parabens project: summary memo
DESCRIPTION
This is the memo I submitted to explain my decisions in designing this project. I completed this project as part of my capstone professional writing class at Western Michigan University. The professor instructed us to create a project from a need in our current business environment that we recognized ourselves. I recognized that we needed to address customer concerns about parabens in the products that The Body Shop sold. My associates were not trained with any knowledge of how to handle questions from customers regarding this subject matter, so I decided this was the perfect subject for this assignment.TRANSCRIPT
MemorandumDate: April 21st, 2010To: Dr. ThrallsFrom: Tiffany WelchSubject: Paraben Project Summary
OverviewThe purpose of this memo is to summarize my submission for the Paraben Project. I have included an info sheet that addresses the need for clarification on the definition of parabens and whether they should be of concern to our customers, two charts that detail both the paraben content and hazard (concern) ratings in the top two selling categories of our store, and a sheet that summarizes which products in particular are paraben-free. I have also submitted an additional sheet that clarifies the ratings system and the source of the ratings, this was added in the final stages of production for project four because of recommendations from the final group workshop.
Informational SourcesThis project took a large amount of research both to educate myself further on the topic, and to find ways that could make the topic easier for my associates to understand. I found three main sources: The FDA’s website, Skin Deep’s website and a Journal article (detailing the specific scientific study of parabens and their link to breast cancer; the main customer concern) entitled “Concentrations of Parabens in Human Breast Tumors.” I found that working in direct quotes and summaries from these sources added to my credibility both in this project’s written, and in my own oral communication on the subject.
Audience and GatekeeperThis project was created for use by my associates at The Body Shop in regard to customer inquiries about parabens in our products. The gatekeeper, Becky, was very pleased with the project and I am happy to report that my project is in use today.
Design DecisionsI chose to stay with the Body Shop’s signature shades of green and to work in the Body Shop’s signature font of “Arial Narrow” where applicable. I used a quick-reference chart to increase usability and kept information in the chart to a minimum. The information sheet addressed the main questions that associates had about parabens and each question and answer broke up the page into it’s own segment.
I hope that the project is consistent with your expectations. If you have any feedback or need to get in touch with me, I can be reached VIA email at [email protected].