Arrow Electronics Reviews in Denver, CO Area

Pros

Arrow is a good company with plenty of room for advancement. The local managers are generally very open and honest and seem to have an excellent grasp on work-life balance.

Cons

I think the C level executives are terrific, but there seems to be some real issues at the president, vp level. They are constantly shifting strategies and when those new strategies fail, the lower levels take the fall.

Advice to Senior Management

Recognize and compensate your top employees. Don't let your best employees leave for other companies because they're missing opportunities at Arrow. Don't be afraid to let well educated and business savy people speak up. I find that many of the positions at Arrow require a HS diploma plus experience. Many of these positions would be justified in requiring a bachelors degree and as such, you could solicit higher qualified employees for the future.

Pros

Arrow was a great place to learn the distribution business - a skill you can take elsewhere. I guess you also learn how to survive frequent lay-offs.

Cons

Lay-offs aside, it's just not an exciting/fun company to work for anymore. The market has changed and Arrow can't seem to cope. Arrow just can't seem to find a way to leverage it's long-standing relationships with customers and suppliers. Corporate pounds on us to reduce inventory, customers take their business elsewhere when we don't have the parts, the suppliers constantly pressure margin. It ain't no fun.

Advice to Senior Management

To be honest, I'm not sure. Given the conditions Arrow faces, I'm not sure I could do better.

Pros

Paycheck - it still cashes!

While the future looks dim, the office is in a great location in the Tech Center. Commute from south Denver area is one of the easiest in the city. Generally good working conditions. Before salary cuts and furloughs, pay and benefits were very good. I have faith in the lower levels of management.

Cons

Arrow just can't seem to keep pace with our competitors or the market. Under investment in inventory sends customers - who already want to go direct - to competitors. Definitely a case of a 20th century strategy losing the 21th century battle

Advice to Senior Management

If we can't develop a strategy of our own, let's at least try to copy Avnet.

Pros

There are problems at Arrow, but things are not as bad as some of the posters indicate. While it is unlikely that Arrow will regain its once dominate position in the market, if you keep your head down and work hard, you will probably survive. Pay and benefits are probably as good or better than most in the Colorado market.

Cons

I have to admit it isn't a growing, prospering company; and that can make working conditions difficult at times.

Advice to Senior Management

Make sure you retain your skilled, experienced employees so you'll be able to take advantage of the market upturn - if it ever comes!

Pros

Having a job in this bad economy.

Cons

Management doesn't know what they are doing.

Advice to Senior Management

They need to take back all the positions that were outsourced to India.
Instead of laying off the workers, they need to get rid of the multiple layers of middle management.

Pros

I'm having a hard time thinking of any. If you want to stay in Denver, and most of us do, it's a job. Benefits and pay a relatively good - if you don't get laid off. I doubt if I'll be here in 2-3 years.

Cons

Unstable, deteriorating market position. Cutting cost seems to be the only strategy management can come up with.

Advice to Senior Management

Figure out a new strategy or sell out to Avnet.

Pros

Compensation and benefits are well above average for the industry. Management generally treats employees fairly although they resort to lay-offs too quickly.

Cons

Poor business model. Long-term viability questionable. Management (components) is stuck in the thoroughly discredited practice of cost-cutting their way to survival. Arrow is still very cash positive but losing marketshare and margin.

Advice to Senior Management

Find a way to add value outside of the old distribution model.