Disrupting an industry that shut out its most loyal customers – Black women – from owning money-making establishments wouldn’t be easy.
But Devin Robinson was fueled by a burning passion: payback.
“This has been a vision I’ve continuously worked to bring to life ever since I was threatened with a golf club in 2005 by a Korean beauty supply store owner while I was shopping,” Robinson told Black Enterprise.
He knew we needed more BLACK owners of the beauty supply stores we spend so much money at.
In 2007, Robinson published his book, “Taking it Back: How to Become a Successful Black Beauty Supply Owner,” and opened Beauty Supply Institute (BSI). BSI immediately started using conferences and the book to educate interested would-be owners.
But something crucial was missing.
Handling the many responsibilities of a small business requires hands-on training and industry connections. So BSI opened a central headquarters for training and consulting purposes.
Finally, only one component remained before BSI’s resources would help over 100 Black-owed stores open for business.
Institute students needed capital to get started! Yet traditional lending opportunities were scarce. In came Robinson’s Beauty Supply Lending Group to the rescue!
Like Robinson, we can collectively push back against the barriers that keep Black people from becoming OWNERS of the establishments we love – so we can circulate the profits back into our communities!