Hypothetical Case Study

Which target audience definition is best for Lake Effect’s first 30 days?

• Everyone who wears clothes.

• All Chicago residents ages 13–65.

• CPS students and staff at Jaylen’s school during Spirit Week, reached via TikTok/IG and a pep‑rally lunch pop‑up.

• Tourists visiting Navy Pier.

Answer explanation

It’s specific, reachable, time‑bound, and aligned with the brand’s channels and resources.

Jaylen wants liability protection with relatively simple taxes for a tiny startup. Which structure fits best?

• Sole Proprietorship

• LLC

• Corporation

• Not-for-Profit

Answer explanation

A single‑member LLC provides liability protection with pass‑through taxation and manageable complexity.

Which of the following is a mission statement, not a vision, goal, or values list?

• “Lake Effect makes everyday streetwear that celebrates Chicago’s neighborhoods and invests in student creativity.”

•  “Fund an annual micro‑grant for teen designers across CPS.”

• “Sell 1,000 hoodies next school year.”

•  “Quality, authenticity, and community.”

Which responsibility best fits the Customer Service lead (Omar) in Lake Effect’s operations plan?

• Editing and posting the 30‑second launch video.

• Responding to DMs/email, resolving order issues, and maintaining a helpful tone and response-time targets.

• Approving final vector logo files and colorways.

• Filing the LLC paperwork with the state.

Answer explanation

Customer Service owns post‑purchase communication and issue resolution with clear tone/response

Two days before a pop‑up, the printer flags a defect on 25 black tees. What is the best response?

• Keep selling as if nothing happened and hope the batch arrives.

• Post a meme about delays; no customer updates yet.

• Trigger the pre‑vetted backup printer for a rush partial run and email affected customers with new dates plus a small discount code.

• Cancel the pop‑up and go silent to avoid criticism.

Answer explanation

A planned mitigation with transparent communication preserves trust and sales momentum.