Kamau's Business Blog Page - The World's 1st Black and Minority Business Blog!
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Female Website Owner “Gives Back” With New Round of Amber Grants to Women Entrepreneurs
Popular web site for women entrepreneurs returns, with new round of Grants for women business owners and start-ups.JUNE 7, 2004 Cincinnati, OH – WomensNet.Net (PRWEB) a popular online business-focused website for women, today announced that it has opened a new round of funding for the popular Amber Grants for Women Entrepreneurs. The program opened for applications June 1, and will continue indefinitely.
The recently re-designed site has been online since 1998, and began offering the Amber Grants in 2000. “It’s an important part of what we are and what we try to teach,” says WomensNet.Net founder, Melody Wigdahl. “I believe strongly in sharing the knowledge and in mentoring. I also know from personal experience that sometimes just a few hundred dollars extra might mean the difference between struggling forever - or being able to change your life for the better.”
The Amber Grants are small cash grants, usually from $500 to $1000, and may be used for any business purpose, with no need for repayment. Amber was Ms. Wigdahl’s 19 year old sister, who died in 1981.
“Amber was an incredible young woman” says Wigdahl, “with dreams and goals that she never had the chance to fulfill - it’s my hope that I can help other women achieve their dreams in Amber’s name.”
WomensNet.Net is a network of business oriented women’s sites encompassing everything from a full marketplace with online “shoppes” to a “state of the art” community for learning and networking. Built around around a “Friendster” type database, entrepreneurs can match up with potential business partners for joint ventures, marketing promotions, etc. The site is highly content laden, featuring reviews of other websites, books and offline resources for the women business owner - or those that want to be but don’t know where to start. Live “voice over internet” technology allows WNN to offer teleclasses without the usual long distance fees. WNN charges no fees for for access or site use.
“It’s been a long year putting all of this together, but the response has been almost overwhelming. It’s been fun watching the activity build! The next phase is an auction house and a full digital publishing house for our own line of women-authored Ebooks!” says Wigdahl, with a grin. “but first, I am going to get a couple of good night’s sleep - there haven’t been many of those the last couple of months!”
Amber Grant applications are available at the website, Click Here. Or go to: There are no application fees, and no geographical restrictions for the grants. Please visit the web site for full details and guidelines.
WomensNet.Net is the parent site of the WomensNet Network, Where Women Mean Business (http://www.wherewomenmeanbusiness.com), Freelance Divas (http://www.freelancedivas.com) and many other women oriented, entrepreneur-focused web sites as well as the sole funding source for the Amber Grants for Entrepreneurial Women
SBA Proposes Plan To Allow Big Business To Keep Small Business Contracts
(PRWEB) January 13, 2005 -- The SBA is taking public comment, until February 1, on a proposed policy change that will allow some of the biggest companies in America to continue to receive contracts that Congress intended to go to small businesses. Three different studies in the last 24 months have shown that some of the biggest companies in America like Hewlett Packard, Raytheon and Titan Industries have been allowed to receive billions of dollars in small business contracts. While politicians and small business groups around the country are dismayed over the findings, the SBA has shocked small businesses by putting forth this policy that will allow these large companies to continue to receive those contracts in the future through “grandfathering”. Lloyd Chapman, President of the American Small Business League, is vehemently opposing the proposed policy change.This policy comes on the heels of an embarrassing report the SBA Office of Advocacy was forced to release after the American Small Business League filed suit in federal court in San Francisco demanding the release of the report under the Freedom of Information Act. The portion of the report that has been released shows that billions of dollars in small business contracts are going to some of the largest companies in the world. This is the third report in 24 months that has found billions of dollars of blatant abuse in Federal small business contracting programs. The SBA has consistently tried to explain the dramatic abuses as “miscoding and computer glitches.” Chapman responded, “Under the SBA’s watch, the small business community has lost billions of dollars in small business contracts to large businesses. The SBA’s excuses of miscoding and computer glitches are absurd and just not believable. Why hasn’t the SBA taken any definitive action to stop this abuse by large businesses?” The SBA has refused to release the most damaging portions of the report that show blatant fraud.
Chapman has vowed to continue his legal battle against the SBA until the original draft is released to the public. “The portion of the report that we forced the SBA to release clearly shows some staggering abuses in federal small business contracting programs. The SBA is directly responsible for this level of abuse. Their new proposal that will allow these large companies to continue to receive small business contracts is a good example of whom the SBA really works for. Our goal is to rally small businesses around the country to defeat this plan and see that in the future small business contracts go to legitimate small businesses and not to Fortune 1000 companies and international conglomerates.” The American Small Business League (ASBL) is mounting a national campaign asking small businesses to go to the website and support their position opposing the SBA’s plan.
Earlier this year, the Center for Public Integrity released a study that found that the Defense Department alone had awarded $47 billion in small business contracts to some of the nation’s largest suppliers. In the recently released report by the SBA, Buhrman, a Dutch conglomerate, received over $98 million in small business contracts along with dozens of other big companies.
Interview Featuring Raquel Zepeda, President & CEO of Xynergy Corp., Hispanic Entrepreneur Showcased on Wall Street Reporter
BEVERLY HILLS, CA--(HISPANIC PR WIRE - BUSINESS WIRE)--January 7, 2005--Xynergy Corp. (OTC:XYNY) is pleased to announce that President and CEO Raquel Zepeda is featured in an interview by Wall Street Reporter, a weekly news magazine. The interview can be accessed via the internet at : Zepeda Wall Street Interview.
Most noted in the interview is the upcoming infomercial for Raquel of Beverly Hills. "This infomercial will be a landmark for Xynergy, as it will forever brand our line, Raquel of Beverly Hills, within the Hispanic and Latin markets worldwide," comments CEO Raquel Zepeda.
Also discussed was the current emergence of both the Hispanic and Direct Television Markets in the U.S. "We will be in the homes of people whose collective purchasing power reached $699.78 billion in 2004 in the U.S alone, through a sales medium (DRTV) that has reached $154 billion annually. Add to that, these markets are growing at a rate of 7.7% and 10%, respectively, per annum," added Ms. Zepeda.
Xynergy Corporation is a holding company for the following companies: Raquel of Beverly Hills cosmetics, and Machinations, Inc., producer of Think Blots greeting cards. For more information, contact Raquel Zepeda, Xynergy Corporation, (310) 274-0086.
BLACK HERITAGE BOOKS.COM LAUNCHES WEB SITE
New York, NY - BlackHeritageBooks.com, an Internet-based, e-commerce book retailer specializing in books written by, for and about African-Americans and other people of color throughout the Diaspora, launches its Web site this month. "Our mission and vision is to fill the void, left in the bookselling market, by specifically targeting an African American audience, that is underserved by the large general market booksellers. The Company, which began in 1997, as a book mail-order catalog, is poised to be a major African American global corporation by the year 2020.The company's main strategy is to develop BlackHeritageBooks.com into a "cultural destination" Web site, when looking for books and other information about African Americans and other people of color. African American's buying power was $688, in 2003, is expected to reach $921 by 2008, according to the 2000 Census Bureau. "Significant trends among African Americans indicates they are reading more, parents are encouraging their children to read and they are taking a proactive interest in their children's education and the books they are reading.
The company's secure Web site gives customers quick and convenient 24/7 access to a variety of books that focus on African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, Native and Caribbean Americans. According, to Mr. Reaves, the Company knows it is important to maintain an active and visible role in the community, the Company will focus on literacy. As part of its' "doing good, while doing well" philosophy, the Company has developed several of its own literacy programs and is also an advocate for other literacy programs that benefit African Americans of all ages.
While attending the Million Man March, in 1995, Founder, President & CEO, Richard Reaves was encouraged to go back to his community and do something to make a positive impact. His concern about literacy among African-Americans motivated him to found Black Heritage Books.com as a way to get more books in the hands of African Americans. After discovering in 1995, that Internet sales were projected to grow more than 2,300%, Reaves decided to establish a presence in cyberspace. "Until 1865, it was illegal to teach African Americans to read," Reaves says. "My Company's goal is to uplift our people by giving them access to books and empowering them with knowledge."
For more information about BlackHeritageBooks.com or to schedule an personal or telephone interview with Richard Reaves, please contact Amirah Reaves, Director of Media Relations, at 212-749-8508 or visit our Web site at Black Heritage Books.com
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Diversity in Emerging Markets: a Community Bank Opportunity
SAN DIEGO, CA--(HISPANIC PR WIRE - BUSINESS WIRE)-- January 6, 2005-- The recent wave of mergers and acquisitions in the banking industry have resulted in dissatisfaction among both bankers and consumers with their current bank, which often leads to the formation of a new community bank with local decision-makers and superior customer service. Yet better customer service is only one area where community banks have an edge over their larger counterparts; catering to diverse markets is another.At present the Hispanic population is the fastest-growing diverse market in the country, with nearly 16 million Hispanics currently residing in the U.S., according to the 2000 Census. The Census also estimates that the Hispanic population, which then had about $491 billion in purchasing power, will nearly double by 2007 at $926 billion. Regardless of whether your bank caters to a diverse population or not, diversity is the next step for many banks.
Community banks are typically smaller than many chain institutions, and therefore more nimble and quick to adapt to changes in the market. Large institutions are presently working on new ways to cater to diverse markets, but to date that has amounted to little more than hiring bilingual tellers. Community banks can implement many products and services that satisfy the needs of the diverse market at a much quicker pace, which gives them an edge over the competition.
Startabank is currently hosting a series of Bank Formation Workshops that educate interested parties not only on the basics of forming a new bank, but the many ways in which these new banks can serve diverse markets to expand on their own growth and profitability potential. Please visit our website at http://www.startabank.com/workshops/ to register, or contact us for more information.
Startabank
Carey Richardson, 718-928-3822
Visit Start A Bank
Monday, January 10, 2005
AFRICANA.COM SHUTTING DOWN; ANOTHER BLACK MEDIA COMPANY HITS THE DIRT
Source: Diversity City MediaBoston, MA - Just days after Essence Magazine is sold to Time Warner, popular web site Africana.com announces that they are shutting down at the end of January 2005 and merging with AOL's BlackVoices. It was just two years ago that Vanguarde Media closed down Savoy Magazine, Heart & Soul Magazine, and Honey Magazine. It was just 5 years ago that BET was sold to Viacom.
It appears that there's a pattern of Black-owned media companies either closing down or selling their stake to non-black firms.
Africana.com is or was an online portal to Black news, comics, and other Black-focused activities. The announcement as posted on their web site said, "After 6 years, Africana.com is shutting its doors on January 31, 2005. It's been an exciting and interesting ride, and we hope you've enjoyed it as much as we have."
It went on to say, "While Africana.com will be no more, many of the features that comprised Africana.com will be given a new home at AOL BlackVoices."
Many African-Americans are saddened when a Black media firm closes down, but are outraged when one is no longer Black-owned. Sometimes the firms are labeled as "sell-outs", but they usually respond to ensure that it was the best move for the company, and that nothing will really change. No one, but the company itself knows if such a statement is really true. However for the most part, nothing really does change.
While there does seem to be a pattern of "close-outs" and "sell-outs", there are still quite a few Black-owned media firms that don't appear to be going anywhere. Below is a brief list of some well-known ones:
TELEVISION
1) Black Family Channel - www.blackfamilychannel.com
2) TV One - www.tvoneonline.com
3) Jericho Broadcasting - www.jerichobroadcasting.com
RADIO
1) Reach Media (Tom Joyner) - www.reachmediainc.com
2) NuOpp Inc. (Steve Harvey) - www.nuoppinc.com
3) American Urban Radio Networks - www.aurnol.com
4) Radio One - www.radio-one.com
MAGAZINES
1) Johnson Publishing (Jet Magazine) - www.jetmag.com
2) Johnson Publishing (Ebony Magazine) - www.ebony.com
3) Upscale Communications (Upscale Mag) - www.upscalemagazine.com
4) Turning Point Communications (Turning Point Magazine) - www.turningpointmagazine.com
5) Earl G. Graves, Ltd. (Black Enterprise Magazine) - www.blackenterprise.com
WEB SITES
1) Einfonews (www.Einfonews.com) the sponsor of this blog
2) Reach Media (BlackAmericaWeb.com) - www.blackamericaweb.com
3) Diversity City Media (BlackNews.com) - www.blacknews.com
4) Rabercom Enterprises (EURweb.com) - www.eurweb.com
5) NNPA, Inc. (BlackPressUSA.com) - www.blackpressusa.com
6) Grandlin Interactive (HBCUconnect.com) - www.hbcuconnect.com
7) IMDiversity, Inc. (IMdiversity.com) - www.imdiversity.com
