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FEATURED ENTREPRENEURS
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SALONVOICES, INC.
As of July 2003, Salon Voices became a 501(c)(3) organization,
SalonVoices Community Connection, Inc (SVCC)
WWW.SALONVOICES.org
Founder/CEO: Norma Doneghy Anderson
Headquarters: Silver Springs, MD
Year Founded: 2002
Now Ladies, I know men will find this hard to believe, but if you�re anything like me, you spend a
significant amount of time at the beauty shop. You already know that - more than likely - you�ll
be spending at least 4 or 5 hours waiting in a salon to get your hair done. Allotting a full
Saturday morning/afternoon to this process is not uncommon, as any Sistah can tell you. It�s
not as grueling a task as it sounds though, Fellas. That weekly or bi-monthly grooming ritual
has transformed in to a sort of female bonding that � dare I reveal the secrets of the �Twist �N Curl�
Sisterhood � has become a relaxing, enjoyable one. This unlikely venue hosts a plethora of conversational
topics, romance updates (or lack thereof), what�s hot and what�s not, and so on. As you�re about to discover,
a brilliant mind has found a way to transform this type of impromptu conversation into a means by which to
influence our community.
By
Brook Brandon
SALONVOICES, INC. serves as a forum that not only addresses needs in the field of ethnic hair care, but
prompts discussion of other key topics: business service satisfaction, economic independence and
empowerment, and computer literacy being just a few. Her website boasts contents ranging from health
awareness issues (Asthma, HIV/AIDS, Child Insurance options, Medicare/Medicaid) to parenting tips with a
featured segment called �Homework Help�. As a former teacher whose students came from distressed neighborhoods,
it�s been an ongoing desire of Ms. Anderson�s to expose minority communities to a litany of pertinent topics.
Also, as the granddaughter of an HBCU graduate, she posted a section devoted to Historically Black Colleges &
Universities on her site. Her grandmother attended Miles College. Norma�s zeal for increasing public knowledge stems
from her extensive involvement in women�s organizations. She has taken �salon chair chats� to a whole new productive level.
The mission of SALONVOICES, INC. is �to champion excellence in business service performance while providing a
platform for bridging the digital divide within homes and institutions�. The company�s goal is three-fold:
- Online Validation of Excellence in Service Performance
Since 85% of African Americans are salon consumers, Ms. Anderson has drafted a Customer Satisfaction
survey as a method to give feedback to businesses in the beauty industry. Understanding the needs of
the customers by using this confidential assessment is beneficial to both the business owners as well
as their clientele. With a small staff of 2 people supporting the company, the tedious
tabulations required to report the progress is one challenge faced by SALONVOICES, INC. - but, somehow,
it seems to be only a temporary glitch in their motivation for achieving this goal. There is one of me, software
for the client survey is in development and to be completed by 9/1/02.
- Online One-Stop-Access to Service Program Content
SalonVoices, Inc. promotes online purchases because it�s a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to shop.
One-Stop-Access, refers to SalonVoices' developing wide array of content
that is focused on black individual, family and community needs. It addresses this communities need for reliable
and responsive health, parenting and financial management services.
- Online Reduction of the Digital Divide via Placement of PCs in our homes and institutions
The Digital Divide remains a pressing concern to the African American and other minority communities.
By encouraging the placement of computers in salons and homes, SALONVOICES, INC. hopes to bridge the
digital divide by providing opportunities for people to purchase inexpensive PCs. �While I would be the last to deny
that there is a segment of the African American community who cannot afford PCs, there are many who can but choose
not to. If parents can buy Nikes and TVs for their kids, why can�t they put that money towards buying them a computer?� Norma says.
Computers are tools that can give minority youth the advantage that other students have, thus a means of
leveling the playing field, so-to-speak.
Her collaborations with various types of businesses span all angles, touching on everything from
financial consultation to the arts. Ms. Anderson�s already established a working relationship with
Office Depot. Preal Haley, a representative with American Express, will provide monthly commentary
on basic budgeting and portfolio building. She�s even enlisted the support of a playwright � a
University of Maryland professor � who will draft a segment on the arts for the company�s website.
Other partnerships include those with NetBuilders, an Atlanta-based company that sells refurbished PCs
for $295. Also, Nubonyx, another company with Atlanta ties, serves as the ISP provider for SALONVOICES,
INC. and offers internet service and web entry for $19.95. Lucien Freeman, who�s head of Nubonyx, offers
rebates to Ms. Anderson and salon participants in SALONVOICES, INC.
There�s certainly a bright future ahead for this venture! The five target cities to serve as an upcoming beta
test for SALONVOICES, INC.�s expansion are: Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, Philadelphia, PA, New York City, NY,
and Richmond, VA. Norma�s long-term vision for her company includes the eventual plunge into real estate,
accounting, and law. By continuing to build its partnerships, SALONVOICES, INC. is expected to have an even
stronger impact on making the Digital Divide a thing of the past.
By posting flyers, presenting brochure racks, and stimulating discussions of all kinds, Black salons
and barber shops have always been pivotal in disseminating information on pressing issues to African
Americans. SALONVOICES, INC. is the millenium�s new way of continuing that tradition into the boundless cyber
community.
For more information on SALONVOICES, INC., please check out www.SalonVoices.com or email Norma
Anderson at Norma@SalonVoices.com.
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