-based services, such as online banking, online bill-pay, and online auctions. Lee adds, "The Internet is such a useful tool in many ways. Anyone who doesn't take advantage of it is really missing out."
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
UNIQUE MARKETING-THEMED ONLINE HUB, MARKETINGWITHSTYLE.NET, SENDS STYLE WAVES TO MILLIONS OF PROFESSIONALS AND ENTREPRENEURS OWNERS GLOBALLY
Sacramento, CA - Sacramento, California's, leading multi-ethnic market public relations expert, Kristene Smith, has launched a new website, MarketingWithStyle.net, aimed at teaching professionals and entrepreneurs how to market themselves, and their brands, with style. MarketingWithStyle.net aims to enhance the lifestyles of professionals by reinforcing business basics such as public relations, professional development, and etiquette; and by integrating image and style concepts into common marketing practices. Specifically designed for the international business community, MarketingWithStyle.net is an online resource for those wanting to distinguish themselves and their companies within their competitive markets.
The website has four, core focus areas: PR/Marketing/Branding, Image Development/Fashion, Office Décor and Entertaining. Website visitors may sign up for the site's popular, free e-magazine, which delivers marketing and style information globally via email.
CEO Kristene Smith states, "Although we are grateful to have resources for interior design, cooking and entertaining, very little of it speaks to the working professional or business owner outside of their homes. MarketingWithStyle.net is a huge resource for professionals already dealing with market penetration and image issues on a daily basis. Since it's their responsibility to market creatively for competitive reasons, they need tools that will teach them how to do this with ease, without compromising the precious, little free time they have in any given week."
A unique series of campaigns currently accompany the website launch, including the "Profiles in Style" promotion and "Media in Style" community events. The first "Media in Style" event takes place on December 9, 2004, in Sacramento, featuring image, style and fashion experts addressing the audience on how to "Enhance Your Professional Image." Macy's Personal Shopping Service will provide a fashion show at the event.
MarketingWithStyle.net will host a series of workshops and conferences during 2005 that speak to the themes of the website. For more information:Click Here for Marketing with Style
UTILIVATE TECHNOLOGIES PRESIDENT AND CEO, MARLON MCCLINTON, FEATURED IN CURRENT ISSUE OF FORTUNE SMALL BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Chicago, IL - Utilivate Technologies, LLC (Utilivate) announced today that it's President and CEO, Marlon McClinton, a Chicago native and resident of South Shore is featured in the current issue of Fortune Small Business (FSB) magazine, a Time Warner publication.McClinton was recently named to serve as management and marketing expert for the Small-Biz Makeover section of Fortune Small Business; the magazine's most popular feature article series. McClinton and a team of leading management consulting experts assembled by FSB from throughout the United States, converge on target companies that volunteer for an exhaustive business make over.
In the December 2004/January 2005 issue of FSB, Timeless Message, an e-commerce company based in Phoenix, Arizona was the subject of this business transformation. McClinton recommended strategies for capturing detailed information on their 30,000 customers. McClinton stated, "By attaching a simple questionnaire to the online order form Timeless Message could collect valuable customer data, including income, education level, keywords used to reach website, and feedback about the company's products."
Further, McClinton articulated, "You should be ordering products from your competitors just to know what they are up to - to compare the buying experience and quality of products. McClinton also provided strategies for effectively targeting the African American consumer market.
Besides leading Utilivate, Marlon McClinton is a marathon runner, philanthropist, noted business, community, and motivational speaker, and former Vice President of Gas Research Institute (now GTI), the research and development and product development arm of the nation's energy industry. McClinton serves as Adjunct Professor of Management and Marketing at Northeastern Illinois University.
Utilivate Technologies Utilivate Technologies, LLC is a management consulting and professional management services firm based in Downtown Chicago. Utilivate provides actionable, energy management and strategic management/marketing services to businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and government agencies. Utilivate's management/marketing solutions target new product, service, and business development. Utilivate also manages ongoing programs, projects, and other strategic initiatives for clients.
Utilivate uses state-of-the-art business practices, mastery of the innovation management process, e-business infrastructure, and its vast network of technical and business experts in providing its management services. Utilivate staff leverages its extensive corporate, organizational, business, and educational experience and expertise in providing management training and education services. For further info: Click Here
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
IRS Simplifies Tax Deposit Rules for Small Businesses
The Internal Revenue Service has announced it will increase the minimum threshold for Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) deposits, a move that will reduce burden for more than 4 million small businesses.Under the new rules effective Jan. 1, 2005, employers are required to make a quarterly deposit for unemployment taxes if the accumulated tax exceeds $500. The current threshold is $100. For more information read news Release IR-2004-43 :Click Here located in the Newsroom section of the IRS.gov Web site.
This Black Wealth Investment Gift Certificate may be worth Giving for the Holidays
GIVE THE GIFT OF WEALTH: BLACK WEALTH NETWORK ANNOUNCES INNOVATIVE INVESTMENT GIFT CERTIFICATE SERVICECleveland, OH - Black Wealth Network (www.bwnonline.com), an online investment service empowering African Americans of all income levels to create wealth for current and future generations, has launched an electronic investment gift certificate service just in time for the holidays.
Looking for an innovative new gift idea for Christmas and Kwanzaa? Too busy to run out and fight the crowds at the mall? How about a great gift you can buy in minutes, on-line, and have delivered in time for the holidays - a Black Wealth Network Investment Certificate.
A Black Wealth Network Investment Certificate is not only easy to give - it is a meaningful gift of lasting value. The Black Wealth Network s mission is to empower African Americans to build generational wealth. Through our unique electronic platform, we offer affordable investing opportunities to help investors save towards core financial goals such as a child's college education, a new home, starting a business or a comfortable retirement. A Black Wealth Network Investment Certificate gets them on the way to building wealth.
You can send a totally electronic Savings Certificate of $25 or more. Simply go to www.bwnonline.com and click through a few pages. The recipient can redeem the certificate to open a Black Wealth Network Account and invest in mutual fund shares. Best of all, the recipient can add money at any time to their account and keep their savings growing.
Your Investment Certificate can be delivered today or at a future date you designate. What could be easier, faster or better? Visit the link below, and finish your holiday shopping now: https://www.bwnonline.com/ManageGifting/GiveReq.asp
If you have any questions or need help, please feel free to call toll-free at 1-877-728-3359, or by email to support@bwnonline.com
About Black Wealth Network
Black Wealth Network is an online investment service for African Americans. It empowers Blacks of all income levels to create individual and collective wealth for current and future generations. Members invest in leading African American managed mutual funds for ultra-low fees with no minimum investment requirements. The company s business model promotes and facilitates a circular income flow within the African American sub-economy and thereby strengthens the Black community. Black Wealth Network is a joint initiative of SBK Brooks Investment Corporation and SaveDaily.com, Inc., and is headquartered in Cleveland.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Check Out this Great Article on Keyword Research and Usage
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