Pros
Can be a fun job at a store level, good discount, starting to focus more on in-house designs instead of using external vendors, and social media and online ads are aligning with what stores currently carry. Uses Facebook Workplace which allows company wide communication and can give a voice to store-level employees (how you’re allowed to use it varies by DM, with some still only wanting the traditional chain of command) You can move up in the company if you know how to navigate Home Office politics and pander to upper management.
Cons
No consistent communication between home office departments leading to confusion for stores and lack of momentum for the company, dress code that comes off “laid back” but pressures employees to spend money buying clothes at the store, extra work with no additional pay disguised as “training opportunities”, low pay requiring most staff to need second jobs and creating high turnover, main goal seems to be opening as many new stores as possible even though a basic ship-to-store system is too complicated for them, finally got cc terminals with tap to pay and mobile pay only for them to be dysfunctional, has an open door HR policy but everyone at home office is friends so nothing ever comes of any complaints. ASM, Key Holders, and Sales Associates make under $15 per hour. Managers, who are salaried, make an average of about $20 per hour and most end up working well over 40 hours per week Personally: Gave a 3 week notice without my official DM reaching out to ask why, only to be treated like it’s my fault they were scrambling less than a week before my last day. Honestly don’t know what district management did except for keeping a micro managing checklist for every little thing the store has to complete, even when stores would often complete the tasks before they were added to the checklist.
