Ex-BSI employee speaks on company’s business practices [Video]

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — Pauline McLaurin dreamed of opening her own beauty supply store in this Zephyrhills storefront.

“I always had an entrepreneurial type of mindset,” McLaurin said.

She thought she found the path to making her dreams come true when she found Beauty Supply Institute, a company that promotes Black business ownership, helping clients get their stores open from start to finish. But three years and more than $125,000 later, there’s still no open storefront. Now she says her reality is a nightmare.

Frustrated BSI clients

“I mean, it’s been devastating,” McLaurin said.

McLaurin says she’s received a few wigs and some shelves, but she doesn’t have the inventory to open the doors. Instead, this mom of six works at her child’s school during the week and at Dunkin’ Donuts on the weekend just to try to make ends …