BEAUTY SUPPLY INSTITUTE OPENS ITS 47TH
BLACK-OWNED
BEAUTY SUPPLY STORE

Beauty Supply Institute, a training and consulting company that assists individuals desiring to own a beauty supply store, has hit its 47th store opening in Los Angeles, California and is on track to surpass 50 by year's end.

In 2005, the company's founder, Devin Robinson, found himself staring down the opposite end of a golf club while shopping at an Asian-owned store for his barbershop and salon. Not happy with the insulting experience, he then set out to own a beauty supply store. After finding great resistance and falling into traps, he opened his first store several months later in Atlanta, Georgia. Eighteen months after that, he had opened two additional locations. He eventually learned that his plight was not isolated. Robinson stated in an interview with Ebony magazine, "Many of my customers would regularly ask me a bankroll of questions, from how I got started, to how tough is it to compete. Because of this I decided to create resources to help people beyond those who were able to visit my stores."

In 2007, he wrote the book, Taking it Back: How to Become a Successful Black Beauty Supply Store Owner. The book became an instant hit earning him best-selling status and recurring appearances on the nationally syndicated Michael Baisden radio show. Robinson, a former retail management professor, followed up his book with additional do-it-yourself materials but would soon develop online classes and full store opening services. In 2009, his company, Beauty Supply Institute opened its first store that didn't belong to him.

In December 2012, the company announced that it had successfully brought $10 million in revenues back to urban communities through black store ownership.

Beauty Supply Institute now hosts two annual conferences and runs a 9-month beauty supply retailing program at Herzing University in Atlanta, Georgia designed to give students detailed training on the skills Robinson developed while owning and running multiple stores.

When asked of this latest accomplishment Robinson stated, "I feel like I've stepped into my life's purpose. Business runs through my veins. I love talking about it and teaching it, so to have turned the unfortunate 'hurry up and buy' threatening situation I encountered in 2005 into widespread empowerment for others makes me feel like I am significantly contributing to the advancement of the black community."

To learn more about Beauty Supply Institute, go to
www.BeautySupplyInstitute.com 
or call 404-551-4398.