Jane Barksdale

Jane Barksdale has designed a line of clothing targeted toward Hispanic Americans. The items are sold only by catalog and on the Internet. She thinks that she can increase sales by claiming in ads that the firm is owned by a Hispanic American and that all the company's employees are Hispanic Americans. She is not Hispanic American nor are most of her employees. She needs a high level of sales to pay her bank loan and remain in business.

Please respond to the following:
• Describe the arguments for and against Jane claiming to be Hispanic American in her ads.
It is unethical for Jane to claim that she is Hispanic American in her ads because it violates the code of ethics and it would not help her employees to make better decision. Jane’s reasons are understandable, but it still does not set good examples for her employees.
• Explain how the Federal Trade Commission addresses this issue, and evaluate the effectiveness of their rules or measures.
The Federal Trade Commission will address this issue as deceptive and unfair and evaluate the effectiveness of their rules or measures by viewing the ad from the point of view a typical consumer.
• Explain the guidelines according to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/business/adv.shtm for small business advertising or e-commerce.
According to Federal Trade Commission, small business advertising or e-commerce must be truthful and non-deceptive. It cannot be unfair and must have evidence to back up any claims made.
• Hypothesize about the risks Jane takes in making false claims in her ads.
Jane took a huge risk by practicing deception. She might face cease and desist orders which legally forces companies to stop running deceptive ads in the future. And if she violates the order, she will face a fine of $16,000 per day per ad.
Cease and desist orders. These legally-binding orders require companies to stop running the deceptive ad or engaging in the deceptive practice, to have substantiation for claims in future ads,