For the owners of longtime businesses, there’s always room for growth and always the opportunity to learn new things.
Theodis and Lenora Williams are the owners of Distinque’ Gentleman and Heavenly Creations Salon and Boutique, both located at 117 S.W. 6th Ave. Lenora Williams also operates Sixth Avenue Ballroom, which is next door to the retail shop.
Distinque’ Gentleman began business in 2016, while Heavenly Creations has been in business for more than 20 years with Lenora Williams beginning her venture at home.
In light of Black Business Month and highlighting the significance of Black businesses across the nation, the couple shared their perspectives on being minority business owners and the obstacles they have faced.
‘Understanding you can’ and gaining clientele among many challenges
Theodis Williams said the first challenge in being a minority business owner is having the confidence that you can run a business, because often it feels like the odds are against you.
“You can have a desire to do something,” he said. “You can have a plan to do something, but then you have to step out and do it. And that’s when you really start to run into the challenges.”
He wanted to start a men’s clothing store in the early 1970s, but as time passed, so did his dream. Then in 2016, he purchased clothing through Lenora Williams’ boutique and told her it was always a dream of his to start a retail business.
Lenora Williams said the biggest challenge at the beginning of her career was gaining clientele and working out of her home when she started.
“It worked out,” she said. “Because clientele, I did build it. That made me able to move outside of my home and come to downtown Topeka.”
The Williamses operated throughout most of the COVID-19 pandemic, without any assistance from government agencies. They did have to draw from their retirement savings to keep their businesses afloat.
Representation in the community is important for others to be inspired
Engineering entrepreneur Frederick E. Jordan and John William Templeton, president and executive editor of eAccess, founded Black Business Month with the goal to raise awareness of the challenges that Black business owners face. They hoped to empower those business owners across the country.
Empowering others is something the Williamses have always wanted their businesses to do.
“There’s just so many stereotypes when it comes to our minority business, so you have to break through those barriers or those glass ceilings,” Theodis Williams said. “And a lot of that has to do with understanding your passion. Every culture pays close attention to members of that culture. What are they doing? Are they excelling? What are they investing in?
“And it is wonderful for people to see and be able to identify with someone just like themselves.”
Ask for help and find the resources you need to operate smoothly
Lenora Williams said she encourages young minority business owners to find the proper resources to operate smoothly.
“There’s lots of resources available now, more than it was when I started from the beginning,” she said. “There are resources, we just don’t know.”
Among Black business owners, 46% say they’ve faced issues accessing capital, among other challenges; 38% don’t have a relationship with a lender or bank; and 21% don’t know where to apply for capital, a Forbes report showed.
“Come to me or those of us that are in the business,” Lenora Williams said. “Ask questions. Don’t be afraid. Because that’s how I learned.”
The Williams also encourages young and older Black business owners to find resources with the Greater Topeka Partnership. Theodis Williams said it has great resources available.
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Black businesses have always been around and continue to grow
Lenora Williams said Black business have always been around in Topeka and surrounding areas, but today, they are growing more than before.
The first Black-Owned Business Directory for Shawnee County was released in early August 2022 through Go Topeka. It includes the latest contact information for most of Topeka’s Black-owned businesses in every industry.
“Black businesses have always been here to pick,” Lenora Williams said. “We had the Little Wall Street Tulsa. Right. And the Black Wall Street. So, we’ve always been here.
“It’s just coming back, bringing it back.”
Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT.
