Black Owned
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I’ve just seen a deal on this site saying that the company is Black Owned surely the products being sold should rely on quality not that it’s Black Owned. What do you think?
It means it's owned by an African businessman or businesswoman.
Well, small business owners regardless of race will have a hard time keeping their stores open.
PhilipMarc oh that's awful why label a company like that! And labeling people like it. I thought all that was over with.
I know which one you are talking about and I did query it with the poster - I felt it was divisive but the poster saw nothing wrong with it and was confident that the LDTeam wouldn't object/change the title. Personally, I would also strongly object if I saw a deal that promoted 'White Owners' too but it seems it's passed the censors so what can you do?
It would definitely be deleted if it promoted white owned. I feel same about black beauty magazine and the separate mumsnet forum for black mums only. Very devisive when we are meant to be dealing with racism, not reversing it. Everything should be open to everyone no matter their colour.
Lynibis Black people often feel the need to separate ourselves because we don’t feel represented enough.
For instance, our skincare needs are not the same as people with predominantly lighter skin tones.
We know we won’t get the inclusivity we crave from secular sources so it’s best to start our own.
It’s the same with MOBO awards, we’re all equal so let’s not discriminate black, white, oriental etc.
Does the matter of the owner's skin colour make a difference when it comes to product quality? Like, I can sort of understand why it would say that, to encourage people to buy from a diverse background I guess?
First and foremost a company has to be selling something that customers want, irrespective of the owner's ethnicity. However, black-owned businesses are more likely to get less financial support from banks and investors. They are 'more likely to be rejected for an overdraft and charged higher interest rates than their white-owned counterparts'. Only around 0.67% of the 5.9 million businesses in the UK are owned by black people. Yet they make up 3.3% of the UK population, so are underrepresented as business owners. Consequently, I don't see an issue with black-owned businesses looking for some customer support.
- https://www.ft.com/content/4f7ab34c-5a70-4cae-b04d-1c90ed1a230e
If you don't subscribe to the FT and cannot access this Black-owned businesses struggle to find investors article because it's behind a pay wall, it's also freely available here:
https://www.techregister.co.uk/black-owned-businesses-struggle-to-find-investors/
I believe most people look at the products for sale not who owns the business let alone their colour.
There’s nothing divisive about someone promoting black-owned businesses. A business being black-owned also speaks directly to the quality of their goods because they are targeted at black people. That’s why it’s important for the ‘black owned’ to be highlighted.
Can't see any connection with quality there is no obvious link between the quality of a product and the ethnicity of those running the company. and the only business that I've seen that stated black owned was a farmer and he was exporting sausages I think and not focused on selling to people of his own ethnicity but to all people who want his product.
Ultimately though we should encourage everyone with the skillset to start a company it maximises the potential of this country. Different cultural backgrounds can often bring something new to the marketplace and find a niche. This is a elitist country with a monarchy and often people of a privileged background end up in high positions in industry and commerce which is not a healthy state to be in when many better qualified people are denied those positions because of our establishment. We need people of all ethnicities, genders, age etc to know they can start and succeed in business.
If nothing else seeing 'Black Owned' should be a positive message to other black people they can also succeed in business.
We have seen huge success in business for the Jewish, Oriental and Indian communities I very much doubt there is anyone in those communities that think their ethnicity would hold them back but I'm not so sure with black.
BonzoBanana I‘m talking about the quality in terms of its value to the target market: black people. For instance you wouldn’t trust someone from a different country to prepare a traditional dish as much as you’d trust someone from your own country to prepare it. That’s what I mean.
Its crazy that we are at stages that people have to say its a black business because of lack of support. I don't care what colour the shops owner is, I'm more interested in the price and quality.
I totally agree. Surely it’s all down to the products, quality and price regardless of race.
Pjran The shop should always be about the products and never be about the person serving but I see why its happening as Black owners are not given the support compared to White owners and that's what needs to change. Colour of a human should not be a factor in anything.
It’s really telling when we have to have clear indicators as to the kind of person who owns a certain business. This speaks to the general lack of support they receive.
flipside Lis You have said that the promotion of black businesses should be allowed on LD because they're primarily aimed at black people.
If black people don't support the businesses, they are going to fail.
The posts that have been put up have a very limited appeal to anyone besides black people, so where else do you expect to get the support from?
If you put yourself out in a very limited market, and that market fails to support you, who do you want to blame?
Is it because of your ethnicity or just that no one wanted to by your stuff?
flipside This is the problem.
You are so one-sided that no one else is allowed a point of view.
We all understand the 'crux' of the issue, but won't understand is that if black businesses aren't supported by black people, they're going to go t*its up.
And why should a financial institution support a business where's there's no chance of it succeeding whether it is black or not?
flipside I don't think its quite the same, if I buy cruelty free or vegan I have a reason to buy that product but black owned does nothing in itself it wouldn't make me want that product more or less. If the business was an African restaurant I'd have a reason or original recipe Jamaican Rum or something that links the ethnicity to make the product seem better it would help.
The only positive I can see out of it is it helps inform black people of the existence of black owned businesses which could be positive and encouraging but you know some people may take minor offence like some of the people in this thread and could be a reason for the business to fail if it annoys too many people and the business needs customers from all ethnicities.
Generally I think its a bad thing to state who owns a business but admit I'd make an exception in this case because we do need to encourage more black businesses.
BonzoBanana as always a well measured and sensible assessment of this topic. Not many people can have a balanced view of such things.
BonzoBanana There are some things people look for in black-owned businesses that others don’t. So just because you feel you’re getting nothing extra from such products doesn’t mean its the general consensus. Its your opinion.
TheChimp And I’m saying that’s it’s not only black people who are allowed to support black-owned businesses. For some reason, you don’t seem to grasp that.
You’re making a show of saying that if the business doesn’t work out, it’s because black people didn’t support it. But that’s not the case.
If the business fails, it’ll be because people like you saw ‘black-owned’ and found it a direct affront instead of appreciating what that might mean in relation to what they’re selling. Because it is a marketing tactic.
I find it so odd that you should twist an otherwise simple discussion and make it about whose fault it would be should a business fail.
flipside OK, I'll put this as simply as I can for you.
The posts are for 'black owned' companies selling stuff that would only normally bought by black community.
Now if the black people don't want to buy their wares, it's not because of anyone else.
I could set up a meat based food company, but I doubt if I'd sell much to vegetarians.
And you have to realize that the black community is only 3.3% of the population and that you have to sell to them.
The customer base is very limited, so if the firms go bad, don't blame anyone except the people that they are aiming their products at.
We could argue that this is aimed at women
Can we establish which arguement we are having. Yes products can be aimed at a specific market but that doesn’t mean others cannot buy them. Why are you so keen to blame people for their failure. If Avon collapses are we to blame women
I was trying to point out that its not just the customers to blame for a business stopping. Im not understanding
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