We’re Open: Zee Black Beauty Supply

A beauty supply store in the Bronx figured out how to function as an essential business during the pandemic to help stay afloat.
The shutdown of nonessential businesses at the end of March left the staff at Zee Black Beauty Supply uncertain about their future.
"During the pandemic, we were scared like everybody else; on March 21 we were all told to close and we had to lay off some of our employees, and some couldn't come back and so it was just scary for everyone,” says Sandy Bennett, manager of Zee Black Beauty Supply.
Bennett did not let the scare stop her, instead, she applied to reopen as an essential business under executive order 202.6.
"We didn't think it was going to happen. So, when I got the email I was like ‘really! Like really,’” says Bennett.
The order allowed businesses to open if they sold essential items like masks, hand sanitizer and alcohol.
Bennett tells News 12 that their ability to open as an essential business brought them new customers during the pandemic when other beauty supply stores remained closed.
"So, we got a lot of support, and we got a lot of new customers that didn't even know we were here,” says Bennett.
The beauty supply store also offers curbside pickup for customers who do not feel comfortable coming inside. For those coming in to shop, the store added some new changes like written reminders to social distance and wear masks, and they cannot test makeup or try on wigs.
"Some of them have been upset about the wig try on’s. They want to try the wigs on. And I can't give them a date on when they're going to do that because usually you can try on about three to four wigs so they're a little annoyed with that,” says Bennett.
Bennett tells News 12 that despite not being able to physically try on the wigs, customers are still excited to come back in and shop. Zee Black Beauty Supply also offers discounts on all wigs and products for barbers and hairdressers.