The UK Takes To High-Tech BooksHoduri Abdul-Ali, president and founder of UK-based Pyramid Books book online store uk, is finding that black consciousness is growing more profitable. Mr. Abdul-Ali operates the first chain of black-owned bookstores in the city and possibly the nation specializing in books by and about people of African descent. The chain is expanding from two stores to six, even in tough economic times. "Because we find a need and fill it, and we stock material that emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and independence, we think we'll be all right," Mr. Abdul-Ali said, giving a nod to a traditional success formula of a book online store uk. Nationally, black owned-and-operated bookstores are benefiting from "a real renaissance in our people turning to their own literature again," said H. Khalif Khalifah of Newport News, Va., who runs a family-owned publishing company and a wholesale book outlet in Philadelphia. Pyramid stores stock 3,000 titles, including religious and philosophical tomes, Swahili language textbooks, economic development books and a heavy selection of children's books. It also offers videotapes, posters, games, dolls, greeting cards, periodicals and gift items. Recently Pyramid opened branches in Baltimore and San Diego. Mr. Abdul-Ali said he and his two partners "are looking seriously at franchising, so San Diego is kind of a test of an out-of-town location ."; Bias settlement As part of a $ 12 million settlement of a discrimination lawsuit, State Farm Insurance Co. is seeking former employees or job applicants who may have been rejected for jobs in South Texas because of race or sex. The giant insurer has run ads in Texas newspapers looking for blacks, Hispanics and women who were discriminated against by the company. It covers those who applied for trainee jobs or a promotion in State Farm's South Texas region. The settlement may also cover people who were not recruited by the company, and women and minorities who decided not to seek work at State Farm because they believed they would be discriminated against.; Banking on Olympics. An Atlanta minority-owned communications company is already following through on plans to cash in on the Super Bowl and the 1996 Olympics. Hi-Tech Media President Bodioh Wisseh Siapoe said his company plans to publish an independent directory with advertisements from companies throughout the area offering such products and services as accounting firms, restaurants, hotels and retailers. The directory, which Mr. Siapoe expects to be published this summer, will initially have a press run of 50,000 copies. |