Pros
Great associate discount at 40%, good at Maurices and several other retail stores. Very good employee development programs, designed to cultivate leaders Loads of product training, fashion training, etc. Fun incentives for meeting goals, such as free clothes, gift cards, treat boxes for the team Company is progressive, always looking to make things better for both customers and associates Overal culture cultivated from the top down is very upbeat and positive, employee and customer friendly Monthly sales bonus for managers Good Work/Life Balance Good, competitive benefits package, insurance, vacation, 401K, etc. Part-time assistant manager positions provide terrific introductory opportunities for young adults looking toward a career in retail management. Company supports a customer friendly environment, expects excellence in customer service and provides the training to help associates succeed at customer service. Store support (From home office) is good, problems are resolved in a timely manner and reps from home office are friendly and eager to help.
Cons
Some DMs/RMs are out of touch with what is going on in the stores, while others are great. Inconsistency across the brand. Districts are large, so some DMs don't get around to visiting all of their stores very often. Computerized application/hiring process was extremely difficult to use, frustrating for both applicants and managers. This may have been updated since I left, I know the company was looking toward solutions. The Maurices credit card is a HUGE focus, and the pressure to get card signups is very intense, and the company takes away 1/2 of your monthly bonus if you don't meet or exceed your credit card signup goal. Customers are resistant to signing up, and still the company requires the associates to push it. Pay for assistant mgrs is on the low side, but higher than some retailers. Bonuses are rather small, and is reduced by 1/2 if credit card signup goal is not made. Promotions and reviews are based almost entirely on paper data. If a manager is making the "numbers," she/he is considered a great manager, if not, she/he is not a good manager. Associates are reviewed based on a system called "Net Producer," which divides an associate's personal sales volume by the percent of the total store's hours the associate worked in a given time frame. So, for instance, if an associate works 10% of the store's hours, but only sells 9% of the store's total sales, she is considered a negative Net Producer, and will receive a "Does Not Meet Standards" on her annual review. This system can pit associates on a team against each other, because no one wants to be a negative producer. It's a good idea in theory, to see if associates are "pulling their weight," but doesn't look at the whole picture of an associate's performance. Opportunity for promotion is not as good as with some retailers. There are occasional opportunities, but if you're looking to get on the fast track, you may get stalled with Maurices. Company is not always dilligent about making sure store maintenance issues, like carpet cleaning, etc, are resolved.