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in Il,e P o r t l a n d © b s c r u c r
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December 15. 2004
Vender Finds Ethnic Niche
Frustrated at trying to find what
she thought were sim ple ethnic
items, one enterprising entrepre
neur has stum bled upon a niche
in the $60 billion catalog indus
try.
Y uw anda Black, founder o f
E th n ic H o m e D e c o r.c o m and
E thnicV endors.com , published
the first Ethnic Vendors Holiday
Catalog this November.
Black feels strong that in order
to capture this emerging base with
surging spending power, more
com panies must first m arket di
rectly to ethnic consum ers - and
that means introducing products
and services that appeal to their
culture.
Her catalog fea
e x p la in , w e seek
tu res an arra y o f
p ro d u c ts and s e r
p ro d u cts — from
vices that appeal to
hand painted wall
an ethnic audience,
hangings im ported,
but the product it
from Uganda to a
self doesn’t have to
b a rb e c u e g rillin g
be ethnic.”
rack.
“One day, I hope
Asked if the cata
to be able to find
log targets African
m udcloth pillow s as
A m ericans e x c lu Yuwanda Black
easily as I encounter
s iv e ly , Y u w a n d a
floral designs. So,
states, “I am asked that question I’m doing my little part to make
a lot — and the answ er is no. To that happen,” she said.
Beautiful Year for Usher
Tickets $35 to $55
Call 1-888-MAIN ACT or
TicketsWest at 1 -800-992-TIXX
It's Better at the Beach'
1-888-CHINOOK
www.chinookwindscasino com
i n o o k Y v /i n d :
CASINO RESORT
(A P)— Usher dominated
the Billboard Awards last
week from the moment he
opened the show by drop
ping from the ceiling until
the evening’s final tally,
when he counted up 11
awards to lead all contend
ers.
Usher’s awards included
artist of the year, R&B/hip-
hop album of the year for
“Confessions" and Hot I (X)
single of the year for “ Y eah!” Usher dom inates the 2 0 0 4 Billboard
fe a tu rin g Lil Jon and M usic Awards in Las Vegas. (AP photo)
Ludacris.
R&B crooner Alicia Keys picked
“2004 was beautiful for me,” up seven awards duri ng the award' s
Ushersaid. “2005— there's more in show, which was held at the MGM
store.”
Grand hotel-casino. Kanye West,
The 26-year-old singer opened who has a leading lOGrammy nomi
the show with a blast, dropping in nations, picked up four Billboard
on cord to perform “Bad Girl” awards, including rap artist o f the
while a bevy of beautiful women year. 50 Cent won a new award, cell
clad in white parkas, briefs and snow phone ringtone of the year, for “In
boots gyrated around him.
Da Club.”
a