Exhausting, Underpaid, and Misleading – Avoid at All Costs
Pros
You might meet some nice people
Cons
Oh God, where do I even begin? Working for Wren Kitchens, particularly in their Home Depot studio model, was one of the most frustrating job experiences I’ve ever had. The expectations are completely unrealistic. They set aggressive sales targets every month that are nearly impossible to meet—especially since you’re placed right next to Home Depot’s own kitchen design services. They don’t tell you upfront, but a big part of your job involves approaching people in the aisles and practically harassing them into signing up for a home measure and design appointment. You’re essentially cold-selling in-store, which feels uncomfortable and forced. Be prepared to walk a lot. I was clocking 10,000–15,000 steps a day inside Home Depot, so comfortable shoes are a must. And guess what you’re earning for all that? Minimum wage. Yep—minimum wage base pay, plus a small commission that honestly isn’t anything to get excited about. They also frequently change door styles and color options in different product ranges without notifying designers. This makes you look unprepared and unprofessional during appointments—which reflects poorly on you, not them. Internally, the company is a mess. You have to fight with different departments just to get the bare minimum done. And when things inevitably go wrong, they find a way to shift the blame back onto you. This often results in a negative customer experience that you’re powerless to fix. Turnover is ridiculously high. I was there for less than a year and watched 12 coworkers leave just from my studio alone—not even counting the others. It’s clear the company treats you like just another number. No appreciation, no work-life balance, and zero concern for employee wellbeing. You’re expected to work every single holiday—even when showroom employees get those as paid days off. They also claim weekends are “as needed,” but in reality, you’ll be working every weekend. And don’t be surprised if you close at 8 p.m. one night and have to open at 6 a.m. the next morning. There’s absolutely no consideration for your life outside of work. Speaking of which—don’t expect to have one. You’ll have customers, coworkers, and even managers texting and calling you on your days off. It’s a constant grind, 7 days a week. I was the top designer in my studio and was still only projected to make about $50k with commission. They advertise “70k+ uncapped commission,” but that’s a complete joke unless you work 24/7 and get incredibly lucky with leads. This company could be great if they made some serious changes. But right now, the way it’s run—especially by the UK —is not sustainable for retaining quality employees. I could go on, but I think I’ve said enough. Save yourself the burnout and look elsewhere.
