• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

May 18, 2021

Create and Sell Your First NFT With This $20 Crash Course

---

Lately, the internet has been talking nonstop about non-fungible tokens, more popularly known as NFTs. The artworld is constantly evolving, and now it has merged with the cryptocurrency scene to make digital art accessible to the general public on an open marketplace.

What’s so great about NFTs is that you don’t have to be a pro to start. A lot of people are getting into the market and finding their niche. You can also join in with the beginner’s guide on How To Create Your First NFT. Normally valued at $199, this guide is available now for just $19.99.

While an exciting way to diversify one’s portfolio, and work on improving yourself, working on an NFT and finding the best marketplace for it can be quite tricky for beginners, but Benjamin Wilson, an entrepreneur and market innovator, is on hand to guide you and make the process as seamless as possible.

RELATED CONTENT: NFT Platform Bitski Receives $19 Million Investment From Jay-Z And Serena Williams

Here’s a quick explainer on NFTs and how they work: these are digital assets that anyone can buy and sell like any piece of property, but in a non-tangible form. Basically, you can think of it as a certificate of ownership for collectible items. Anyone can make copies of the original item, but the trackable NFT is what gives the digital art value.

This beginner’s guide gives you access to 8 lectures with an hour of content for every day of the week. Following along you’ll find out more about NFTs, understand why you need one, discover the best option for you, create your first NFT, and eventually put it up for sale in a process called minting. With an instructor rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, Wilson will help you make a successful entry into the market in a short time.

The guide is available for 89% off the original price of $199, so you don’t have to break the bank to make an investment today. For $19.99, you can boost your creativity and discover new ways to sell your work to future collectors.

Prices subject to change.

• Business

by Derek Major

May 18, 2021

FedEx Announces The Launch of Its E-Commerce Learning Lab for Diverse, Small Business Owners

---

Global delivery giant FedEx has announced the launch of its E-commerce Learning Lab, a new program developed in collaboration with the Accion Opportunity Fund.

The program’s goal is to help diverse small business owners who are trying to develop and expand their e-commerce operations due to the coronavirus pandemic and the reliance on the internet during the pandemic.

The program will have a specific focus on minority and women-run businesses and will provide intense hands-on training to 150 small business owners across the nation through workshops and one-on-one training by e-commerce experts. Small business owners will also receive free technical support in creating and maintaining their virtual operations and stores.

That includes marketing, managing promotions, customer service, managing orders and fulfillments, and product photography support.

RELATED CONTENT: FedEx Appoints Its First African American CEO

“It is no secret that the pandemic has had a significant impact on small business owners, especially women and people of color. Through our new collaboration with AOF, we are helping to level the playing field and get these small businesses back on their feet, which is especially important as record growth in e-commerce volumes continue,” Brie Carere, chief marketing and communications officer of FedEx said in a news release. “With the launch of the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab, we’ll not only help individuals meet customer needs in new ways, but also provide comprehensive programming that will equip them with the tools to navigate through these uncertain times.”

According to Digital E-Commerce, consumers spent $861.12 billion online with U.S. merchants in 2020, up 44.0% and almost triple the amount from 2019.

The program is slated to run over five months beginning in September. According to FedEx, the timeframe will allow FedEx to support the program’s participants with holiday marketing and promotions as well as technical support in managing holiday orders.

Participants in the program cannot have a current online presence for their business, must produce and sell a shelf-stable, pre-packaged food product or non-food general merchandise, earn less than $500,000, and be willing to commit to full program participation. Those interested can sign up to be notified when the application goes live in June.

“Together with FedEx, we have the opportunity to help elevate the voices of entrepreneurs that often go unheard,” Luz Urrutia, CEO, Accion Opportunity Fund said. “By offering access to resources and opportunities and providing tailored support, we can prepare these communities for future growth and ultimately develop more equitable economic opportunities for a diverse range of businesses.”

In February 2020, FedEx named Ramona Hood as its CEO, the first Black CEO in the company’s history.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

May 18, 2021

Optimize Your Workflow With This Annotation App On Sale

---

In the workplace, you deal with all sorts of documents, both physical and digital. When it comes to taking notes, it’s likely that you opt for well-labeled documents as opposed to scribbles, as the former can easily be organized and reviewed for later use. But annotating digital files is easier said than done, as there are barely any apps that help you capture your ideas, communicate clearly, and stay organized at the same time. Of the few, Markup Hero is among the best.

Made for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chrome, Markup Hero is a screenshot and annotation tool that helps you instantly capture and share ideas through its screenshot app and image/PDF uploader. For a limited time, you can get a 2-year subscription to the software for 60 percent off.

It’s so much easier to get your message across on any image, PDF, or website with the intuitive annotation tools available on the platform. You can add text and highlights, insert lines and shapes, and even blur parts of the file with a few clicks. Editing tools are also built-in to help you alter colors and fonts, as well as move, crop, scale, and rotate elements. You can do all these on the fly, saving you tons of time and helping you maintain productivity.

To keep things organized, you have the option to add titles to each file and sort them into custom collections. And if you wish to share them with your colleagues, you can toggle markups as public or private, giving you total control of your annotations. “This is undoubtedly one of the best screenshot and annotation tools I’ve used. It’s my true hero without the cape,” raved one reviewer about Markup Hero. No wonder it garnered 4.7 out of 5 stars on Capterra.

Optimize your workflow with the help of Markup Hero. A 2- year subscription usually costs $120, but for a limited time, you can get it on sale for only $48 — a savings of 60 percent.

Prices subject to change. 

• Business

by Black Enterprise Shop

May 18, 2021

Learn Everything You Need To Successfully Secure VC Funding

---

Every business needs to grow, and sometimes, that means sourcing funding elsewhere to kickstart the process of scaling. Some companies opt for bank loans, while some take advantage of government grants and subsidies. But for businesses that aim big from the get-go, venture capital (VC) is the way to go.

Venture capital has always been one the most sought-after methods of funding for entrepreneurs looking to breathe life into their big ideas. It involves convincing investors or venture capitalists to invest large sums and take an equity position in your company in exchange for a healthy return on their investment. The whole process is challenging, but the benefits are worth the trouble. Getting backed by a VC adds prestige to your company and gives you higher chances of growing even further.

Attempting to get VC funding alone is a risk in and of itself. There are so many things to consider, including asking yourself if your company is ready enough to wow investors. You should also ask yourself if you managed to weather the storm of the pandemic and if you’re built to thrive in the new normal? Moreover, does your business idea service an unmet need in a niche market but has high start-up costs? Do you have tangible progress that can be showcased in a pitch deck? Do you have a plan for scaling at all?

To make the process less overwhelming, you can start by putting together a pitch deck. With this tool, you can put together important factors, like the market pain point you are solving, what progress looks like in terms of revenue and teams, how much you are asking for, financial projections, and of course, your vision. It may sound easy, but with all the factors that need to be included, there may be some that fall through the cracks. Luckily, NetSuite has a guide that will help you know how to tell your story the way it should be told, all while adhering to the 10/20/30 rule for building decks.

Once you have a solid plan in place, you can proceed with the next steps, like finding the best VCs, learning how to negotiate properly, and mastering how to close a VC.

NetSuite’s white paper Your Guide to VC Funding is your one-stop shop for learning what you need throughout the VC lifecycle so you can secure funding to bring your big plans to fruition.

What once included six African American CEOs in the public restaurant industry has now become zero as leaders work to diversify their executive boards.

Former Jamba Juice Chairman, President, and CEO James D. White expressed his disappointment in the steady decline of Black restaurant executives. “It would have been something for all of us to be proud of,” White told USA Today about being one of six Black restaurant CEOs in 2014. “But there were six. And now there’s zero.”

Despite people of color making up the majority of hourly employees in the restaurant industry, white people hold 83% of executive and 85% of board members positions, a 2014 report co-sponsored by the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA) found. But after the foodservice sector suffered terribly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the nation expressed its outrage over the police killing of George Floyd, advocates and industry leaders are calling for more diversity within the industry’s executive boards.

“It’s a great opportunity to create a better industry that’s more inclusive, that creates more opportunities for people at every level,” said Lilly Jan, a food and beverage management professor at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration.

As fast-food chains like McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell begin steps to diversify their executive boards, others are calling for more public restaurants to follow suit.

“This is not a one-year exercise. They need a five-year plan because they have to build a pipeline to train and recruit,” said Steven Davis, the former chairman and CEO of Bob Evans Farms, who is Black. “They’re going to have to roll up their sleeves and do the work.”

RELATED CONTENT: Being Unemployed Pays More Than Working At A Florida McDonald’s Full Time

Among the disparities are women being 52% of hourly restaurant workers while only making up just 29% of restaurant general managers, the MFHA found. Additionally, 31% of corporate directors are female, 23% of executives are women, and hold 17% of seats on company boards.

May 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that restaurant workers make an average annual salary of $24,540, while food service managers earn $57,820 and top executives make a yearly salary of $85,830.

“It’s just a closed system,” says White. “It’s who I know and who I’m comfortable with. So whether conscious or unconscious, the ultimate result is a less diverse leadership in the restaurant space.”

Now companies like McDonald’s and Yum! Brands, which includes KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, are spearheading initiatives to bring more women and people of color onto their executive boards.

“We will accept nothing less than real, measurable progress in our efforts to lead with empathy, treat people with dignity and respect, and seek out diverse points of view to drive better decision-making,” said Chris Kempczinski, McDonald’s president and CEO.

“We’re stronger when we have diverse people, voices and ideas at the table,” James Fripp, Yum! Brands chief equity and inclusion officer said in a statement.

Only time will tell if these popular fast-food chains stay true to their promises.

• COVID-19

by Derek Major

May 17, 2021

N.Y. Gov Andrew Cuomo Will Cancel Most Mask Requirements For Vaccinated Residents

---

On May 19, vaccinated New Yorkers will no longer be required to wear face masks in most settings after Gov. Andrew Cuomo aligned state regulations to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Gov. Cuomo made the announcement Monday during a news conference at Radio City Music Hall. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut coordinated their reopenings together. Cuomo added the end to the restrictions will encourage other city residents to get vaccinated themselves.

“We have to get back to life and living, and we have to deal with the way New Yorkers do it. We have to do it quickly and robustly,” Cuomo said. “Effective this Wednesday we’re going to adopt the CDC’s new guidance and regulations on masks and social distancing for vaccinated people.”

RELATED CONTENT: NYC Public Schools Will Shift To Remote Learning On Snow Days For 2021-’22 School Year

The coronavirus pandemic put the city to sleep almost overnight closing businesses, entertainment venues, and even Times Square. The state saw an average of more than 500 deaths per day at the height of the pandemic.

The deaths and the economic fallout of the virus led to an aggressive rollout of the vaccine. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio opened large 24-hour vaccination sites at Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, and the Jacob Javits Convention Center. He also opened smaller community-based sites at smaller venues such as Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn.

More than 42% or 8 million residents in the state are fully vaccinated putting the state No. 10 among states with the highest vaccination rates.

Residents who are either unvaccinated or immunocompromised are still required to wear masks in public and socially distance. That includes public transportation, nursing homes, homeless shelters, schools, health, and correctional facilities.

Private businesses can install their own restrictions on top of city and state guidelines.

Cuomo also announced the Tribeca Film Festival and New York City Marathon will take place this year.

• Business

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 17, 2021

Former Ralph Lauren Model Launches Line of Luxe, Seductive Fragrances

---

Chris Collins made a living for two decades as one of the faces of Ralph Lauren. He took the luxury experiences the brand is known to provide and put them into his own high-end fragrance line.

“To me, luxury isn’t a dollar amount. It’s a feeling,” Collins told Robb Report. “Working with Ralph Lauren taught me a lot directly and indirectly about luxury and branding. Ralph was never trying to sell an item, but more so an experience.”

He launched his perfume line in 2018 with the Harlem Renaissance collection that included three sophisticated signature scents titled Renaissance Man, Harlem Nights, and Danse Sauvage. Inspired by one of the city’s he calls home, he modeled the Eaux de parfum after the creativity and culture that came out of the era. He has since expanded his collection to include extraits de parfum priced between $125 to $275

“It wasn’t until I began working with the perfumers in Paris that I realized that parfums have levels,” Collins said. “I wanted all of my fragrances to be intense but not overwhelming. When you use great materials you can go to high levels and balance the sillage.”

Now the model and entrepreneur is able to merge the two fields with posts that show off his physique and charming good looks all while promoting his business.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by CHRIS COLLINS (@worldofchriscollins)

His idea was birthed during a trip to Paris where he opened up to a friend about his dreams of starting a fragrance line.

“I remember saying I would love to create perfume the way musicians play music,” Collins recalled. “My friend responded by explaining how close Grasse was and let me borrow their car to drive there and explore the options. I had no plan, just my ideas.”

Collins credits Grasse, the jasmine field commune located in the French Riviera that helped create Chanel No.5, for being open to his ideas despite being a newcomer to the industry. “They trusted me throughout the entire process and were the first to work with me to produce the Renaissance collection,” he said.

With a blessing from Ralph Lauren himself, Collins set out to make a statement in the luxury fragrance industry with scents that each hold personal meaning to him.

“Every fragrance and collection I’ve created comes from a very personal place for me—they all tell a story,” he said. “Most of my fragrances are unisex but generally appeal to those who live with imagination and appreciate a unique perspective. They come from all over the world.”

Now, after enduring the challenges that most business owners faced in 2020, Collins has a new collection on the way and plans to open up a boutique in New York City.

“I’m creating fragrances for those who love to feel luxurious,” Collin said.

The New York Police Department is not welcome at this year’s Gay Pride event and some gay officers find the decision disheartening. Officers were told by organizers to not to march, not participant, and not provide protection. It will be at least 2025 before the organization reevaluates the decision, WNBC reported.

“NYPD is not required to lead first response and security at NYC Pride events,” the group said, USA Today reported. “All aspects of first response and security that can be reallocated to trained private security, community leaders and volunteers will be reviewed.”

“This is not an end of the relationship but a start of a new conversation,” Andre Thomas, co-chair of New York City Pride told WNBC. “Our movement was a reaction to police brutality, so that’s the core of what our mission have been.”

The Gay Officers Action League (GOAL), said it has been a valued partner of NYC Pride, saying, the abrupt about-face in order to placate some of the activists in our community is shameful.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information John Miller called the shift “hurtful,” The New York Post reported.

On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he thinks the decision is a mistake, The Post reported.

“Look, I fully appreciate the extraordinary history of Pride in this city and I honor what Pride has achieved over the years, I think that decision’s a mistake,” de Blasio said. “I believe in inclusion,” he added. “And we’re talking about one of the issues is officers who are members of the LGBT community, wanting to march and express their pride and their solidarity with the community and their desire to keep changing the NYPD and changing the city.”

This turn of event comes as multiple groups and organizations across the nation decry state-sanctioned violence, cop killings and for state governments to defund the police.

Janet Jackson’s charitable efforts to celebrate her 55th birthday just earned $125K from her “Scream” music video outfit at auction.

Earlier this month the Grammy Award-winning singer announced her plans to auction off 1,500 of her personal items to donate to a children’s charity. Now following the three-day event hosted by Julien’s Auctions, the black “bubble” shirt she wore in the iconic “Scream” video with her brother Michael Jackson sold for $125,000, Rolling Stone reports.

Many of the items that were on sale sold for much more than was originally expected. Among the highest selling items include her “Scream” outfit that had a pre-auction estimate for $4,000 to $6,000.

Other items that exceeded auction expectations include Jackson’s Rhythm Nation tour jacket that sold for $81,250 with a pre-auction estimate of $4,000 to $6,000, her 1956 Chevrolet pickup truck that sold for $112,000 but had a $70,000 pre-auction estimate, and her 6X platinum plaque for Rhythm Nation 1814 that sold for $30,000 with a pre-auction estimate of $800 to $1200.

RELATED CONTENT: The Business of Entertainment: Reflecting on Janet Jackson and Rhythm Nation’s Legacy

Her “Pervert 2” t-shirt sold well over the pre-auction estimate of $1,000 to $1,500 for an astounding $19,200. The key earring that Jackson wore while performing at the Soul Train Awards in 1987 and on her 1990 Rhythm Nation Tour sold for $43,750, well over the $4,000 to $6,000 estimate.

Other items that had nothing to do with the singer’s music career also sold well over the pre-auction estimates including dolls and stuffed teddy bears that sold for $500 instead of the $100 – $150 they were estimated for. A drawing Jackson made of her older sister LeToya Jackson sold for $3,520 though it was estimated to sell for $400 to $600.

A portion of the auction proceeds went to the children’s advocacy group Compassion International. Ahead of the auction, the “All For You” singer displayed 20 pieces from the auction collection at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, Pix 11 reports.

For her birthday, the singer shared a photo of a chocolate cake that had a photo of her key earring displayed on the top. “I Luv It,” she captioned the pic while tagging Julien’s Auctions. What a meaningful way to celebrate a milestone birthday by giving back to those in need.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 17, 2021

Walmart, Target, Walt Disney World, Starbucks and Others Are Dropping Mandatory Face Masks Policy After CDC COVID-19 Update

---

The announcement from the Centers for Disease Control  & Prevention (CDC) stating that people who have received the full vaccination are not required to wear face masks has the world returning back to some type of normalcy. And with that normalcy, the general public is anxious to find out which retailers have already decided to relax the requirements of their face covering policies.

According to Yahoo Finance, these retailers have put out statements pertaining to their most recent face-covering policies:

Target said Monday that it “will no longer require fully vaccinated guests and team members to wear face coverings in its stores, except where it’s required by local ordinances.”

Walmart stated, “Unvaccinated associates must still wear face coverings, per CDC guidance. We are also reviewing whether masks may still be required for certain job codes for health and sanitation purposes and will share additional guidance soon. Some associates may choose to continue to wear masks, and as part of our value of respect for the individual we should all support their right to do so.”

Starbucks stated: “It is our responsibility to protect our partners and customers, and we are committed to meeting or exceeding all public health mandates. With widespread vaccine availability and the ongoing progress against COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is now recommending that fully vaccinated people can resume indoor activities without wearing a mask, except where required by local regulations or law. As such, facial coverings will be optional for vaccinated customers beginning Monday, May 17, unless local regulations require them by law. As we continue to ensure the health and well-being of our partners and customers, our restrooms generally remain temporarily closed to the public in stores where the café or café seating is unavailable.”

Costco: In Costco locations where the state or local jurisdiction does not have a mask mandate, we will allow members and guests who are fully vaccinated to enter Costco without a face mask or face shield. We will not require proof of vaccination, but we ask for members’ responsible and respectful cooperation with this revised policy. Face coverings will still be required in health care settings, including Pharmacy, Optical, Hearing Aid. Costco continues to recommend that all members and guests, especially those who are at higher risk, wear a mask or shield.”

According to Fox Business:

Trader Joe’s stated, “We will trust our customers and not request or require proof of vaccination.”

Walt Disney World Resort: “Please bring your own face coverings and wear them in all indoor locations, except when actively eating or drinking while stationary and maintaining appropriate physical distancing,” Disney World’s updated COVID-19 guidelines read. “Face coverings are optional in outdoor common areas at Walt Disney World Resort, but are still required upon entering and throughout all attractions, theaters, and transportation.”