Wednesday, October 12, 2011

[A&F] Profit vs Morals


To increase sales of a certain brand, retailers have developed methods that immediately captures their consumers attention. By hiring a specific target group, they attract another certain type of group - consumers want to look like good-looking people. By hiring these attractive people, retailers can achieve their two goals: getting the job done, and gain more revenue. Employees directly represent the image of the company or retailer because they are the ones that are directly involved with the consumers. Retailers should have the right to alter their store’s environment or employees in order to profit or become more successful.
A business profits when a customer spends their money at their store. Several methods such as advertisements and their stores’ presentations all contribute subtle factors that can affect a customer’s decision to buy the product. There are two distinct types of method retailers can use to attract customers: indirect and direct interaction. Indirect interaction can be but not limited to advertisements. Advertisements such as billboards provide an image for the retailer and attract a consumer’s attention. Direct interaction is the interaction between an employee and customer at the store. The employee can convince the shopper to buy the products by offering discounts and substantial deals. However, employees are also people, and individual variety is random and broad. A business that profits off selling goods that affect one’s appearance, providing good-looking people can substantially alter their standpoint in their decision. Given certain conditions, retailers will profit based on the store’s employees environment, and price of their exclusive products.
By having specific employees, retailers will attract their buyers more easily. Would you be more likely to purchase products from a store filled with beautiful people or grimy people? Most employees are required to wear the store’s attire as part of their uniform. However, consumers will observe that the attractive employees look good despite what they are wearing. They may conclude that the store’s produce helps improve their attractiveness and be prompt to purchase products for themselves. Retailers will be more likely to higher attractive people over experienced ones. Although experienced employees are easier to manage, a less attractive person does not become more attractive over time. The physical appearance of a person is set in stone; however, their ability to get their job done is not. Training an attractive employee will eventually be more beneficial than hiring a less attractive but experienced employee. An attractive employee fulfill two roles in an employer’s perspective: someone who can get the job done and model for their consumers.
The environment also contributes consumers to be more prone to purchasing their products. Music, aroma, and type of clothing that the store has contribute to a consumer’s decision. Music plays a role in the mood of the people inside the store by providing a taste of modern culture. It subtly expresses of what the store considers “fashionably acceptable” and the music may appeal to mood of the shopper. Would you purchase items from a store that played music that you did not enjoy or a store that did? By providing a favorable and lively environment, people are more likely to buy their products. The smell of the store also provide the similar contributions to a shopper’s mood. Would you buy items from a store that smelled bad or good? The type of clothing presented and the manner in which they are presented also play subtle factors of a shopper’s final decision. Would you even enter a store that displayed unfashionable clothing in the front? All of these subtle factors ultimately contributes a more significant role in a shopper’s decision.
Many people are often swayed by the expensive price of a retailer’s products. They become reluctant to buy and the retailer will lose revenue. However, if a good-looking employee assisted and complimented the consumer, they would be more willing to buy their products. By having employees directly interacting with the customers, the customers are more aware of what the employees are wearing. They will acknowledge that how they present themselves is attractive with a taste of modern culture. The customers will more willing to purchase expensive clothing if the good-looking employee approves of what they are trying to buy. If good-looking employees are more capable of convincing consumers to purchase more expensive products, the retailer will profit more than it would with less good-looking employees. Good-looking employees will become the base of the retailer’s success.
Many people believe retailers’ method of hiring attractive people is immoral and wrong. They believe that they are discriminating people for their race, age and disabilities. However, a business should hire with the mindset of profiting and they should have the ability to manipulate the factors that affect their revenue. Why should they hire people that may squander their business? Should they hire people for the people’s benefit or because it is simply more “fair”? In a capitalistic society, employers should hire people who satisfy their requirements the best; otherwise, they should just randomly hire people. Would that be more fair? Maybe to the potential employees, but the business will not benefit as well as it should. Employers run their business, not the employees.
The type of employees an employer will hire will be the biggest contribute to the success of a business. A business that relies heavily on appearance should also have employees that provide such an appearance. With many people applying for jobs, retailers must decide who to hire and who not to hire. These employees will conduct direct interaction with the consumers and influence them to buy their products. These people will ultimately produce the image of the company and the business should have control over how they want to represent their business.  Although morals and discrimination will always be a pr oblem in the United States or any other nation, a business should have the right to hire the ones who are most qualified for their position. “A guy wants to go hang out in a store where he can see good-looking gals”.

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