NYC's Mercantile Mayhem: Artistic Press-On Nails, FTC Chair Lina Khan, Toxic Resilience, Thom Browne and How to Hire a Food Vendor
A newsletter about the survival of independent businesses in New York City, with a special focus on immigrant-owned, storefront retail and CPG enterprises.
Artistic Press-On Nails Small Business Alert
Never Have I Ever is a press-on nails company that collaborates with artists, co-founded by Susana Chen and Jess Wu. I spotted them at the Shoppe Object show last month and loved the nail designs and colors.
Fingernails are increasingly becoming an expressive stylish accessory. I went to an event a couple months ago and the woman checking me in had nails with 3-D attachments on top, a cashier at Trader Joe’s with snazzy long nails bagged groceries, all seemingly without a problem. However once, a woman at an ATM next to mine asked me to remove her bank card from the machine, her nails were too cumbersome.
Obviously, people who love elaborate nails are managing because expressive nails are spotted all over New York City. Never Have I Ever’s latest collaboration is with artist Machée Kelly, the Radiant Love collection features one of my favorite color combos: red, pink and orange. Never Have I Ever has many other designs including the famous I❤️NY. This design is especially meaningful to Chen, when she moved from Taiwan to the US with her family as a kid, they sold I❤️NY t-shirts in Chinatown.
The FTC’s Chair Lina Khan on Small Business vs Monopoly Power
How can small businesses flourish and entrepreneurship be encouraged, when massive conglomerates amass power often squashing competition, unless it’s a competing conglomerate? The supermarket chain Krogers wants to merge with Albertsons, which might be a good competitor for Amazon/Whole Foods and Walmart, but catastrophic for small regional supermarkets. Which is why the Federal Trade Commission is fighting against the merger.
Several weeks ago via Zoom, I listened to FTC Chair Lina Khan talk about protecting small businesses against monopolies and consolidated power. She spoke with Stacy Mitchell of ILSR and answered questions from small business owners. I think Lina Khan is remarkable, this Guardian article by Callum Jones highlights some of her accomplishments.
But don’t take my word for it, watch the conversation between Khan and Mitchell and her answers to small businesses owners’ questions here.
While I do understand the sentiment behind letting the market be governed by supply and demand without regulation—let the chips fall where they may—but unfortunately many people are ruled by greed. Greed can warps brains and makes all sorts of situations imposed on others justifiable, which is why we need the FTC. It’s mission statement reads, “Our mission is protecting consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices through law enforcement, advocacy, and education without unduly burdening legitimate business activity.”
Toxic Resilience
I listened to a conversation between Emi Nietfeld and Alissa Quart this past Saturday night at the Brooklyn Public Library. It was part of the library’s Night at the Library featuring multiple speakers and conversations about timely subjects. Quart and Nietfeld’s talk was called “The American Bootstraps Myth: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream”.
Their conversation touched on the obsession with self-reliance in the US. Calling someone “resilient” for overcoming personal or systemic adversity is the highest praise one can get. And those who ask help, whether it’s from family, friends, a community or the government, can be labeled weak. Yet Quart and Nietfeld noted all humans need, receive and accept help in order to survive, and the exaltation of self-reliance and resilience, can be toxic.
Many cultures besides the US have a stoic, even judgmental attitude towards those in need, but perhaps grit, determination, resilience, are glorified to unhealthy levels in the US.
I’m not doing their conversation justice, it’s best to read their books. Quart’s most recent book is Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream, which examines self-sufficiency, self-reliance and success in relation to the American Dream. Neitfeld’s memoir Acceptance chronicles her path so far that includes foster care, homelessness, attending Harvard and working at Google.
One of the more eye-opening nuggets I learned, was about Horatio Alger, the 19th-century author famous for the overcoming adversity, rags-to-riches oeuvre, featuring young boys. Perhaps you’ve heard of Ragged Dick. Since the name Horatio Alger is now synonymous with overcoming adversity, there is a Horatio Alger Association that gives scholarships and awards in the name of “promoting the American Dream”. Well, it turns out Horatio Alger was a creepy man. Please read Quart’s Rolling Stone excerpt to learn who Horatio Alger really was.
Storefront Retail Photo from The Archives Appreciation Post
I came across this photo I took of designer Thom Browne for the New York Observer many moons ago. Browne was just starting his luxury apparel business, his clothing is known for its postal worker meets school uniform look. Browne’s flagship store remains in Tribeca, but there are now multiple shops around the globe with marble and metal surfaces, florescent ceiling lights and venetian blinds. And a symphony of grays.
If his name sounds familiar, Michelle Obama wore one of his outfits for the second inauguration and Browne is currently the Chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In 2018 Zegna bought 85% of the company (according to the Thom Browne website it’s now 90%) but Browne retains creative control.
Hire a Vendor Program Launched by Street Vendor Project
Wouldn’t you like to have this tamale at the ready for guests at your next gathering? Street Vendor Project officially launched their Hire a Vendor Program, a streamlined process to hire one of their vendors for an event. SVP vendors specialize in cuisine from Latin America, the Caribbean, South Asia and North Africa, among other other regions.
I happen to be on Crosby Street last May and stumbled across a raucous street party honoring the architectural historian Rosalie Genevro who was stepping down from her Executive Director position at the Architectural League of New York. Several venders were selling tamales and sure enough, they were from the Street Vendor Project. For those who don’t know, SVP, commandeered by its fearless leader Mohamed Attia (this is an oldie but goodie NYT profile by Rachel Wharton) is an organization that helps to protect and promote some of the city’s tiniest micro businesses.
SVP’s vendors have also worked with MoMA PS1, Peloton, New Economy Project and the Office of the Bronx Borough President, among other companies, organizations and institutions.
Opportunities & Happenings
Applications are open for the Whole Foods Local and Emerging Accelerator Program (LEAP) for emerging brands. The application deadline is April 19, those accepted into LEAP will be announced in July.
Brooklyn’s 2024 PowerUP Business Plan Competition Virtual Kick-Off Orientation on March 25. This business plan competition is for Brooklynite entrepreneurs who can win $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 and five merit winners get $1,000 each.
What is a certified Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise aka M/WBE? Does certification serve a purpose? Yes, it does. M/WBE certification allows businesses to be eligible for particular grants, state contracts and can waive or reduce various fees, among other benefits. Learn about qualifying and applying for certification and the benefits during a breakfast workshop in Elmhurst, Queens, on Wednesday, March 27. It’s free but you have to RSVP.
9:30 am – 11:30 am
Bulova Corporate Center Cafe
75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Elmhurst, Queens. Looking at Google maps, the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave subway stop, E, F, R lines, is the closest. It’s 8 long blocks away, but there are many amazing shops around the subway and en route; leave time to meander.The list of this year’s Queens Night Market vendors so far looks amazing! This global food festival occurs every Saturday night during the summer (with one pause do to the US Open) starting in April, applications are still open. This link will tell you everything you need to know about being a vendor.
Adding to the list of New York City food markets looking for vendors: The Bronx Night Market, Uptown Night Market and Brooklyn Night Market.
The Biomimicry Institute’s Ray of Hope Accelerator program focuses on nature-inspired startups. The six month program is geared to help startups with solutions for environmental and social challenges. Applications are open until May 3.
Food and agriculture startups anywhere in the world can compete in the Grown-NY startup competition. Three million dollars in prize money is awarded to seven winners, the first winner is awarded $1 million of it. Applications close May 15, 2024. There are restrictions and winners will have to have its primary headquarters in the Grow-NY Region, which is Central New York, Finger Lakes and Southern Tier.
Sponsorship
I plan on keeping this newsletter free by getting sponsorship from several organizations, which will be clearly stated, I will keep you posted. Some of you have paid, thaaaaaaank you so much! (If you are interested in being a sponsor, please contact me: ninarobertsnyc@gmail.com). Please feel free to forward to others.
Another interesting and informative newsletter from fabulous Nina Roberts
Wow, chock full of so much interesting information!