I'm annoyed with "black businesses." I think they don't keep the "business aspect" of running a business in mind. To sell and remain successful, you've got to aim at everyone. They should have expanded their selection and made it more universal bookstore that also carries "black" books.

Ike, I totally 100% agree with you.

Barnes & Noble is a bookstore that happens to carry "black" books. There's nothing wrong with a niche market business, as long as it does'nt pander to the lowest common denominator. Filling the shelves with anonymous ghetto thug classics will certainly keep me away.

with all due respect, thats a load of rubbish. black folks are the only group that hate themselves so much they feel they have to be "universal" and dont support their own, at the same time the koreans have built an empire out of black hair care. Look at the at other ethnic groups with their own their own banks and radio stations that are growing have a the simplest research of business books emphasize the importance of NICHE products and marketing, and NOT trying to be all to everyone. black bookstores are failing for a number of reasons, including the wealth of black spending dollar has dropped, also the big online stores and now offer the "long tail/narrow niche have access to those customers.
to be "universal" you would have to compete on volume and price which takes an ENORMOUS amount of money. here in detroit, there are several black owned book stores, the one bookstore that tried to
appeal to everyone died a quick death. not saying all your businesses have to be in that niche but it IS a healthy niche to be in.

oh, sorry for the strung-together sentences:
"Look at the at other ethnic groups with their own their own banks and radio stations that are growing
by focusing on particular industries, and still have
in-home businesses districts where they buy/sell to each other."