This week on The Urban Business Roundtable, UBR Contributor Dywaine Betts Jr. talks with Tyson Toussant, co-founder of Return Textiles LLC, a developer, manufacturer, licensor and distributor of conventional and high performance, ecologically sustainable yarns and fabrics.
A native of New York City, Toussant grew up with a love for camping and the outdoors. He and childhood friend Tim Coombs started creating outdoor clothing and equipment. Their simple sketches eventually evolved into Return Textiles, which how produces fabrics for major brands such as North Face and Cole Haan. Toussant joins the Roundtable to share how he turned sketches of backpacks into a million dollar enterprise with supply chains all around the world.
Also on the Roundtable,UBR Contributor Samantha Pass speaks to master networker George Fraser, author of several books, including the now classic best-seller, Success Runs In Our Race: A Complete Guide to Effective Networking in the African American Community. More than 25 years ago he founded FraserNet Inc., a company with a mission of leading a global networking movement to increase opportunities for African Americans. Named by Black Enterprise as “Black America’s No. 1 Networker,” Fraser stops by the Roundtable to share how to achieve a networking breakthrough.
In my Alfred’s Notepad segment, I remind entrepreneurs to check out a valuable source of advice to help them grow their ventures, Small Business Advantage at BlackEnterprise.com. Hosted by yours truly, Small Biz Advantage is a video series aimed at giving you a competitive edge as you establish your business and position it for success, covering topics ranging from effective networking to managing your finances and more. Check out Small Business Advantage at BlackEnterprise.com/small-business-advantage.
And finally, every week on UBR, you’ll get motivation and inspiration from author and entrepreneurial icon Farrah Gray, a weekly wrap-up of business news from USA Today business correspondent Charisse Jones, our Patient Investor Report from Khoa X. Ho of Ariel Investments and key economic intelligence for small business owners from our UBR economists Derrick Collins and Rasheed Carter.
If you have a question you want answered or a topic you want addressed on The Urban Business Roundtable, connect with me at BE Insider, the social media network for people who are serious about Black Enterprise. You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook.
Alfred Edmond Jr. is the senior VP/editor-at-large of Black Enterprise and the host of The Urban Business Roundtable, a weekly radio show, sponsored by Ariel Investments, airing CST Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. on WVON-AM 1690, the Talk of Chicago. You can also listen live online at WVON.com. Check back each week for UBR Spotlight, which features additional resources, advice and information from and about the topics, entrepreneurs and experts featured on the show.
SAVE THE DATE for the 2013 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide, May 15-18, at Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Expect innovative sessions, high-powered speakers, and an early peek at the products, trends, and services you’ll need to stay ahead of the curve. Nominate your company or an outstanding entrepreneur in your network for our Small Business Awards! Also don’t miss the chance to enter our Elevator Pitch Competition to compete for $10,000 for your business. To find out more, visit www.blackenterprise.com/ec/