For the last 3 Saturdays whilst shopping on my local High Street, there has been a war of attrition going on between protesters and a local Supplier. Juliet's in Harlesden started off with one small shop providing black women with their hair products, weaves, wigs etc. Now Juliets have managed to take over all the other suppliers on what would be described as 'the crown' if you are a local and my age....(its within a few yards of Crown Hill Road).
Local Success I hear you say.......no it means that if you dont buy from Juliets then you have to walk down to PAKs at Craven Park, and when your doubled parked in front of Blue Mountain...(the local shop for buying all your west indian and african staples) and keeping an eye out for the traffic wardens...(another local custom)
Juliets Hair Suppliers in Harlesden has cornered the market on supplying hair products to black women in Harlesden and the surrounding area, now since its one of the largest black communities in London/England this is quite a profitable market.
The problem is....all customers are treated as prospective thieves.....for every 2 members of staff that watch the entrance and follow you around the shop there is one available to actually serve you. Very often the member of staff doesn't speak English too well and doesnt know anythng about the product.
Now I know that west indians are known for their loud and vibrant personalities but disrespect is the same in any culture. When you are spending your hard earned money, you expect not only value for money but also to be treated as a customer not a theif....
I am pleased to say that whilst some black customers have shopped in Juliets over the last 3 weeks, the shops has gone from full to the brim with customers...to being mostly quiet, with hardly any customers.
3 Weeks a go I was desperate for some black hair dye...as the greys were taking over my scalp at an alarming rate...but I still walked the extra distance to craven park and went to PAKs where I not only picked up my hair dye, some moisturizer but also a few ripe plantain for my Sunday breakfast too.....
The message is, whilst a black woman will pay a high price for her Weave.....
.....Respect for your customers is still the way to build a profitable business.....
