Desiree Rogers, Chief Executive Officer for Black Opal Beauty

On the latest Building Black Biz podcast, Lite FM's Helen Little is joined by Desiree Rogers, the Chief Executive Officer for Black Opal Beauty where they talk about how Desiree got started in the beauty industry and how the company is explanding their corporate footprint for more people to discover the Black Opal brands. In partnership with @DriveToyota

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Thank you for joining us on theBuilding Black Bis podcast. I'm Helen Little
and today my guest is Desiree Rogers. She's the chief executive officer at Black
Opal LLC. Welcome Helen. Itis so nice to have you here.
I'm so nice. It's so niceif you two have me here. And
I am a fan of these cosmetics, but I want to make sure I

(00:20):
have this right. Is it alsoa part of Fashion Fair? No?
So Black Opal LLC owns two brands? Okay, many times people don't know,
like Esta Lorder owns like one hundredbrands, right, So we thought,
why can't a black beauty business owntwo brands? And so we own
two brands. We own Black Opaland we own Fashion Fair. Wonderful.

(00:42):
And it's so interesting to me becauseFashion Fair is an iconic brand that I
grew up with and to me,that was the epitome of elegance and beauty.
When it came to make she isthe queen, Yes, yes she
is, and we have totally putthe crown back on her head. Amen.
And in Black Opal I just discoveredon my own years ago, and

(01:06):
it was being in a drug storeand seeing something that looked like me and
I'm like, I like this.Yes, Well, black Opal was originally
created by a chemist, his blackwife, and a black dermatologist, and
that their whole idea was to bringincredible products in at an affordable price.
And I discovered black Opal when Iwas doing a lot of television. So

(01:26):
it's like this hidden secret with makeupartists that because it performed so well on
TV and television I said, TV, television, movies, TV shows,
and so it was their hidden secret. But now we're trying not to have
it be a secret and for everyoneto know about it and everyone to be

(01:47):
able to find it, which iswhy we've enlarged our footprint and we're at
CVS Walmart also you can actually trythe products their testers there and Target,
I said, And anyway, sowe've expanded the footprints so that more people
can find it. How did youget involved in the beauty business in the

(02:07):
first place, you know, thatis a very interesting question. I think
that for me when I worked atJohnson Publishing. So I worked at Johnson
Publishing and they owned fashion Fair,right, and so I as I was
doing my work, I spent alot of time at the fashion fair counters,
you know, and I thought,boy, these counters are magic,

(02:28):
not because the products were so good, but just the inspiration that I felt
that it gave to women like me. We would talk about everything. I
mean, before you knew it,we were off lipstick and talking about our
husbands or our kids, are ourcareers. And so I feel that through
beauty, we really have an opportunityto certainly have people want to look the

(02:49):
way they want to look. Sothere's no cookie cutter approach to beauty.
That's the first thing. You mightjust be a mess garret girl or lip
gloss girl, or you might wantfull glam. We're there for you.
But the other thing that's so importantin this beauty industry is Black Americans spend
six point six billion dollars in beauty. Guess how much of that goes to
black business? Yes, how muchof that I'm spending. Yeah, Well,

(03:13):
but here's here's the key, andhere's my message today. My message
today is as minorities, we shouldbe a little bit of shame because point
five percent of that six billion isgoing to companies that are owned by black
people point point five point five.And so I always say, let me
see, we're about eighteen percent ofthe population. I hope that you have

(03:37):
eighteen percent black in your bay.I do. I don't have anything in
my bag as you mentioned the mascaraand lipgloss. Girl, you've got lip
gloss. I have lip gloss on, So I do have something. We
have black gloss. I'm going toI don't. We got to turn that
because this is an opportunity for usto create wealth in our own communities.

(03:59):
We are spending both sizeable dollars andthat money is not necessarily going back to
our communities. And that's what Iwant to change. You know. I
read a beautiful quote from your website. Inner strength is the deepest source of
beauty, and I thought to myself, that's so important, especially coming from
someone in the beauty industry. Howdoes that even translate from the inner beauty

(04:25):
to the business of beauty. Howdo we help translate that message? So
I think that's one of the thingsI saw at the counters, you know,
is this whole idea of women comingto a counter to you know,
create a look. And like Isaid, everyone had a different look.
And for me, it's not aboutme selling you twenty different things. You're

(04:47):
a glosswoman, that's great. Ijust want to make sure that gloss is
black owned that you're buying. Igot it, you see what I'm saying.
And so I think for me it'smore than cosmetics. That's only an
appearance. But we know when youfeel like you look good, whatever that
look is for you, we knowwe do better. We are better with
our kids, we're better at ourjobs. We're better at handling whatever adversity

(05:12):
is coming our way. And believeme, it's coming our way. Every
day, something is coming our way. I mean, I'm here in New
York today, I couldn't believe youknow, the darkness from the fires,
you know, I'm you know so, and it's not controllable. And so
the more we can feel in controlof ourselves and you know, looking the
way we want to look and feeling, and that could be even skincare you

(05:33):
know many of our products have SPF, you know, fifteen and twenty.
We have to protect our skins.So it's more about self care than painting.
Although I love to paint once ina one any I mean, it's
just fun. It should be fun. It shouldn't be this chore, and
it shouldn't be a chore to findyour color. You know what I mean,
it shouldn't be many black women,you know. I know for myself,

(05:56):
it's like I don't want to goto the makeup conduct because are they
gonna have my color? Is itgonna match? Right? Am I gonna
have to go through some horrible torture? You know? Are they gonna say,
oh, well, I'm not surewe have your color? You know.
Now they talk about all this diversity, but still I can go to
the counter and they don't have mycolor because we have all kinds of undertones
in this country, and so itshould be an easy process, not an

(06:18):
anguished process. It's so interesting.I think back to my mother wearing makeup
and it was never her color.Oh, and I'd never I mean,
it's like I just thought that wasthe look like all of these church women
and they had this pasty stuff.I know, But you know what things

(06:39):
have changed. Yes, looks havechanged. You know how people want to
look. I mean you can looklike you just hardly have on anything,
and you have on something. Yes, it all really depends on what and
how you want to look. Andso we don't disparage anyone. If you
want a heavier face, we're allfor it. If you want just the
light dusty, a nice cream.You know, we're all a nice moisturizer.

(07:01):
We're all for that. But havingthe choice of a company that not
only puts out a product that lookslike me, but is made by people
and Creans are testing our dermatologists isblack. All of our products are really
confronting the issues that we have,whether that be oiliness, hyper pigmentation,
fading of spots, large pores.We are thinking about us, basically us

(07:26):
every day we experiment and play withthe makeup. I mean, you know,
you know what I mean, it'slike all about us. It's not
kind of about us some days itis. We're always black, right,
you know, there's one thing Iknow that I'm always going to be a
woman, and I'm always gonna beblack. Yeah, And so that is
just part of our DNA and thehistoric start of these businesses. They've always

(07:48):
positioned themselves that way. So peopleare talking about diverse, We've always been
diverse. I mean, black Opalis twenty nine years old. Fashion Fare
is fifty years old this year.And so we bought fashion Fare out of
bankruptcy. You know, it couldbecause it fell on hard times and I
just felt This is an American iconicbrand that was developed for women that look

(08:09):
like the two of us. Aremen that want to wear fashion Fair,
We're good with that. Are peoplethat have decided, you know, not
decided. We're good with that too. Yeah. And so the whole idea
of it not surviving and it notbeing able to grow and be a part
of the next generations, you know, and not to be able to keep
creating wealth in our community when atone time it generated fifty five million dollars

(08:33):
which was given that generated generate morethan that, but gave fifty five million
dollars to charities like HBCUs and differentsororities, et cetera. We want that
back again. We actually just startedthe Fashion Fair Spellman Scholarship. I love
that. Yeah. We got togive back. We got to develop young
women in the jobs that we havewithin the company. We partner with people

(08:54):
that look like us. We've gota husband and wife team that are our
legal u a company that we workwith. You know, We've got an
it guy, he has his ownbusiness black man, you know. So
we really want to create wealth acrossthe board as we grow these businesses.
And there's no reason why we needto be frozen out of that beauty industry

(09:16):
and not own a billion dollar companyourselves. Doesn't have to be just me.
I mean, I need a lota lot of investors that are black.
It will be amazing to get tothat level. But we can generate
the money is there in terms ofthe consumers expenditure. So you don't have
to create the marketplace. We justhave to convince people that, hey,

(09:37):
guys, let's take a look atsome of the black companies and let's,
you know, buy some of thoseproducts. What would you say is the
hardest part of this business? Listen, I don't think in recent times it
has been done, okay, youknow, and so there's there's newness to
that opportunity. When Eunice Johnson started, there was newness to the oppor tunity.

(10:00):
She got it done. They hada major magazine that was able to
advertise the product, and guess whatelse, they didn't have a lot of
competitors. Today, it's very avery competitive industry and because of that,
it means that different different people needto be spoken to in different ways.
Different generations want to see different things. That's expensive, you know, I

(10:22):
am only looking at TikTok. I'msorry, I'm doing Facebook. Oh wait
a minute, you're not at mylocal department store. Oh wait, I'm
sorry, I don't. I wantto just order online. But how do
I try that virtual? Try on? What's that? You know? Oh?
You know. So there's all theseways that are expensive to connect with

(10:43):
people, and so one of thethings that we're working on now is just
the marketing, the custom consumer awarenessand making certain that that awareness is coming
through in a way that is thatyou hear it. We hear things very
differently. I mean, I couldhave some movie star and you'd be like,
I hate her, I'm not buyingit, you know, you know,

(11:05):
or I just think they paid herto do that. So it has
to be authentic, it has tobe real, it has to be in
finding those people as not the easiestthing, and so there's a lot of
complexity that goes into just talking aboutthe product. I mean, we're excited.
We're gonna be down at Essence ina couple of weeks with both brands

(11:26):
separately separate activations. I'm so proudto say that we partnered with Big Friday
and Black Opal, and so wehave a collaboration coming up with her that
will be launching at essence, andso we're gonna do the Big Frida Beauty
Bar. It literally is beauty,but it's also a bar you can get
your drink on too while you're downthere. I'm sure there's gonna be some

(11:50):
some like Squiggle, you know.I mean, I just can't I can't
wait to say I'm from there,so I kind of know it. And
then we've got a big surprise forSapphora where we're bringing New Orleans culture into
the Sephora store to celebrate fashion fare. Oh, that's wonderful. You talked
about the amount of spending power thatgoes into cosmetics from just the black community.

(12:16):
Do you think that the beauty industryhas a role to play in closing
the wealth gap in terms of notjust your company, but for all of
us as people who are interested inbeauty. I do. I think that
there is an opportunity for this industryto open the doors, and they're doing

(12:39):
that. We've got the fifteen percentpledge where company retailers have signed up and
said we want to bring in fifteenpercent of our suppliers, we want them
to be black owned. That's great, and I love that, and I
am all for that, but Ialso want us to think about keeping those
fifteen percent or and giving them thegrace and the benefit and maybe some financial

(13:07):
capital to be able to grow thosebusinesses once you get in that space,
because the last thing I want fifteenpercent, Well how long did we stay?
Right? Are we there in twoyears? You know? Or are
we not there? Do we have? Has our shelf space been shrunk down
because we couldn't quite get to thenumbers that we were told we had to

(13:28):
be at in order to keep thatspace. You know, because as a
people, you know, you maythink, oh, you know the two
largest beauty retailers. I'm going totell you the numbers are low in terms
of where we buy our beauty products, where we African Americans buy our beauty

(13:52):
products, and so it's going totake us a while to get the numbers
that may be a white majority firmhead, especially when our people are over
there shopping on buying that instead oflooking at us. Okay, so then
it's really gonna take us a longtime, right, And so I just
think all of us just have tothink through this and figure out you should

(14:15):
have the best products for you.No question. But you should also be
giving black companies a chance. AndI often say to my you know,
colleagues that own companies, black beautycompanies, ladies and gentlemen, we're fighting
over a pecan pie and we're noteven looking at the sweet table. Why
are you fighting me? I meanyou should hold hands and make certain that

(14:37):
pecan pie is perfect because I gotmy grandmother's recipe. I'm sure you got
your aunties out. But why arewe not looking at the whole table?
Yeah, And if we join together, it's just gonna be so much better.
And so that's what we're pushing for. And so you'll see more black
owned companies do things together and partnertogether so that we can just have a

(15:00):
are your footprint, so that wecan all stand together and ask for what
we need to grow. So it'sreally about creating some scale here, yeah,
and not just always being the tiniestpeople in the room. I'm sick
of being the tiniest. Oh yes, I can. I own some big
space. I want to own somebig space. And we are big space.

(15:22):
The money's there, Yeah, weare, It's there. And so
you know, today I'm doing whatevernumber of scholarships I want a hundred times
of those scholarships. I want tocreate some millionaires in the process. You
know, we can't do that ifwe don't invest in our own communities.
That's true, you know, andthat that's you know, people are all
desertate. My daughter goes, areyou trying to sell something? I'm like,

(15:45):
you know what I am? Iam, you know, because I
haven't always been this way, butat this point in my career, I
am like totally this way. PeopleI would know, I would roll my
eyes. I'm like, I don'tlike that. I don't want to do
you know, but it we reallyneed to think this through and I think
the impact could be just tremendous.And I know when we show up in

(16:07):
spaces, when we do events instore in spaces, there is almost an
awe as they see people come innot only just come in to play with
the makeup, but purchase and soall the way around. It is a
lesson in understanding that we do havemoney and we do, you know,

(16:32):
have purchasing power, and so weare a group African American men and women
that should be paid attention to.Absolutely. You know, it's interesting as
I'm listening to you, it makesme wonder how has your time working at
the White House and in politics helpedyou in your current position with some of
these things you're trying to do.Well, I'm probably a better negotiator,

(16:55):
that makes sense. I think Ipay more attention to the the subtle signals,
you know. I mean I whenI went to the White House,
I was such a business type person, you know, and not that i'm
not now, but I was like, if we do this right, I
mean, I'm used to a meritocracy. Yes, if you do it right,
you're gonna win. Right, themoney's gonna come in, You're gonna

(17:18):
be worried, you're gonna get yourpromotion, you're gonna get to you know
whatever, you know, assignment,You're gonna move ahead. That was me,
you know, and I work likea crazy person, but that was
that was me. Now I understandthere's some other subtle things that need to
happen, like people need to likeyou or at a minimum respect you.
Yes, at a minimum, Andthat takes a lot of time, right

(17:44):
to get those relationships. To haveyou understand me, I understand you.
You feel comfortable saying whatever you wantto say to me. So sometimes I
mean some of my newer team members. No, I'm just gonna say that
out front. You got something tosay to me, just say it.
Let's not be because I'm not thatgirl. And so let's get an understanding
right off the bat of who Iam and how I work, because it's

(18:07):
gonna be much easier for all ofit. And I want the same from
you, you know. So thatwas something I didn't really focus on as
much, okay, until I gottenthat job where it is so political,
you know, so like who's withthem? You know, and all that
stuff, and I was like,sitting at my desk doing the events,

(18:27):
I was like, the event wasfabulous. I know it was fabulous.
I know it was the best Governor'sBall that you guys have ever seen because
you guys stayed all night and usuallyyou leave at nine thirty. So I
knew that. But what the workI didn't do was all this, like
you know, the intenevering imminly becauseI just I had to sleep at some

(18:48):
point, you know, but youknow, you gotta put that time in.
And so I now at this juncture, am time trying to put the
time in in building outside relationships soat least people know me. So if
I do have to leave and dosomething because I'm such a still a meritocracy
girl, that's just desire. Ofcourse she had to leave for thirty minutes

(19:11):
to do twenty emails. We're goodwith that. We still love her.
Not she's ignoring us. Where doesshe go? Who does she think she
is? You know? All thatnegativity? I know, I know,
and I think I'm sad. Blackpeople we're the worst at that. We
got to like tear somebody's tear itdown. You know. My mother said,

(19:32):
if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything, and I
agree with her. I do too, you know. So you have these
brands though that I have got tobelieve that are liked and respected. So
now it's just more about exposure.Um, what are some of your favorite
brands, I mean favorite items within? Know what my favorite brands, I
know what your favorite brands are,but what what items within there are your

(19:56):
favorites? If if if you hadto impart on me, the thing that
I gotta walk away with, well, you're a lip gloss girl, so
you know you gotta try the lipteasers by Fashion Fear. Okay, you
know, and so it really dependson what you like, for me,
I don't go anywhere without my Honeyand Harlem lip teaser. Okay, I
love my Honey and Harlem lip teaser. So I absolutely love that. And

(20:19):
I think for me a person onthe go, I really do love the
poor Perfecting cream from Black Opal becauseit's very forgiving. I'm not a makeup
artist. I can throw it on. As someone said to me, you're
not using your own poor perfecting.I'm like, well, let me see
that. And she's like, girl, this is the kind of stuff.
If you got to do a zoomcalling, you have two minute boom,

(20:41):
you're done okay, And she demonstrated, and I said, you are done.
Gosh, I saw what you lookedlike before. Look amazing on screen.
I was like, in five minutes. So those are two you know
that I personally love, especially whenI'm on the road. I mean,
I don't like to have a lotof stuff, but you need to look
polished and you need to look youknow, decent, you know, especially

(21:03):
if you're representing a beauty company,you need to try a little right.
And so but I think, youknow, really, all of our products
are really good. I would encourageeveryone to take a new look at fashion
fair. You know, people willsay to me, that's my grandmother's brand.
You know, I don't think youknow, she looked a little red
and all of these kind of things. And my point is this is an

(21:25):
entire new line. It We tookall the knowledge from fifty years of doing
makeup for black and brown people,and we said, Okay, let's take
that knowledge. Let's work with adermatologists, let's work with one of the
best in the business, makeup artistsin the business. Sam Fine, yeah,
and let's create a line that wecan all not only be behind,
but be proud of, you know, as the epitome of what makeup should

(21:49):
look like, feel like, bepackaged like, be displayed like for people
of color. And so when youwalk in that store that they call a
gondola, which is really just thestand where the makeup is, you're gonna
be proud. You're gonna be like, huh, they didn't skimp on this.
Look at that go lettering, Ohmy goodness, you're gonna feel good

(22:11):
about it. And we should feelgood about it. We built it over
the years, yes, and we'regoing to continue to build that and leave
that for the next generation to create. What I hope will be a billion
dollar makeup company across you know,a collective of companies that are owned by
people that look like me. Soit's interesting. My perception of fashion fare
was that this is what elegant,forward thinking, even wealthy black women wear.

(22:37):
So I had a very very andyou're all right about that. But
we you know, over time,with that younger generation, we have to
show them, yes, you knowthat, hey, I know you're in
love with experand we were missing inaction because by the time they were growing
up and seeing everything, we werekind of missing in action. So they

(22:59):
missed that period. You know,there's a number of people that can retell
it, but you know how Iwant to see it myself. And so
we missed a period, we misseda generation, We missed some years,
and then we missed about twenty yearsof people seeing how great you know,
how that queen walked into that room, how those shows. There's nothing like

(23:21):
this, you know, I mean, I think, is there anyone like
Eunice Johnson? I don't think so. The woman had, you know,
twenty five pieces of Louis Vaton luggageand trunks and jewelry, and no one
is who is that person? Today. I mean, we have a lot
of performers. It's not about themoney, it's the style, the elegance.
It's sitting down with Eve Saint Laurent, sitting down with you know,

(23:42):
Oscar de Laurenta, you know,making a decision that these are the fashions
that I want to bring to notjust America, but to all of the
small towns in America. No onehad that sense of style and was so
imaginative in sharing that style. Imean, for goodness sake, her intern

(24:02):
was Andre Leon Talent, right,I mean, give me a break.
I mean, you know. Sothat's that's what the DNA is of a
fashion fair, and we're going torecreate part of that experience when we're down
in New Orleans, because we're goingto be partnering with the the Indians down
there that's been years creating these magnificentcostumes that they parade in at carnival.

(24:26):
Sounds like we also need to tellUnice's story to be honest with you,
yes, um, so that peopleknow where a lot of what they're passionate
about has come from was born ofabsolutely, you know, because there's family
trams. We don't support our ownhistory yeah, you know, and we
don't know it. We don't knowit, and you know, we just
we we're telling it now. We'retelling it now, Yes, and I'm

(24:47):
thankful for that. So what areyou most excited about in terms of what's
next for both Fashion Fair and BlackOple You talked about essence, but what
else is coming for you? Youknow, I'm most excited about airing,
and we've been out on the road, will continue to be out on the
road the rest of this year,and so going to some of the smaller
towns. Yeah, and being ableto converse with people that know the brands

(25:10):
but also are experiencing the brands forthe first time. There's nothing like grandmother,
mother and daughter coming in. Imean, I was recently in New
Orleans and a mother brought her youngdaughter fourteen first prom She could have some
gloss and a little bit of blush, but just to see her mom just
light up when she saw, youknow, her young daughter getting her first

(25:32):
gloss in her first blush, becauseFashion Fair is where she got her first
from. Those kind of stories youjust can't recreate. People talk about their
first kiss, they talk about,you know, all these beautiful things.
So I'm very excited about being outin the field and meeting more people.
And we will be launching at Macy's, oh wow, in the summer.

(25:55):
And so I'm very excited about rejoiningwith Macy's. They were a supporter from
the very beginning. So it's almostlike coming back home and really, you
know, relaunching the brand in Macy's. And so you will see us in
Macy's at the end of the summerbeginning of September. And so I'm very
very excited about that as well.That is wonderful. That is wonderfulness,

(26:17):
especially you know here in New York, Macy's is like a part of the
crown jewel of retail here in thistown. Yes, yes, so we're
we're really excited about that. Soyou know, that's it. We got
a few We've got a few othertricks up our sleeve, more new products
and and things like that. ButI would say, you know, that's
the thing I'm most excited about.And people will see us more, you

(26:40):
know, they will see us activatingmore. And so a lot of people
still don't know that fashion fare isback, or they don't know where to
find black Obal, you know,where is it? You know, I
have if you've excited me, Ikind of want to go home and throw
out everything I have all years skinsbeautiful. So you're doing something, thank

(27:02):
you very much. I don't Ilove when someone puts makeup on me.
I don't think I'm good at puttingit on myself. Rye, that poor
perfecting. Well that's why you gotme interested, because I'm like, oh,
that's not my strength. So I'lljust you know, a ponytail and
some lip gloss and I'm out thedoor. But now you've kind of piqued

(27:22):
my curiosity and I and I alsoimagine the listener's curiosity about what we can
do on our own, right.I think sometimes we think it's really difficult
and it's so hard, and youknow, and it it couldn't It can
be really hard if you're what areyou trying to do? You know,
let's start simple. And so oneof the things we were just out in

(27:44):
LA last week, and we havehow to videos that will be coming out
that are literally fifteen and thirty seconds. Oh great, you know, and
so you're able, you want afresh face to do this and this,
and so you know, I thinkthat's a fun thing too, is you
know, let's from the experts andlet's pick what face we want and then
look at the video. I'm excitedabout all of this, I really am.

(28:07):
I'm like, I've learned some newthings, I've got some new products
I'm interested in, and I havea new mission. You know. My
new mission is where I'm going tobuy and who I'm going to buy with,
knowing that I contribute to such alarge number, right, um,
and across I mean, I'm gonnaI'm gonna make this statement across consumer products.

(28:30):
When you buy a car, areyou looking to see where's the black
dealer? When you buy insurance?Are you looking to see where is the
black insurance you know agent? Youknow, because they're still all going to
the same you know, lall statesand this is one I used to work
for all states. I had tosay them, you know, but you
know, you know what I'm saying, Are we really doing that? Doctors?
Lawyers? Are we really We usedto have to do it, And

(28:53):
so I think there's like in theback of our heads we had to do
this. Now I'm free, Ican do whatever I want. Well,
let's be free with us. First, you know, let's follow the money,
right and so I think that youknow, as as a black person,
I am much more in tune nowwith following the money because there's a
lot of shakedown going out there.There's a lot of hey, look at

(29:15):
me, come over here, lookat it, and you know what,
and we're not paying attention. Andthen we wonder, how why don't I
have any money? Right? Well, because you're not paying attention. Yes
you're paying somebody else. You're notpaying attention. So next thing you know,
your your pockets are empty, andyou really you maybe have gotten things

(29:37):
that you love, but I don'tthink you really thought through this well where
you can to be supportive of makingcertain that money comes back to our community.
And we know a large amount ofthe money that we're spending with companies
that look like us come back toour community. Yes they do, and
that's what we have to be involvedwith. And I'm gonna be doing that

(30:00):
until the day I die. I'mlike, that's it. I found my
mission. I've found my task.It just happens to be in beauty.
I think I can do this.I think I can do this here in
beauty. And you also have anew organizations at One Brown Girl, where
you are literally helping other people dothis as well. Yes, that's my
own little personal LLC one brown girl. But I also do a lot of

(30:25):
investing in candidates because I think theother piece of this is whether we're giving
our money fifty dollars twenty five dollars, we take it off for the candidates
I raised money for. But yougot to pay attention to who is leading
this country, particularly in the bigcities. I did an event for Mayor

(30:45):
Adams. I've done it. Ihelped Karen Bass who's out in Los Angeles.
She recently, you know. One, I'm very supportive of the mayor
new mayor in Chicago, Brandon.I mean, we have to pay attention
to who's running these cities. AndI really believe the governing starts local.
I agree, you know, Ithink it really starts local. And so,

(31:07):
you know, I was lucky enoughto be early on with someone who
happened to be our first president,black president, so very early on,
supporting him in his races, youknow. And so I think that you
can't underestimate, whether you're making phonecalls or given money, how important it
is to be involved and who's runningthe nation, you know. And so

(31:30):
that's the other piece of this.So there are two things here. As
a minority. I'm going to tryto buy at least fifteen percent black,
and I'm also going to make certainthat I do something. I choose my
candidates and I do something to participatein the election process. Not every candidate

(31:51):
has to be black, but thecandida definitely has to understand what black people
need to be successful in this country. If all of us could do that,
I'm telling you, this ball wouldturn so fast. We would.
We don't know our own power,though, but that's part, you know,
that's part of the how this worksand keeping us like you know,
we don't really know our own power, and we were distant from one another,

(32:15):
but we start those hard conversations.We start by having conversations like this,
Yes I'm not I'm not scared anymore, and sharing conversations like this with
other people. That's right, that'sright. I said it, I mean
it, and you get it done. I'm joining you. Yes, thank
you so much, Desire, it'sbeen a pleasure having you on the Building

(32:36):
Black Business podcast. Desire Rogers thechief executive officer at Black Opal LLLC,
and I've enjoyed this conversation let's havemore. Yes, let's do it.
Oh And if people want to findout more about black Opal or fashion Fair
or how to follow them on socialmedia, websites give us all their connect
us. So black Opal is onInstagram, and so as fashion Fare.

(33:00):
So Black Oh Boys, Black Opal, Beauty Okay spelled out, and fashion
Fare is simply fashion Fair spelled out. And we have where we're on Instagram,
but we're also on dot com.And so if you're interested in seeing
us in person, seeing the productsin person, simply go on the website
of your choice. Lest pretend it'sfashion Fare, go on fashion fare dot

(33:22):
com and you will see a storelocator. You put your zip code in
there and it will give you allthe stores near you. And you can
also sign up for our email.Right that'll pop up as well. And
that means what are you going toget? All the deals first, all
the new stuff. You'll find outwhat's kind of going on. If we're
having an event a shade matching,we love to do the art of shade

(33:43):
matching, let's find out about thatfirst. You can sign up if you
want to come and be with ourexperts and have them shade match you.
My shade is I am I alwaysI am honey Child, but my shade
is honey Child. Nice. Butthat's the other thing. We don't believe
in numbers for people, so allof the names are really fun. Oh

(34:04):
good, Yes, I can't waitto find out what mine is. Yes,
I think, yeah, I thinkyou might be between fresh caramel.
You might be fresh cara, freshcaramel. That sounds good, I know,
doesn't this I love I love caramel. Are truly topazed? You could
be too, one of those You'resomewhere in that golden rain. Yeah,
yes, well this has been wonderful. Yes, well, thanks for having

(34:27):
me. Thank you so much forbeing on, and I hope someday you
get to come back. Yes,me too,