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Diversity Audit

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Submitted By rkcarlyle
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J.Crew Group Inc, more commonly known as J.Crew, is a multi-brand specialty retailer. The company is based out of New York City, but operates 450 stores in the US and Candada. The retailer is known for its preppy fashions, through basic but pricey items. Clothing retailers tend to target specific markets and make a culture of that by hiring and outfitting their staff in a way that portrays their brand and their company.

I chose this company because despite the “preppy” look being popular with wealthy, upper to middle class white people, J.Crew has been successful in making their clothes available and popular with younger people of all races while maintaining their affluence and exclusivity. J.Crew has reported a jump in sales corresponding to the increased diversity in their target markets. The retailer is also making strong efforts to tap into the buying of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual communities with their androgyny. The company has a desire to embrace change while maintaining the classic brand staples that they are known for. The company C.E.O. Millard Drexler is able to reshape his vision for the company by making store visits with the company president where they hear firsthand from customers and frontline sales associates.

To help conduct my audit, I will use a diversity audit survey including, but not limited to, questions about recruitment & selection, application process, interviews, current retention and progression, training, company culture, equal opportunities, and time off. As a former J.Crew employee I have access to their hiring process and will also have access to interviews with current J.Crew employees. There has been a lot of media buzz about the company and the publics view of J.Crew and their diversity as a company and as a brand. I will be able to use these articles as research tools in addition to official company profiles from Businessweek.

Conduct audit
Write a description of diversity initiatives
Conduct evaluation
Prepare recommendations

J.Crew Group, Inc. (n.d.) Social Responsibility. Retreived from http://www.madewell.com/footer/rocialresponsibility.jsp J.Crew Group, Inc. (n.d.) About Us. Retreived from http://www.jcrew.com/help/about_jcrew.jsp J.Crew Group, Inc. (n.d.) Careers. Retreived from http://www.jcrew.com/footer/careers.jsp J.Crew Group, Inc. (n.d.) Contact Us. Retreived from http://www.jcrew.com/footer/contactus.jsp J.Crew Group, Inc. (n.d.) Investor Relations. Retreived from http://www.jcrew.com/footer/investorrelations.jsp J.Crew Group, Inc (2012). 2011 10-K. Retrieved from
http://www.sec.gov/archives/edgar/data/1051251/000119312511072649/d10k.htm#oc

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