PINK PUMP Owner, Vincent Kirkwood Brings Positive, Powerful and Promising Changes For The Detroit Metro Community As A Young Entrepreneur In Retail
The most recent data presented by Small Business Research (SBA) revealed that Asians owned 1.6 million, African American owned 1.6 million, Hispanics owned 2.3 million and Native American/Pacific Island owned 0.3 million of the minority businesses in the United States. This data further indicated that the African American retail trade is 15 percent of the sales and receipt in the United States. PINK PUMP contributes to the African American retail percentages as a small minority business. Vincent Kirkwood, co-owner of the PINK PUMP brand, stopped by Quiet On The Set Magazine (QOTSM) to speak about his business and its purpose.
The most recent data presented by Small Business Research (SBA) revealed that Asians owned 1.6 million, African American owned 1.6 million, Hispanics owned 2.3 million and Native American/Pacific Island owned 0.3 million of the minority businesses in the United States. This data further indicated that the African American retail trade is 15 percent of the sales and receipt in the United States. PINK PUMP contributes to the African American retail percentages as a small minority business. Vincent Kirkwood, co-owner of the PINK PUMP brand, stopped by Quiet On The Set Magazine (QOTSM) to speak about his business and its purpose.
PINK PUMP is a high-end shoes, clothing, and accessory store with locations in a storefront in Bloomfield Hills, MI with future plans to open a second storefront in Detroit’s midtown district. This brand also has a strong online presence that caters to women who love fashion.
“PINK PUMP has a strong competitive advantage as having been known as a popular brand in metropolitan Detroit,” says co-owner, Vincent Kirkwood. “Unlike like other boutiques in metropolitan Detroit, PINK PUMP offers a premiere shopping experience. Patrons are able to participate in personal styling, PINK PUMP fashion shows, local celebrity shopping events, guest bloggers, and even online retail. The big picture is to evolve the PINK PUMP brand into a lifestyle brand that will be recognized nationwide.”
Kirkwood is co-owner with his wife, Kelly Kirkwood. The Kirkwoods are young, talented, and smart entrepreneurs. As a startup, the company was funded through the Kirkwoods’ personal savings and mentors who believed in the vision and goals of the company.
According to the Minority Development Business Agency (MBDA), to grow more minority owned firms to size and capacity, entrepreneurial education is the key to the success. Minority firms must be students and masters of entrepreneurship, which includes knowledge of mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, strategic partner ships, brand positioning and other training of growth in order to sustain growth. Vowing to give back to community, the Kirkwoods purchased the intellectual property rights of PINK PUMPS displaying their business acuity and entrepreneurial education.
When QOTSM asked about corporate social responsibility, Kirkwood was eager to explain the educational paths that led him and his wife to this journey. “As young role models for upcoming African American entrepreneurs who dare to dream big and live to see the outcome, my wife, Kelly, and I know we are blessed to have the opportunities to give back to our communities,” says Kirkwood. They use their educational training to create opportunities in the classroom collegiately and throughout the halls of elementary schools. K. Kirkwood is a former elementary school principal and often works with the community as a partner for events leveraging PINK PUMP brand to show support. V. Kirkwood graduated from Wayne State University (WSU) with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication and PR. In 2011, he received his master’s in Sports Administration from WSU. He teaches as an adjunct instructor at Baker College and WSU, teaching intro level marketing courses as well as sports marketing courses. He is on the board of directors for Art Road, a non-profit that works diligently to bring the Arts back into Detroit Public Schools. He also sits the board of trustees for the Coleman A. Young Foundation (CAYF). CAYF is a foundation for the former mayor of Detroit that offers scholarship awards to Detroit youth.
To top off the store’s online success, PINK PUMP has customers and subscribers that follow them through social media and purchase online through pinkpump.com. “Our strongest following is in Atlanta, GA and Cleveland, Ohio,” revealed K. Kirkwood in a previous interview. “Our intention is to host PINK PUMP pop up shops in major cities and we will start with those two states first.”
PINK PUMP brand is thriving and the best for this business continues to evolve. The brand owners’ commitment to the community proves that young African American entrepreneurs under the age of 40 continue to make promising strides for small businesses and their community as a whole in America.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Sinetra Bowdry is the CEO/Founder of Sint Communications PR Firm. This firm is Sint Communications is a dynamic and accomplished public relations firm designed to execute high-profile, national media communications efforts for esteemed clients and CEOs. Feel free to contact her via email at sintcommunications@gmail.com.
