The Founder
Well-Known Member
Buy & Patronize Black Businesses Black People...
There are times I try to but I get pissed off. For example I'm building a home and getting some bids. I went to three black builders...the first flat out told me he can build the inside but he can't build the outside and it shouldn't matter as long as the inside looks like I want it to look.
The second one had completed a home and was showing it to me and my wife. Well I started inspecting it...mind you this was a home he had completed. The dirt work was uneven causing the patio to flood. He said, "oh we can fix that on your house." I told him we wanted the entire home stone and he asked why. My wife showed him the floor plan and the house and he had this look on his face of pure confusion. Then said, "well I'm working under someone else's license," I walked out. The third guy wanted us to meet him where we were going to build a house and got a stick and drew out on the ground how and where he would start as if we were playing sandlot football.
So I spoke to my coworker and he told me about some builders one Hispanic and two white guys. The Hispanic guy met us at his current construction site. Showed us 6 homes in 6 different stages of completion. The two white guys, the first one we were at his office and he showed us video of the homes being built. The third white guy was a bit shady on the phone and was asking a lot of questions.
Needless to say, one thing black businesses have to understand is that consumer is your cash cow. I own part ownership in a yoga company. I can't do yoga the first. My sister takes the lead and surrounds herself with a diverse group of employees.
In my job I have seen a number of black businesses come and go real quick because of lack of understanding of marketing their brand. One lady started a clothing businesses and I felt it would successful. Yet, she never marketed her business or made connections with other business owners. When she saw her business tax bill she closed up shop.
Now there are some black businesses that don't play. They run their business like a well oiled machine and I love patronizing them.