I Love BOBs

01/12/2026

What does “building the infrastructure for Black-owned storefronts” mean to you?

01/12/2026

For Black-owned storefront owners: what kind of back-end support do you wish existed when you first opened your doors?

01/06/2026

I still see posts asking black business owners to post their businesses so folks can share. I am down with whatever it takes to get your name out there. Ascend Co-op

01/06/2026

BOB Bucks are a simple idea with a massive impact: every dollar spent with a Black‑owned business strengthens the entire community. But here’s the part most people don’t know — that dollar doesn’t just help once. It multiplies.

That’s the 3:1 Rule.

For every $1 spent with a Black‑owned business, $3 circulates back into the community through jobs, local suppliers, neighborhood services, and reinvestment. It’s not charity — it’s an economic strategy.

BOB Bucks turn everyday purchases into community power.
They give customers a reason to choose local.
They give businesses a tool to drive loyalty and repeat spending.
And they give the entire neighborhood a measurable way to rise together.

BOB Bucks + the 3:1 Rule = a self‑sustaining economic engine.
It’s how we move from supporting businesses… to strengthening cities.

This is the heartbeat of the Root & Rise Network — and the foundation Ascend CO‑OP is building on.

01/05/2026

Ascend CO‑OP is the evolution of a movement that began with community, connection, and momentum — but grew into something deeper after learning a hard truth: community alone can’t keep our businesses standing. Black‑owned brick‑and‑mortar businesses need real infrastructure, real protection, and a system designed to help them grow, not just survive.

Ascend CO‑OP was created to meet that need. It is a structured, citywide ecosystem that unifies businesses, strengthens their visibility, increases customer engagement, and provides the operational support they’ve historically lacked. Through shared standards, cooperative marketing, beautification, loyalty systems, data insights, and merchant success coaching, Ascend CO‑OP builds the foundation that keeps businesses open, thriving, and connected.

Cincinnati is the first model city — the launchpad for a new kind of economic ecosystem. Ascend CO‑OP is coming to build, protect, and uplift Black‑owned businesses in a way that honors their legacy and secures their future.

04/10/2019

Any feedback?

There is much debate over whether a black owner should disclose that they own a business when they are black. Some people would contend that business is the one place that is not prejudice. Those people would say that if you provide a great product or service, you will attract diverse customers. I b...

02/02/2018

Brothers needing African wear for Black Panther Movie Premiere, check out ACAF a gem in West Philly!

01/15/2018

http://www.kolumnmagazine.com/2018/01/09/22-black-owned-alternatives-hm-shoppe-black/?undefined&undefined

It shouldn’t take something like this to remind us that there are MANY other Black owned fashion brands that make casual wear and that actually appreciate your money.