Pros
This will be the most HONEST review anyone reads. I was an associate in the Juniors department in Glenview. Pay was great for the regular associate role. I received 11/hr with 1% commission (each department varies) as well as time and a half every Sunday I worked. Since the company is family owned, you have the pleasure of not working crazy Black Friday hours and the store is closed on many major holidays.You also are allowed to have one weekend off every month, which you are able to chose. The atmosphere is nice and calming and customers are not that bad, at least in the store I worked at. When you get hired, at VM they really push you to engage with customers. You will end up doing a lot for them, especially in the fitting rooms and over the phone. This store is definitely a "never tell the customer NO."Despite the fact they abuse return policies and price adjustments all the time. On the subject of customers, these people are very needy. They want opinions and suggestions to the point where it makes you wonder if they have ever dressed themselves. Its quiet ridiculous. But my point, expect to be of assistance to the customers. Some more than others.
Cons
Now, time for the bad. Von Maur does not have enough business at all. I know there are some busy stores, but many aren't very profitable. This would not matter to me, especially since the pay is great, but you will have an HOURLY SALES GOAL. with low business, it is not easy to make this goal every hour. Goals range from 100-225 depending on which department as well as the time of year. So maybe during the holidays the goal is higher compared to a slow times in retail. You will be evaluated on your sales with the floor manager and your department manager. Von maur makes employees go through a "semester" at the end of it, you be given an average on your sales and this number has to meet or exceed the hourly sales goal. You can get fired for not making your goal multiple times. this is the worst part of the job. Regardless if you provide great customer service, come to work on time, etc.. Another thing I could care less for is the dress code, men must be in suits and ties and "Well groomed" woman are not allowed to wear pants. knee length dresses or skirts AND HOSIERY must be worn at all times. With gender and gender roles being so relevant in the news lately, this dress code is way 1950s. Von maur needs to get in the 21st century and realize that this is wrong....WOMEN CANT WEAR DRESS PANTS??? Give me a break. Anyway, you will also have to promote their interest free credit card and have a goal to open 1 account per month, which is achievable. Von Maur also have "Follow up" training. This in one word is: BS. Follow up training is pretty much a binder they give you to create clientele. You will have goals for this book as well. You need to have a certain amount of contacts per "semester." This isn't harsh because this is something that can be BS'd. Just copy all the information from charge sends and you'll be good. Its unrealistic to expect people to give you their address, number, etc because they want to hear about what came in the shipment truck.