| Hip hop accessories is a 10 billion dollar industry and | | | | "This market continues to grow despite the |
| growing. It involves posters, clothing, bling jewelry, | | | | recession," says Lenny Stein who owns over 5 |
| ringtones, and a growing and lucrative market of | | | | online hip hop accessory stores in Boston, Miami and |
| memorabilia and more. Until now, to make money in | | | | Kansas City. He plans to expand to the west coast |
| the hip hop industry you either had to know how to | | | | starting early next year, which will include the start of |
| rap, dance or write lyrics. | | | | his own affiliate sales program. |
| But now, thanks to the exploding urban accessories | | | | Many online hip hop accessory companies have |
| market and the internet, more teens and other young | | | | discovered they need more young people to help |
| people have discovered income opportunities. Most of | | | | market their products. Why? Because they not only |
| these opportunities didn't exist a year ago. Why? | | | | know the online landscape. Plus they can provide |
| Because the technology, the programs or even many | | | | valuable insights into the likes and dislikes of other |
| of the companies didn‘t exist. With | | | | young people they constantly talk with. |
| unemployment in the double digits in many areas of the | | | | Many of these hip hop accessory marketing |
| country, many teens have found themselves out of | | | | companies offer free training, sales tools and even |
| the traditional fast-food and retail job market. As the | | | | websites to help young people market their products. |
| saying goes, desperation is the mother of invention and | | | | Best of all their free to join, offering little or no-risk. |
| creativity. | | | | Most pay anywhere from 10-75 % commission |
| This has forced many teens to look for income | | | | depending on the product. If a person has a computer |
| sources on the internet. Many teens are joining the | | | | and an online connection they can be in business in a |
| many affiliate marketing programs on the internet and | | | | matter of days or even hours. The company handles |
| creating their own jobs by marketing hip hop | | | | all the customers service, shipping and billing. |
| accessories on the many social websites. "It's the | | | | Many smart teens and other young entrepreneurs are |
| best of both worlds, I like to be on the internet and I like | | | | quietly turning the tables. Now instead spending their |
| the culture. Plus, I can make a lot more money than | | | | money on hip hop accessories, they're using them to |
| working at a fast-food place," says one excited | | | | earn money. Many who have started in some of |
| Salt Lake City, Utah teen. | | | | these affiliate marketing programs have gone on to |
| Unknown to most, the lucrative accessories industry | | | | create their own products. |
| produces more income than the music side of hip hop. | | | | |