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If I
see another article or hear another comment on this big problem the
Black community supposedly has with doing business with "Black folks', I
think I will scream...
As a small business owner, F/T since 1992, you might imagine that I have a lot to say on this subject. In my humble, but accurate opinion ( LOL) Both sides, (the Black biz owner and the Black customer) need to be more compassionate.
As a small business owner, F/T since 1992, you might imagine that I have a lot to say on this subject. In my humble, but accurate opinion ( LOL) Both sides, (the Black biz owner and the Black customer) need to be more compassionate.
Point
#1: Has anyone considered that Black customers are more challenging?
Blacks
often come to the table with less money and less credit, while simultaneously
asking for discounts and favors. You are not considered a real Christian if you
expect to be paid, nor are you seen as "down with the movement".
On
the other hand, it is customary that Whites will offer to pay MORE $$ when they
want better service. In other words, Blacks ask for discounts because they have
less money, while Whites offer more money, in exchange for better
treatment. This is an important distinction
My
challenge as a Black business owner is this:
If I
accommodate you, it results in less $$$$ and I have spent more time for those
$$$. I am now operating with less reserves, which reduces my quality of
service. In response, the Black community says, "tsk, tsk" you
see, I told you that you "can't do business with Black people"! In fact, some of us are so
afraid to ask for money, we go out-of-business before asking for help.
Point
#2: Don't panic: Blacks are not going under
Stop
listening to the negative propaganda. Since when have any of us been treated so
well by Whites as customers? In other words, it was not that long ago that
Black CUSTOMERS were not seen as desirable, by anyone. Wasn't that what King
and the Civil Rights movement was all
about? The inequities in how Blacks were treated by everyone.....at work,
in restaurants, buses and in business. So please be careful with propagating
these stereotypes.
Blacks are not going under and Whites will not rule the world.
Likewise, some of
us are good business owners and some of YOU are lousy customers. And that's the truth!
Point #3 President Obama is a business man.
He operates a fine tuned
marketing strategy, applies superb interpersonal skills and good customer
service. His pricing is right: he asks for small donations and so he receives
lot’s of $10.00, 15.00 and 25.00 donations, which generated the
most lucrative fundraising campaign in American history. Special favors
from special Black interest groups resulted in people expressing
disappointment. Be a good customer: Obama is a business man and his goal was to
first and foremost, stay in business. And so is mine.
Michelle Edmonds, M.A., M.Ed.
Sr, Nutritionist|Author|Co-Founder
Serenity Weight Loss and Detoxification Program
THE SERENITY CHALLENGE
