Will Mainstream Attention Threaten Natural Entrepeneurs?

This article was originally written by Kat Stephens, a contributing writer for Black Girl Long Hair (BGLH). Here is what the original post said:

“The executive also said, in high pitched enthusiasm, that they were looking to ‘broaden their market share’, and wanted to ‘go after a piece of Carol’s Daughter’s pie’. To hear them state the significance of going after the Carol’s Daughter client hurt my heart.”

It is sad but awfully true. Being 'natural' is BIG business and companies small and large want a piece of that pie. This niche market was controlled by the smaller eclectic shops that only had products you could catch at a flea market, trade show or online. And if that business was successful enough, the products would be brought at a flagship store, such as Carol's Daughter's Brooklyn roots or Oyin Handmade's Baltimore origin. With large companies watching, Carol's Daughter made a bold leap and decided to take the product to a larger level but still maintaining it's boutique atmosphere. Along with 'natural' living trends skyrocketing other beauty trends, it only makes business sense to figure a way to capitalize.
Well here is the problem: The small boutique size companies products and services are its bread and butter.   The lady who is melting, blending, and mixing in her kitchen is also the Director of Product development, Packaging, Marketing, and the Sales Person. The ability to interact with HER when you make your purchase is priceless. Also, big beauty companies will not be able to maintain the same quality.

It is very cost effective for a big beauty company to take a chemically-infested product they already have on the shelf and repackage it, with pretty flowers and trees and the words like shea butter or coconut oil plastered all over the 'new' package. Only to find out the only ingredients you can actually pronounce are shea butter and coconut oil.



Check the packaging: Organic, olive oil, root stimulator..... things that make you go hmmmmmm! :-)




Kat Stephens, the original reporter summed up her story like this (and I think it fits here too):

Thanks to YouTube and blogs, the online natural hair community is helping to launch hundreds of what I affectionately call, Naturalprenuers. I will try my hardest to buy my hair products from natural/black-owned businesses. Right now I think that’s the biggest statement we can all make.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHOULD 'WE' (US NAPPTURALS) BE BIG BUSINESS FOR COMPANIES WHO DON'T REPRESENT WHO AND WHAT WE TRULY ARE?