"

As a Beauty Consultant, a part of what I do is communicate ideas and strategies.  One way I convey ideas is through charts, images or presentations.  Decks, as we term them, I produce  almost weekly.  New business development strategies, for my consultancy, Shine Beauty Culture (est. 2007), project partners or communicate new ideas. Usually I include research and statistical data, the rationale behind the strategy or the perspective to be explained.

Over the last two weeks,  I've been researching a specific beauty topic and in part of the data, I discovered a simple view that is shared by many. It's so simple, so well known, and we are reminded of it daily  EXCLUSION. Being omitted, eliminated or shut out of the relevant beauty conversation on shelf or in cyberspace. It does not feel good and is simply disrespectful.  Respect, a value now over-demanded in my opinion, yet, understood,  (i.e, Bird Man, just jokes, lol)...I digress...

In the research I uncovered the relationship between the amount Multi-Cultural women spend on health and beauty products intermixed with the constant search for products.  Two opposing thoughts.  There is a huge disruption in the scales here. 


"Mintel (a market research firm) estimates the U.S. ethnic haircare business alone will reach $876 Million by 2019. Albeit, in the Multi-Billion dollar beauty industry, Multi-Cultural women spend 9x's times more than their general market counterparts (Nielson, 2013).  None of these financial statistics are about how anyone feels, it's about what is spend in the ethnic beauty category. 

I speak about inclusion and exclusion at length in my new book, "Evolving Beauty, The Business of Beauty in a New Age," available on Amazon. In the August 2016 Stylus Report, I was quoted on the topic of Breaking Colour  Barriers.  (a UK report)


Fortunately, with the never-ending ingenuity of African Americans, the resurgence of independent Beauty and Personal Care Companies, I believe INCLUSION in 2017+ will sing with  a voice of convenience and companionship. The conversation will  hover and penetrate the beauty industry shelves and cyberspace.
Businesses that took cues from pioneers like Annie Malone, Madame C J Walker, Fred Luster Sr. (Luster Products, the last man standing from the early days) and George Johnson Sr. (Johnson Products) are today's NEW AGE businesses serving up palettes of Multi-Cultural options.  Brands like Carol's Daughter, Walker and Co. , Alikay Naturals, the NEW Madame C J Walker Beauty Culture and Shea Moisture, who prefer to #BreaktheWalls.  Thankfully, in the last 10-15 years the revival of independent beauty brands, coupled with the informational sites of bloggers and vloggers, has introduced a resurgence, new categories and big spending in the ethnic beauty industry, like no other time in history, A NEW Age.

Check out Tristan Walker, a relatively new force in beauty and personal care and Co-Founder of Walker and Co.  (male grooming and women's HBA).  Explore his views of the world on Color/Colour Barriers, video below.  I think you'll find it's pretty consistent with my views, Shine Beauty Culture (Est. 2007) and most likely your own as well.  #IndieBeautyPursuit #ReDefinedBeauty Inclusion--#NotanOption

By PT  | Photo Credits:  Eye Design Media
On Saturday, June 11th, I was a thrilled to participate as a co-panelist and speaker at the Illustrious Women's 1st Annual Empowerment Mixer.  I shared my 15-year experience working with over 50 Beauty Fortune 500 Companies and producing events like Diddy White Party LA, Bailey's Beauty Shop and Crown Royal Barbershop to name a few. My co-panelist an Evolving Beauty-- Mz. Skittelz, author of "Icing on Top Ain't Always Sweet," business entrepreneur and mogul owner of the Cultural Classic Boutique Chain, Cup Cake Mafia.

 
The mixer was held in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin and presented by Founder & CEO Illustrious Women (IW) (another Evolving Beauty) Tina Brown and author of Defying the Odds, a native of Wisconsin, she now resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Illustrious Women's mission is to educate, empower, and drive aspiring and current entrepreneurs to their full potential--personally and professionally. The event was started with a vendor mixer followed by a panel discussion of entreprenuerial #girltalk related to being a women in business.  There were some talented and creative  vendors there too.  
Here are just a few of the beauty vendors present to include:
@lipsplashbykelvyb @toodamnglam_
@sosimplyluxe @markdcosmetics @incheshairsandheels @phylthiscosmetic

 WHAT MAKE ILLUSTRIOUS WOMEN SPECIAL?
This women's organization is supporting women to grow from small business to big business to legacy status, as we describe in Evolving Beauty, the book.  IW is about preserving, reinforcing and growing women collectively and their tribes, as it's termed in Evolving Beauty, the book.  Those demising, evil-spirited competitive and emotionally immature behaviors that women sometimes display--so passe.' They only weaken our community and society.  IW's mission in-part, seeks to unify women to dismiss the notion "there's only room for one and educate women to empower themselves."

This event was AMAZING!  The room was a full diverse women from ages 18 to 60+ years old, from a  variety of industries: beauty, fashion, culinary, travel and more...Whether you're already an entrepreneur, building your brand ? Or aspiring to become an entrepreneur?  Illustrious Women has something for you.               
Become a member of Illustrious Women, Inc.  today and stay abreast of their upcoming events, www.IllustrioiusWomen.com. #girlpower #empowermentmixer. Thank you Tina Brown.

By PT
Women are the cornerstone of civilization.  We are the creators, nurturers, care-givers and the power thinkers of the world. (Source: Me, lol)  March is dedicated to Women's History Month (Est. 1981) and all month long we'll celebrate Women.   Join us in celebrating women who have left or are continuing to leave an imprint on our culture and the world.  Here's to EvolvingBeauties, may we know them and be them.  Let us learn from their life work and help create our own legacies. We'll honor and highlight women of Beauty, Power, Strength, Grace and Love!                   
#EvolvingBeauties #Diversity #WomenRock!

By PT
At Evolving Beauty we're advocates of diversity, the premise of inclusion that Black History Month is built upon.  And so, with nine days remaining in BHM we’re proud to share our highlighted Divine-9 in beauty in the last days in February 2016’s BHM. 
 
Evolving Beauty’s Divine--BHM 2016 includes, Beauty Professionals, Brand Managers and Bloggers Extraordinaire!