Pros
The company cares. Plain and simple. They give back - over $1million to date- and the company is only 5 years old. They have added many programs to enhance the brand and reduce workload on the team (scanners, traffic counters, a bonus program, health plans, 401k, a comprehensive training program, smaller districts, and more in last few months). Almost every intern has been hired on after graduation, and most every entry level associates have seen growth and promotion due to the company's rapid growth. It is hard to find a company that provides that much growth in such a short time. All associates have a vital role in volunteering and choosing how to spend donations. They sky is limit on good ideas and the company likes to hear all the good ideas and encourages sharing photos and experiences the team have. The teams are encouraged to share entries from their prayer request books and inspirational experiences they have in store each day. The strongest store teams are the most involved in give back programs and community involvement. Prayer chain is a part of the daily routine and often company-wide prayer requests are sent out so the company can join in lifting up team members or members of the communities near the stores. Where else does a company celebrate this unification?
Cons
Any growing company will have hurdles, and Altar'd State is not exception. However, I have never worked any where more willing to change to make the company better. It is not only about the bottom line, but also about the journey and the outcome. The company spends most days calculating how they are giving back to communities and individuals. THAT is hard to find in retail. Growth is hard, but they have added many initiatives to make the growth manageable. That being said, there are a lot of tasks to make the environment better and more unique. It is hard to be strong visually, emotionally, and operationally. But, that is the company mission. This strong mission makes succeeding more difficult. Altar'd State is fast-paced and you are held accountable for performance. If you aren't willing to make decisions and stand by them, AS may not be a good fit.
