Anyone ever worked for Bath & Body Works or Talbots?

[DumboPrincess]

Hi everyone! I've lurked on these boards for a long time, and I love reading about everyone's trips and tips! Now I need your help, if you will...

I have worked in retail for 10 years now (started young) and 8 of those years have been in management. Either as a store manager or a co-manager (which I've been the last 5 years). The company I currently work for is great, a very popular women's clothing store, but recently I have been recruited by the two companies in the title. I have several factors going into my decision, and I need your help! The positions are for store manager, and would be an increase in salary. When I talked to BBW it was about 9k over my current salary.

1. What is the work/life balance for these companies (esp BBW) ?
2. Will I be able to pump at work? (I am breastfeeding and my current employer lets me pump 2X during my shift, on the clock).
3. What are the floorsets like?
4 How is the pay?
5 Do you LOVE your job?
6. How are the benefits?

Thanks so much! Wish me luck on my second round of interviews tommorrow!

DumboPrincess (I'll explain the name later)

 

[Belle041281]

Hi DumboPrincess

I'm sorry I haven't worked at either of those stores but my sister used to work at B&B works. She frequents the boards quite often and I am sure she would post her experience for you. I'll help you get bumped back up and maybe she or someone else will see it. Good Luck.

 

[DumboPrincess]

Thank you!

 

[noseybuddy]

I worked aat BBW but only as part-time during the holidays. So, sorry can't really help you with any info.

 

[DumboPrincess]

Noseybuddy,

Did you ever particpate in floor moves? Did the manager ever have to work alone for most of the day that you know of? Was it a happy place to work, or stressful?

Thanks!
DumboPrincess

 

[Judy from Boise]

I know where I live B&BW is always crawling with help , where Talbots has maybe 2 people.

Some of your questions seem like you aren't in the "manager" frame of mind. I think You would have control of many of the issues you are asking about. As the manager you would have influence over many thing (staffing etc) and also influence the culture.

 

[DumboPrincess]

Judy,

While, yes, I would have control over certain things, like who I hire and setting the tone for my store, there are always company controlled items like:

--how many payroll hours you get (which affect how many of my associates I can schedule)

--how much I am paid and what I offer my staff is set by corprate

--benefits (ie, insurence, vacation time, etc) are also set by corprate (And whether I can pump at work, which is a right, really, not a benefit)

All these factors are things I need to consider before making the jump to one of these companies. As I said, I LOVE my current job and want many of the same benefits in any new company I choose.

As for being in a "manager" frame of mind...I am a great manager, just ask my staff (they're great, too!). But no one can be great without a great team. I just wanted to know the culture of these companies, and people's experience with them before making my final decision. It is a big jump to leave a company I love after 5 years. Ultimately, I need the work/life balance to be happy and healthy. So why choose a company that doesn't offer that "culture"?

So perhaps you misunderstood my post, and I apologize for that. I hope this one is more concise.

Thanks!
DumboPrincess

 

[DumboPrincess]

Judy,

I realized one of my questions about working alone may have sparked your response, and wanted to reply. I don't mind working alone for several hours if need be to save payroll, but where I am a breastfeeding mom, I have to leave the sales floor to pump. This would require me to have 2 coverage when I work (min. me plus 1). This way when my milk "lets down" I can pump as I need to, because someone else is there to watch the floor. If I am by myself, I could have a mess on my hands, and chest, and floor This is why I asked that question. If a company does not accomodate breastfeeding moms, then why would I want to work there? My (current) company lets me pump as needed, and I am already a manager there.

But, in my interview yesterday I asked about pumping...and the DM was very accomodating...said they would do whatever I needed to work with me. So now we need to see about the other company, who I interview with on Tuesday.

Thanks for your interest!

DumboPrincess

 

[Poohnatic]

I was a shop director for B&BW many years ago. I was on a 1 coverage every weekday(except Friday) from 9am until 1 pm. As you've worked retail management before, you can figure out your coverage. The base hours back then for an average store was 142. I went back to just do Almanacs three years ago to help out a friend for a few months, and the base hours had not changed all that much.

It's good that the DM is willing to work with you on the pumping. When I had my second child, I jumped to waitressing for a while because I needed a bit more flexibility. Both restaurants were very accommodating to me pumping during my shifts-and it worked fabulously for the 8 months I did that full time.

By the time I returned to retail management full time, I only needed to pump twice while working, so I did during lunch and right before I left for my hour drive home. My fellow managers were very accommodating for the 10 months I did continue to pump.

Suzanne

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Hi everyone! I've lurked on these boards for a long time, and I love reading about everyone's trips and tips! Now I need your help, if you will...

I have worked in retail for 10 years now (started young) and 8 of those years have been in management. Either as a store manager or a co-manager (which I've been the last 5 years). The company I currently work for is great, a very popular women's clothing store, but recently I have been recruited by the two companies in the title. I have several factors going into my decision, and I need your help! The positions are for store manager, and would be an increase in salary. When I talked to BBW it was about 9k over my current salary.

1. What is the work/life balance for these companies (esp BBW) ?
2. Will I be able to pump at work? (I am breastfeeding and my current employer lets me pump 2X during my shift, on the clock).
3. What are the floorsets like?
4 How is the pay?
5 Do you LOVE your job?
6. How are the benefits?

Thanks so much! Wish me luck on my second round of interviews tommorrow!

DumboPrincess (I'll explain the name later)

I have worked for both if these companies. Iw orked for talbots kids though
THere is a much better work life balance at Talbolts.
They both pay well and have decent benies.
BBW is part of the llimited brands and you will be expected to live there
I was there for over 5 years I had 3 different DMs and worked at 4 different stores. I will say its fun and I did love it but its not for enough
once i had kids and got married it was harder much harder.
good luck

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I was a shop director for B&BW many years ago. I was on a 1 coverage every weekday(except Friday) from 9am until 1 pm. As you've worked retail management before, you can figure out your coverage. The base hours back then for an average store was 142. I went back to just do Almanacs three years ago to help out a friend for a few months, and the base hours had not changed all that much.

It's good that the DM is willing to work with you on the pumping. When I had my second child, I jumped to waitressing for a while because I needed a bit more flexibility. Both restaurants were very accommodating to me pumping during my shifts-and it worked fabulously for the 8 months I did that full time.

By the time I returned to retail management full time, I only needed to pump twice while working, so I did during lunch and right before I left for my hour drive home. My fellow managers were very accommodating for the 10 months I did continue to pump.

Suzanne

this is very true
many c and lower volume stores run on 142 its bare bones coverage
you would be alone alot they are so differetn whn i worked there it was the alamanacs and the everything was buckets and gingham and now its all
different and they call it the magazine for floor sets

 

[DumboPrincess]

Kelly,
Thanks for your earlier responses. I have interviewed with both and BBW offered me the job. Talbots will be back to me this week. After my interview with Talbots, though, I think I'm in LOVE with their company! Could you answer a few more questions for me?

--What was the difference in the work/life balance for you that made Talbots the better employer?

--Were you a store manager or general manager? And how would you describe the difference between the two? The store I interviewed for is 2-concept, and they are considering making it 3-concept, which would, I believe change my position from store manager to general manager. I think?

Thank you so, so much!

DumboPrincess

 

[bbwfan]

A BBW manager NEVER gets Holidays off. They are required to close the day before Thanksgiving, open the day after at early am, no weekends off after the first weekend of Dec, must close Christmas Eve, and open the day after Christmas and do a floorset that night after closing at 9pm for Semi Annual sale. You get 1 weekend off per month and must close 2 nights per week. You can not create your own schedule, it is sent to you with shifts on it for managers, sales leads and associates that you plo names into(little flex there) 142 are the hours and you are alone most days until 1pm. You get 2 weeks vacation the first 5 years and 3 sick days. The insurance is pretty good from what my friend says, includes partner insurance, adoption services, vision, denist, and medical. You are kept super busy, get an eval twice a year but a raise only once. It is mostly based on your stores sales. It is usually around 5-7% if store did well (she was +15% for the year) There is a bonus program each quarter....make the 3 months plan and get a small % then exceed your plan by say $10,000 and get 2% of that.Then they take taxes out of it. You get new years day, memorial day, 4th of July, labor day off (3 days off that week) Thanskgiving and Christmas you get to take 2 extra days off in January and work a 5 day week. Discount for managers is 40% at BBW and other limited brands. Floorsets are about every 3-4 weeks and have lately been happening on weekday nights after close, normally they are Sunday nights. There are also 2 large wall moves every year.
Hope this helps, it is all I can remember right now.