American Apparel have given Dov a pay rise

As you know from reading this blog, I have a 'bit of an issue' with American Apparel. I have been complaining about their hipster porno adverts since I started the blog back in 2009/10 and I will continue to do so until they change their advertising campaigns.

I have to register my disgust that the company which is still hanging in there (barely) has just offered Dov Charney, the man behind the company and the guy responsible for featuring half naked girls selling socks, a new contract - for three years. Oh and his salary? It's $800,000 a year.

That's an increase from $750,000 which he made in 2011 and not including his stock shares as well.

Keep in mind that not only has the company got a shockingly bad attitude towards their staff, a terrible advertising campaign but they spent most of 2010 in serious debt and haven't made back the millions they owe. So how the hell can they afford to keep Charney on?

I will repeat something I wrote back in 2010 when it was reported that American Apparel were on the verge of collapse - this happened repeatedly :

How to fix the problems at American Apparel and gain back customers :

1 - get rid of the major of snotty staff which you insist on hiring which all fit ' the look '. But can't be bothered going to get that pair of leggings in your size. So far the Dublin store seems to be a once off for nice staff.

2 - Instead of isolating women by sexualising them. Invite them in. Stop getting their boobs out, their legs in and what not. Take back the adverts. Stop the sexist advertising. It would get so many women back in your store if they feel that they are being spoken to like actual consumers not encouraged to get naked all time! If that takes Dov Charney being fired...then so be it.

3 - Reduce your prices. A pair of leggings for £30? I think not. River Island is the most successful brand at re-pricing. The addressed their clientele's need for lower prices given the  times and they made everything a lot more affordable. So as a result, more people shop in River Island. Myself included.

I still stand by this. I would also like to add that prehaps the store would like to re-think their attitude towards the treatment of their staff and ask themselves how and why there have been so many sexual harrassment issues with their head office as well and why some of the stores have written open letters in the media about what it is like to work for the company :

American Apparel Open Letter 

So if you feel strongly about the company or about how the staff are treated then its quite simple : don't shop there, don't support them, don't let them pay for advertising on your blog and don't feature them. I don't, I wont, I cant and I'm angry.....

As you can tell.....it's been two years of very angry posting....