All Articles Tagged "black enterprise"
Get to Know The Savvy Shopper
Source: Black Enterprise.com
By Starrene Rhett
- Blog: Looking Fly On a Dime
- Niche: Budget Shopping/Fashion/Style
- Founder: Patrice J. Williams
- Twitter: @flyonadime
When Patrice J. Williams began working at a popular fashion magazine in New York City, she quickly realized that image was everything. However, she refused to break the bank just to keep up with the latest trends. Eventually, the New Jersey native found a solution by diving head first into her passion for thrift shopping. She got so good at finding excellent deals and top-notch pieces at bargain prices that others began to take notice. But it wasn’t until getting laid off in 2009 that Williams founded Looking Fly On a Dime,where she shares her shopping tips and strategies for helping women look chic on a budget.
Like most blogs, most of Williams’ was in print form but eventually she began video blogging her thrifty adventures, which demonstrated how much of a pro she was and that her on-camera personality was relatable to the everyday woman. In fact, it was these elements that caught the attention of talk show host Nate Berkus, who has invited Williams on his eponymous show several times as his “thrifting guru,” and landed her a permanent spot on New York City’s WPIX 11 News as the Savvy Shopper. As part of Black Blogger Month,BlackEnterprise.com caught up with the princess of thrift shopping to chat about how she turned her passion for fashion into a TV friendly brand.
I started blogging because…
I wanted a creative outlet. I was laid off from my job at a magazine and I wanted to make sure I had a daily or at least weekly project that I was working on. It was actually a late night conversation with a friend that got my wheels turning. She told me I was great at finding awesome clothes at a cheap price and she suggested I start an online show, telling viewers how to find the best deals. I wasn’t really interested in doing a show, but I thought starting a blog would be a great outlet. I wanted to create a space that was all mine, something that I had total control over. It was only natural that I focus on affordable fashion. Working in the fashion industry meant I was constantly surrounded by well-dressed women. I didn’t have the budget to mimic their style but I created my own equally fly wardrobe by shopping at thrift stores.
Looking Fly On a Dime stands out because…
My primary focus is thrift shopping. Budget blogging is nothing new, especially since the economy tanked but my niche is thrifting. Since I have such a specialized focus, I’m the go-to girl for all things thrifty. Even though I’ve been thrifting for a decade, it’s chic all of a sudden so people want to know how to thrift and I help them along the way.
People trust my brand because…
I live my brand. I don’t blog about the joys of thrifting and then spend all my cash at Bergdorf. Also, when I’m putting together content for my readers or YouTube viewers, I talk to them the same way I chat with my girlfriends. I don’t have a phony blogging “personality,” this is just me and people who connect with my brand feel my authenticity. In a sea of style blogs, readers love finding those who are genuine.
The biggest mistake I ever made in business was…
I didn’t do my research before deciding upon a blog name. Initially my site was called Living Fly on a Dime. It wasn’t until a year in to blogging that I got a friendly email from a site with a similar name that told me I was infringing upon their trademark. I picked my site name without even thinking there could be future legal issues. Luckily, I was able to change my name to Looking Fly on a Dime, which was still similar to the former name and the change didn’t confuse readers or affect the brand.
Check out the rest of Patrice’s story at BlackEnterprise.com.
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Tichina Arnold On Getting Any Type of Role and Her New Series “Happily Divorced”
Source: BlackEnterprise.com
From BlackEnterprise.com
Actress Tichina Arnold has a knack for landing roles on TV shows that become cult favorites. Most people probably remember her as “Pam,” the sassy, wisecracking best friend on Martin or from playing “Rochelle,” the no nonsense mother who worked hard to keep her family together onEverybody Hates Chris. After a brief hiatus, she’s back on the small screen, co-starring in Fran Drescher’s semi-autobiographical TV show, Happily Divorced (Weds, 10/9c), which debuted on TV Land last year to over 4.4 million viewers and is currently in the midst of a successful second season.
Arnold plays “Judy,” a character based on Drescher’s best friend in real life. The twist, though, is that the real Judy is a White woman, but Drescher was so impressed by Arnold that she just had to cast the multi-talented actress in the role.BlackEnterprise.com caught up with Arnold at a busy Manhattan restaurant and experienced her infectious charm that keeps fans coming back for more. Here, the busy mom and soon-to-be wife chats about her new show, her cover band and how she remains humble.
Martin is now a cult favorite and it looks like Happily Divorced is headed in that direction, too. What’s your secret to landing roles on successful series?
I don’t choose the shows. I think the shows choose me. It’s a blessing. I’ve felt what it feels like to not have money, to not have any prospects of a job and then you get a job. Like, you have to be able to turn stuff down and say no and I’ve done that all my life. If it doesn’t feel right or if I feel like a certain job compromises my morality or I’ll be wasting my time doing something that doesn’t feel good to me, then I won’t do it.
Talk about Happily Divorced, for those who might not be familiar with the show.
It’s based on a true story with Fran’s life and what happened to her. She was married to a man who woke up and told her he was gay. Fran’s ex-husband is the executive producer of the show, so they came up with this idea for the show and I play Judy, her best friend.
It speaks volumes to your talent that you got this role considering that Judy wasn’t a Black woman.
I tell my agent all the time to send me out for roles that are written for White women, green women—I don’t care, because you know, I may bring something different to the role.
And it must be cool that you character actually gets to sing, how did that happen?
Fran had a talk show called The Tawk and by me going on that show it allowed us to meet each other, and I actually sang. When I went up for audition [for Happily Ever After], she was like, “Ooh, I want your character to sing, I love your singing!” So, that helps me getting roles, but it also helps me trust her in delegating the role and bringing another asset to me because Judy is a real woman, which is what I like about her. Judy is a Jewish redhead girl, who’s really her best friend. On my first day at work, I met Judy and she was like, “I’m so glad you’re playing me. You’re the best me I ever saw.” [Laughs]
Read the rest of the story at BlackEnterprise.com.
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Slim Jackson of “Single Black Male” Shares the Recipe Behind Their Success
Source: Black Enterprise.com
Although he doesn’t consider himself a relationship expert, Slim Jackson is one of several authors behind the smart, tongue-in-cheek relationship blog, SingleBlackMale.org. The site has become a popular stomping ground for men who need guidance on dealing with the fairer sex and women who want a glimpse into the psyche of the uncommitted man. With topics ranging from sex, love and dating to sports, entertainment and pop culture, Jackson, 29, who serves as the site’s executive editor, along with SBM’s team of opinionated gentlemen, have cultivated a home where the Black man’s perspective reigns supreme and honest advice is dispensed in clever, easy to digest prose.
In 2011, SBM took home two Black Weblog Awards (Best Blog Design; Best Blog Post Series); was featured onEbony magazine’s Power 100 List; and appeared on The Michael Baisden Show to discuss monogamy in relationships. As part of Black Blogger Month, the Albany, NY native tells BlackEnterise.com why connecting with readers means more to him than page views, and how running a successful relationship blog sometimes puts a damper on his dating life.
Read Slim’s interview with BlackEnterprise.com, here.
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“Sparkle” Producer, Debra Martin Chase, Remembers Her Career Journey & Whitney
Source: blogs.indiewire.com
There are a small number of Black female producers in Hollywood who have been able to stay relevant and profitable; Halle Berry, Oprah Winfrey, Tracey Edmonds, Queen Latifah and then there’s Debra Martin Chase. Her name may not register with the general public the same way as the aforementioned women, but her credits speak for their self: Cheetah Girls, Cinderella, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, 1 and 2, Princess Diaries, 1 and 2 and most recently, Just Wright. Some may consider her work “chick flicks,” but Martin Chase makes movies for a living and the living is good.
Still an artist at heart, the movie veteran is producing two films set to release in 2012 and one on 2013; Sparkle, starring Jordin Sparks and the late Whitney Houston in her final theatrical performance; Dirty Dancing with director Kenny Ortega and Elixir, another Sanna Hamri collaboration. BlackEnterprise.com caught up with Martin Chase on the Detroit set of Sparkle as she dished out lessons on Hollywood moviemaking and staying ahead of the curve.
Read Debra’s story and find out how she felt about Whitney at BlackEnterprise.com.
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Reality TV Decoded: 10 Reality Stars Who Earn Millions
Reality television is a complicated business. Some shows get immensely popular and springboard everyday people into celebrity stardom, but that fast track to Hollywood isn’t for everyone. However, there are those lucky ones who manage to build their brands, or expand their existing empires, based on their participation in America’s guilty pleasures. While some reality stars make little to no money at all—the average is about $5,000 a month—personalities who appear on popular shows like The Real Housewives franchise can make $8,000 and up per episode, and millions of dollars beyond their TV presence alone. It’s reported that the Real Housewives of New York racked in $75,000 per episode last season, while the Kim Kardashian and her family recently signed a deal worth an estimated $40 million for three more seasons of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. With millions of dollars floating around in the “real worlds,”BlackEnterprise.com Decodes the financial gain of some of reality TV’s most notable personas. —Starrene Rhett Rocque
Check out who these millionaire reality stars are at BlackEnterprise.com
Yandy Says Don’t Knock Her Pregnant-Girl-In-The-Club Hustle
Source: Bossip.com
There’s the pregnant girl in the club that people suspect might have a baby bump but aren’t too sure, and then there’s the pregnant girl in the club who looks like her water might break if she doesn’t slow down on the dance floor. From pictures Yandy Smith recently uploaded showing that she’s expecting a baby, she looks like she’s getting dangerously close to being the latter, but she says, so what.
In an exclusive interview with The Jasmine Brand, the “Love and Hip Hop” star was quick to explain why no one should judge her for her latest club appearances:
“Before the show ended there were already bookings up until March, almost every single weekend. Now my boyfriend travels with me, as well as security, plus the club armed security wherever we go. We enter through a side or back door and I’m escorted to VIP, where I sit down. People can say what they want, but I’m fine with it, my man is fine with it, and I’m protected by security, so I’m not going to turn down a 12-15 thousand dollar weekend just because people have something to say. I spoke to my doctor about traveling and he told me it was not a problem. But now that I know I’m about to start showing, I’m going to sit down and take it easy. I was not in the middle of the dance floor, I was not drinking, so it was fine.
“People can say what they want but I’m thinking of my child’s future. If financial security is something that you can give to your family, it makes you feel great. I feel good that I’m able to put aside a college fund before my child is here, in one month. People can blog and say what they want but my child is good. I don’t want people to think that money is more important than my child’s health, but I made all my doctor appointments, and made sure it was healthy to continue working.”
In other words, she’s living up to her infamous words on “Love and Hip Hop:” At the end of the day, it’s about a check, and if there’s a check to be had, she’s there—pregnant or not.
Yandy did say that she’s not taking any more club bookings now that she’s six months into her pregnancy, and when it comes to returning for the next season of the VH1 show, she said she’s not opposed to it. She told the site, “If all the stars align and the dollar signs add up, I will absolutely [be back on The show]. ”
Since there’s a little more love in her hip hop now, it would seem Yandy might want to bring her child’s father into the picture on-screen. She said she’s not opposed to that either, but their relationship is a bit up in the air.
“There was a ring, but there was no one-knee so I don’t know what the status is. We have been together for about 6 years, we met in 2006. Its been off and on. There have been times when I was on the road for months; I really wasn’t able to focus on my relationship the way that I should have. We’ve broken up about 2 or 3 times. Every time we break up, we’re both seeing other people. I was almost engaged to someone else, he wound up having another child with someone else. Then we realized that we almost lost each other. So he rushed back and we’ve been unbreakable ever since… He could possibly be on the show with me. Its been amazing. We realized that this is where we want to be and we love each other. Its been beautiful. I’m really excited about where we are, and this little bundle of joy we have coming. And he’s excited too. We can’t wait until July.”
That sounds like drama the camera will eat up. So far, nothing has been finalized for next season but Yandy is continuing with her new role as a contributor to Black Enterprise, and she said her next column will be “How Do You Guys Do It?” talking about the struggle balancing work and motherhood. Sounds like she knows a little something about that already.
Can you respect Yandy’s pregnant in the club hustle?
Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.
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7 “Swexy” Jobs You Thought Paid Well But Really Don’t
Americans put a lot of value on job status. There are jobs that are revered for heroism—firefighters, soldiers—and others are heralded as the cornerstone of our society, such as educators. But the jobs that most admire with awe and envy are the “swexy jobs.” Positions that, from the outside looking in, appear to pay a pretty penny to live the life. They’re so appealing in fact that if you pay attention to any TV show or film there’s a good chance that one or all of the main characters have one of these “Hot jobs.” However, the luxurious lives associated with these gigs on screen don’t translate to real life, where oftentimes passion outweighs the paycheck. BlackEnterprise.com took a look at the actual earnings for these “Hot jobs” to see if the pay equaled the prestige.
Read the rest at Black Enterprise
Peek In Your Purse
From BlackEnterprise.com
Cindy McField-Asamoah views herself as a minimalist. “I don’t carry a lot of makeup or other items in my purse. I have an iPad 2 that I sometimes carry, and a BlackBerry Torch that I carry everywhere.” The 37-year-old married New York real estate broker switches up her purses according to her outfits, but they’re all hobo style—large crescent-shaped handbags with a long strap. “I need a large handbag because I often travel with my son [2-year-old Kaleb].
I am carrying things for both of us.” A vice president with the Corcoran Group in Brooklyn, New York, she keeps her wallet or clutch organized. “It doesn’t have sections, but my money is grouped together in one area, my credit and debit cards are in another, and my receipts are all in another.”
Why should it matter what’s in McField-Asamoah’s handbag? Robin A. Young, a certified financial planner, says a “purse check” is one way women can do a quick financial assessment. Financial behavior often reflects how you feel about yourself, says Young, president of Women Behaving Wealthy in New York. Money is personal and emotional—and what you carry around every day says a lot about your relationship with it.
For more words about your money, visit BlackEnterprise.com.
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How Tyra Banks Went From Model to Media Mogul
By Danielle Kwateng
In February 2011, Tyra Banks set a major goal for herself: to attend and graduate from the Harvard Business School. The former swimsuit model and entrepreneur enrolled in a management leadership program at the Ivy League institution to strengthen her business skills, and graduated this February. Born in Inglewood, CA, Banks, 38, has cultivated a catalogue of endeavors over the past 20 years that’s far beyond her runway beginnings. In fact, the Daily Mail recently ranked her among the richest supermodels in the world with a reported net worth of $90 million. Banks has taken on acting, producing, directing, publishing, and promoted ideals of a positive and healthy self-image along the way. BlackEnterprise.com Decodes Banks bankable brand.
Check out the rest of the story at Black Enterprise.com
Stars Gather For GLAAD Media Awards In NYC
bossip.com
Last night the the 2012 GLAAD Media Awards kicked off in New York City with a gala event hosted by “Glee” stars Naya Rivera and Cory Monteith.
The first of three events — the other two will take place in Los Angeles on April 21 and San Francisco on June 2 — included a who’s who of the LGBT community and its allies like actress Dakota Fanning, hip-hop icon Russell Simmons, “Top Chef” star Padma Lakshmi, Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, the Food Network’s Ted Allen, Wendy Williams, Jay Manuel and Isis King from “America’s Next Top Model” and more.
The purpose of GLAAD is to not only celebrate and recognize the best of the best in LGBT-inclusive journalism, film, music, television, and more, but to also serve as a benchmark for the media industry, helping to improve representation and inspire more thoughtful depictions of the LGBT community throughout the year.
Many stars came out to celebrate, check it out right here…
