Barbering pros, it's May. And you know what that means, don’t you? It’s National Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month–a month that honors and celebrates the cultural and historical contributions from Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
These communities make up an enormous chunk of our population–in fact, the U.S. Census in 2020 says there are nearly 20.6 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in America.
These celebrations are meant to honor these communities and pay respect to all they’ve brought to the United States. And we’re willing to bet that as a barber or someone in the cosmetology profession, you’ve got your own take on this.
If you’re looking for ways to support these communities within the barbering industry, celebrate this month, and show your appreciation for the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities out there, this blog is the perfect place to start!
Tips for Supporting Asian American & Pacific Islander During National Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Write Reviews About Businesses You Love
Really want to make a big difference for your fave Asian American and Pacific Islander shop? Leave them a glowing and honest review. Here’s the deal–consumers want (and need) social proof before they make a decision about buying from a company. If you leave a review, you can stand by for an Asian American and Pacific Islander business you support; you’re doing so much more than just buying a product from them–you’re giving them your thumbs up so that others will feel comfortable doing so, too. Social credibility can be a huge boon to companies trying to build their reputation.
Be Intentional When You Shop
Next time you’re looking for a place to get your hair cut, or you want to buy a new product for the shop, start at the source to see who the owner behind it is. You’d be surprised what minimal effort it takes to determine which shops and companies have Asian American and Pacific Islander owners. Are you unsure of how to make these distinctions? Check out the company’s social pages, read up on online and neighborhood forums, and even check out apps like Nextdoor.
Work With the Asian American & Pacific Islander Communities
You don’t need to wait for May to show your support for these communities–this can (and should) be a year around appreciation. How can you show that appreciation? Working within these communities throughout the year. Explore the idea of making a committed effort to furthering and appreciating these communities. How can you shine a light on these communities throughout the year? How can you donate time, money, resources, and expertise?
Share About Your Fave Shops– In Person and On Socials
Do you have a shop, company, or product you love from an Asian American and Pacific Islander owner? Share that news with the world! Whether you’re shouting out your love in-person or on socials, make it known, say it loud, and be a constant source of support for those companies.
Build Partnerships
Don’t just purchase from these companies; build with them. Think about intentional ways you can build partnerships among these communities with fun ideas.
Can you invite guest artists into your barbershop to help them gain awareness? What about product partnership agreements with companies? What about community events where you team up with your favorite Asian American and Pacific Islander communities?
Sit down with the companies you’d like to team up with and brainstorm things that work for both of you!
So, what do you think about these ideas? Are you planning on employing any of them this month? How about throughout the year? It’s our hope that this blog has been helpful and eye-opening–that’s the point!
Have some ideas of your own? Let us know. Drop a comment in the reply section below and share how you’ll be celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in your shop and beyond! And don’t forget to subscribe to NAOB to keep up with the latest and greatest in the barbering biz.
