PROFESSOR'S MOVEMENT TOPS $10 MILLION FOR URBAN COMMUNITIES

 ~ Devin Robinson has brought millions to urban communities by training entrepreneurs how to open beauty supply stores, and tap into a $15 billion sector. Currently, 96% of all revenue in this industry comes from minorities, but only about 3% of the owners are minorities. ~

Devin Robinson ~

• (BlackNews.com) • In 2005, Devin Robinson was threatened with a golf club by a store owner while shopping in the owner's beauty supply store. Out of anger, two months later Robinson had his own store. Eighteen months later he had two additional locations. In 2007, he self-published Taking it Back: How to Become a Successful Beauty Supply Store Owner, and launched Taking it Back University to train others how to be successful in beauty supply ownership too.

In 2008, he was featured in Ebony magazine and appeared in the Black Hair documentary, and in 2009, Devin Robinson led a national boycott against non-black owned beauty supply stores. Since then, he has rebranded Taking it Back University into Beauty Supply Institute (www.BeautySupplyInstitute.com).

Beauty Supply Institute staffs 11 people working in two divisions: training operations and field operations. The company is in its sixth year of business and its fourth year of two annual conferences, and has recently partnered with Herzing University to offer 9-month beauty supply ownership program. The company also has online courses, materials, on-site consulting and full store opening services. By the end of 2012, the revenues of stores Beauty Supply Institute is responsible for opening topped $10 Million.

When asked of this accomplishment Robinson said, "Putting these revenues back into the hands of blacks and in urban communities is severely important to me. For the past 6 years, when aspiring entrepreneurs ask 'How to Open a Beauty Supply Store' or 'How to Become a Beauty Supply Store Owner', I wanted us to have every single answer for them. I am very pleased with my team. In this industry we have more answers now, than any question a client can ask us. I view the problems in this industry, and others that attempt to lockout blacks, as an Economic Hate Crime against blacks, thus making entrepreneurship the 21st century civil rights issue."

The beauty supply retailing sector is a $15 billion sector with 96% of its revenues coming from minorities, with approximately 3% of the owners being minorities. Robinson, a business and economics professor, has college-level experience in creating curriculums, lesson plans and writing books. This has contributed to the success and effectiveness of Beauty Supply Institute's training effort.

Robinson recently released his 8th book, Power M.O.V.E.: How to Transition from Employee to Employer (www.PowerMoveProfessionals.com). It focuses on transitioning from employees into business owners with no special emphasis on beauty supply retailing. He said, "Over time helping aspirers into achievers, I noticed that transitioning into full-time entrepreneurship left many with unanswered questions that often led to them retreating to a job. This book hones in on experiences and financial challenges I faced during my transition from, now defunct, WorldCom into owning an enterprise. Hopefully my business wounds can continue to a blessing the masses."

For media inquiries, contact Akua Boachie at mark@handlingbusiness.net

For information on Devin Robinson's newest book, visit www.PowerMoveProfessionals.com

For information on Beauty Supply Institute, visit www.BeautySupplyInstitute.com

To learn more about Devin Robinson, go to www.DevinRobinson.com

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