Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 January 1998 — Page 26

PAQED2

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3,1908

MOVERS Continued from Page D1

nication has been an industry long patronized but Blacks, but never dominated by Black businesspersons. Many Blacks own either pagers or cellular phones, which gives millions of dollars to the industry, but see none in return. Midtown Communications, a small Black-owned business on the city’s Eastside, is taking advantage of the revenue generated through pager repair and retail sales with an enterprising businesswoman at the helm. Michelle Mimms, Midtown’s owner, knows too well the stereotypes of the electronics and communications market, almost to the point where she would rather customers be unaware that a Black woman is doing the repairs instead of the typical white male. An ITT Technical Institute graduate, Mimms received her first electron-ics-oriented job because of her data entry skills. In a market so dominated by whites, she saw no other option but to venture into the business realm for herself. “In school they said it would be easy, but actually it’s very hard. Especially because I’m a woman,” said Mimms as she replaced parts for a customer’s pager. “Woricing with male customers is hard because they almost always think you’ll mess up. Getting people to believe you know what you’re doing is a task.' Although Mimms and Midtown have succeeded in breaking the barriers of the pager industry, the cellular phone market has proved to be a market closed to Black Hoosiers. To date there are no African American cellular communication businesses in the state. What is worse, according to Mimms, is the money put into the industry from African-American patronage. “They (cellular agencies) are extremely prejudiced,” said Mimms. “The phone business is only getting bigger and we make up a large part of that. But we don’t receive anything from it.” While cellular phones have quickly become the newest trend, Mimms believes pagers will outlive their fad status if technology continues its path. Basically, pagers are a status symbol to show you ’ ve got it going on. But unless they come up with something else, it won ’tdisappear,” she said. Currently, while Midtown is constantly hectic with customers in need, it remains a fairly secluded entity. With only four people on staff, including Mimms, they have formed a close knit family but with a money-first focus. As long as there is a need for pager repair. Midtown plans to be able to offer service. In the future, Mimms plans to teach her trade, to Black women. “What I want is to open a repair center, even a school.

with a lot of Black women, of course,” said Mimms. “But, I would like to stay somewhere that is accessible to the Black community.” Dwayv»« Tylar, owner, Magnlflsconts In the Bible, in the book of Exodus, God tells Moses to mix spices to make a pure and holy perfume, and Moses prospers from it. Dwayne Tyler believes that same scenario is happening to him, and he does not have to part the Red Sea to achieve it. Take Tyler for example. What started out as an idea has evolved and flourished with a multicultural following. Player, Player, Self Savior and Ya Better Ask Somebody are all scents exclusive to Magnifiscents, Tyler’s one-of-a-kind, Black-owned business on the city’s East side. No where else can one purchase exotic oils, lotions and incense, as well as get the most recent hip-hop information and latest musical releases. For almost two years, Tyler has catered to the community with his unique flavor of business. “I get a little of everything,” said the 24-year-old proprietor. “There are too many of the same type shops around here. This a unique idea. No one else does this.” Those stores, as Tyler observed.

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lice. Previous to that incident, he was dubbed a terrorist for his ex* ploits in a Warren Central talenj show in which he tore up a flag. | “A lot of people thought that ai this time I might be in jail or dead,’; he said. “I don’t look at those things as negatives, it was only negative from the media’s standpoint. Those things had to happen. It’s good thaf my name can be in something positive.” Currently, Tyler is sole proprif etor and handles all matters wii the store. In fact, Tyler calls three-year old daughter Queenasi his only employee, but located in strip mall with Jerry Wade’s Hof Cuts and Sam’s Name Brand Shod and Accessories, business continr ues to be an adventure. Eventually, Tyler plans to ex] pand to better serve customers over the city and beyond. He if content but no where near satisf ed as he looked over the store wony dering what could be done to im^ prove it. “I want this to grow,” he saidi “Eventually I would like to start k shop in Broad Ripple and out west.? An idea as unique as Tyler’ i will almost certainly not be exclu sive for long. In fact, Tyler predict i that soon, there will be stores simi lar to his throughout the city. How}ever, because of its unique blend ot products and large following^, Magnifiscents proves to be prepared. “This is what the prophets used to do, so if they did it I know I can’t go wrong,” said Tyler

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Cory Majors, owner, The Right Touch

range from a variety of clothing shops with non-Black ownership. It is this fact that Tyler believes the Black community must work against. “Everyone can come into our neighborhoods and set up shop,” said Tyler. “We need to put our own businesses in our areas, so 1 decided to do it.” The idea for a business such as his, as Tyler recalled, came from an obsession with fine scents. The Warren Central High School graduate began selling his creations from home while his mother and aunt sold his product in the workplace. “I used to wear Egyptian Musk,” said Tyler. “People started to ask me about it and so I just decided to take a chance.” That chance has evolved into a successful endeavor which the entire community is raving about, from Muslims, who buy Tyler’s products wholesale, to white youths from all over the city. “I don’t discriminate, money is money,” said Tyler. “Everyone that comes here comes back. I have not gotten any bad responses from anyone.” Business has not always been good for Tyler, in fact life has not dealt him what one would consider an ideal hand. The last time Tyler was in any publication, he was cited for run-ins with the po-

Ihm Right Touch As consumers take their freshly washed and detailed cars up and down east 38th Street, “The Strip; as is affectionately called by many of its drivers, businesses are beginning to take advantage of the numerous services those consumer^ spend hours looking for. , One business in particular, howjever, has taken consumers’ needs and consolidated them into one facility. Cory Majors, 27, proprietor of The Right Touch, a barber shop/ hair salon/ car wash smack in the middle of The Strip, gives customers the most for their money while you wait. Only at this one-of-a-kind facility can one get the nicest fades while having their cars cleaned from the inside out, even have brand new tires installed while waiting to get a touch up. Odd as it may sound. Majors believes he has found both the perfect connection of business and one of the best gimmicks. “Originally, I was just toying with any ideas of how I could bring more customers in,” said Majors, who shares his facility with five other barbers and one stylist who rent booth space. “Both the carwash and the barber drop feed off of each other. It’s like, if you have a flat tire and need a haircut, just

NEW Continued from Page D1 seller. Better educated buyers who understand the process make the transaction easier for everyone. The announcement by Lt. Gov. Joe Keman three weeks ago to further reduce the up front costs on the Indiana Housing “Bond Money” is definitely a plus for the affordable housing market The real estate market is growing, changing, and thriving. My hope for each of you is that you do the necessary research and take the proper steps to own a home of your own if that is your dream. So, if you had trouble getting all die family in the living room during the holidays and the Christmas tree was jammed up against die stereo, maybe you need to call somebody. During 1998 my goal as a columnist will be to continue with information I hope you find useful. As I’ve said before, the subjects I

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