OLAMIDE OLOWE ACQUIRES BREAD: A POWER MOVE THAT WILL RESHAPE BLACK BEAUTY
A New Era of Black Ownership
Olamide Olowe, founder of the groundbreaking skincare brand Topicals, just made a bold business move — acquiring BREAD through her new holding company, Cost of Doing Business. The company is built to acquire and scale culturally-driven brands, with BREAD being its first major acquisition. This signals a shift: from being a founder of a single brand to becoming a power player overseeing a portfolio. It’s a model that mirrors how corporate giants operate — but this time, it’s Black-led and community-focused.
Shifting the Narrative
For years, Black women have been the tastemakers and trendsetters behind beauty — but rarely the ones pulling the strings behind the scenes. With this move, Olamide is changing that. She’s not just part of the industry — she’s restructuring it. This isn’t just a win for her. It’s a win for what’s possible when we own the narrative and the business.
The Long Game
Global beauty conglomerates like LVMH and Estée Lauder have grown their empires by buying and scaling promising brands. Olamide is now playing that same game — but she’s rewriting the rules. With Cost of Doing Business, she’s intentionally building a house of brands that centers culture and community. This is long-term wealth and power-building in action.
Why Acquisitions Matter
Acquisitions are more than a headline — they’re a business strategy rooted in ownership, scale, and long-term vision. By acquiring BREAD, Olamide isn’t just expanding her reach; she’s gaining full control over the brand’s future — from product development to retail strategy. It sets a precedent: Black founders don’t have to exit or sell out — they can scale through ownership.