Summary 7 2 Final Project Milestone Three Strategy and Key Performance Indicators.docx OL-501 7-2 Final Project Milestone Three: Strategy and Key Performance Indicators OL-501-X3076 Business Foundations A basic strategy for American Apparel to get out of

American Apparel In this milestone, discuss what the company needs to do to change direction and what the success will look like. Complete the following: 1. Based on the environmental (SWOT/TOWS) analysis you conducted on your chosen organization, what strategy would you recommend to move the organization in a new direction? The strategy should be a high-level explanation of what issues you uncovered in your analysis and how to improve the organization’s market and financial performance. The strategies I would recommend to assist American Apparel to move the organization in a new direction would be to hire a Marketing Director to revamp their advertising and marketing techniques. A Marketing Director is in charge of leading the company’s marketing efforts by developing marketing strategies, providing guidance by developing and implementing brand strategies build awareness for the brand, develop price strategies to help maximize profits (boost sales) and market share. AA can start by utilizing free social media platforms, have discount stress and pop-up shops. The company can focus on utilizing the free social media platforms like, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest to advertise sales, promotions, and locations of where their discount stores and popup shops will be. This offers great avenues to communicate with their consumers regarding sales, promotions, consumer trends, continue with brand recognition and offer them to broaden the market to focus on. Macy's, for example, is active on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, and a blog designed to be read on mobile screens. The company uses its Facebook site to provide fashion tips and news about new products and to communicate with its 14 million-plus Facebook fans (Pride, Hughes, & Kapoor, 2017). Another way to entice customers to purchase or to further brand recognition is to offer free shipping or to offer a percentage off or a certain dollar amount off their purchase. Macy's also maintains multiple Twitter accounts to highlight special in-store events, announce discounts and clearance sales, and recruit college students and graduates for internships and job opportunities (Pride, Hughes, & Kapoor, 2017). Starting a pop-up shop can serve as a hybrid for businesses looking to ease their way into a new niche while minimizing potential losses. In fact, launching one is approximately 80% less expensive compared to opening up a traditional brick- and-mortar location, according to StoreFront (Retail Touch Points, 2018). Based on my analysis I would offer these strategies as a great way to improve their overall advertising and marketing techniques as American Apparel has suffered man problems: poor money management, in debt, high loans rates, bankruptcy, competitive market, weakening of brand recognition and CEO accused of sexual allegations. 2. Identify the key functional organizations that will be involved in implementing your chosen strategy (marketing, operations, accounting, sales, HR, etc.). What role does each functional organization play in implementing the strategy? The key function organizations that would be involved in implementing the strategies would be the marketing, operations, accounting and sales departments. As a Marketing Director holds ultimate responsibility for the organizations marketing activities and oversees the development and delivery of a fully integrated marketing strategy for the business (Selection, 2017).