ABOUT US
Joe Dickerson, Founder and CEO of The BOCL, and his wife Carolyn, are pictured as participating judges at the 17th Annual "Loaves & Fishes Taste of the Upstate 2023 Food Rescue Challenge'', held in Greenville, SC April 16, 2023. Joe is a retired Captain, Army Infantry, Ranger, Airborne, and Assault. He has one son, 3 step-daughters and two step-grandchildren (step is used only for legal purposes not for loving purposes). He is also a Connecticut Licensed Professional Counselor. Most important to Joe, is his designation as a Christian.
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After several years of preparation, trials and errors, the idea has come to fruition. Joe associates the BOCL origins when often hearing his mother say "it takes a village to raise a child!" (African Proverb). It started him on the path to dream about how does a village raise its children, how *can* a village raise its children?
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In many nations, within our global economy, two core business groups, statistically, have not had fuller access to the benefits of a more global marketplace.
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These two groups are businesses owned by people of color, and businesses owned by women. In a report published by the University of Georgia, Selig Center for Economic Growth, it outlines... (based on data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and other sources, the Selig Center estimates the buying power for African American, Asian American and Native American consumers, which has exploded over the past 30 years, up from $458 billion in 1990 to $3 trillion in 2020).
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In addition to increasing sheer size, their combined share of the nation’s total buying power increased from 10.6% in 1990 to 17.2% in 2020.) consumer buying power is more diverse than ever URL does not work https://www.newswise.com/articles/consumer-buying-power-is-more-diverse-than-ever.
The purpose of The BOCL, is to provide a site where any and all subscribing businesses can be found according to its business category, specialty, name or URL - by any consumer...anytime, anywhere, anyplace
The Business Of Color Locator (The BOCL) website is operationally constructed for several purposes:
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To provide an affordable advertisement site for businesses owned (51% or more) by women and/or people of color.
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To provide a resource that consumers can utilize to support businesses owned by women and people of color.
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To provide resources and information that will assist these businesses in achieving their business goals in the thought and planning stages to the opening of their business stage and beyond.
WORLDWIDE DATABASE
The BOCL business members become part of a worldwide database, that connects them with consumers who want to purchase their services and products.
LINK TO YOUR WEBSITE
Members' business profiles become part of The BOCL search database and The BOCL search action, will automatically link consumers with The BOCL businesses by category.
PROVIDE MARKETING TOOLS
AND SERVICES
The BOCL provides coordinated assistance for Business members to promote their unique business presence in the marketplace (fees may apply):
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Social Media Links
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Social Media Presence
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THE BOCL Social Media Platforms
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Analtical Information
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Interpretations
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Identifying and Developing Business Resources
MULTIPLE BUSINESS LOCATIONS
The BOCL can provide Member Businesses with the ability to list multiple businesses (fees may apply)
"ONLINE-ONLY" BOCL businesses also have the ability, to be noted in the The BOCL database and search...
THE VISION
The BOCL is dedicated to locating and connecting businesses owned by people of color and women with the buying power of the global consumer.
The goal of The BOCL is to galvanize people of color and women to support our businesses by having an online presence and ability to search for any type of product and / or service throughout the United States and globally.
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THE GREENBOOK
First published in 1936, the Green Book was the brainchild of a Harlem-based postal carrier named Victor Hugo Green. Like most African Americans in the mid-20th century, Green had grown weary of the discrimination blacks faced whenever they ventured outside their neighborhoods.
(click book to read more)
by: Victor H. Green
THE BOCL's primary goals are to provide highlighted businesses, owned by people of color and women, to have greater visibility and exposure to economic markets while increasing business revenue.