Abstract:
John and Cynthia Ham were expecting their first child in 1997. Being unable to find black-themed images to decorate the nursery, the Hams had an artist paint a mural featuring African images and black angels. Reaction to the decorations led the Hams to believe they had a marketable idea. After advertising their product, ethnic-themed wallpaper borders, on the Internet and at trade shows, their Huntersville-based company, Cultural Hangups, Inc., signed a contract with Lowe's in 2004, to carry two of their ethnic-themed wallpaper borders. Ham says the contract will be worth between $3 million to $5 million over the next two years.