Associated Wholesalers Reviews

Former Employee – worked at Associated Wholesalers full-time for more than 8 years

Pros – AWI offers a fair salary. Most hourly and a few salary employees are nice to work with and generally have the best interest of the company at heart. Most customers are very pleasant to interact with, which allows you to feel invested in their success or failure. The company makes great strides to offer newer technology/equipment, but all too often does not follow through with training or making sure all functions were purchased in order to use said equipment/programs properly.

Cons – Too many "bottom dollar" practices, which too often results in customer and employee irritation. Management turnover rate is every few years which causes implementation of previously failed policies (not quick to listen to long term employees suggestions). Mid-level management (depending on the department) often fails to communicate important information, which results in easily avoidable and often costly errors. Upper management often negatively targets employees based on personal feelings rather than fact.

Advice to Senior Management – As someone who dedicated almost a decade of their life to this company, I have had the pleasure of working with some great people. I have also had the displeasure of working under a few people who used their authority for personal gain. My advice to management would be to listen to their employees and talk to lower level employees and supervisors to find out what is going on within a department. Focus on the positive in employees and what they have accomplished for your company, instead of the negative which can always be corrected or is explainable.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Associated Wholesalers

Pros – Great co-workers
Patient with new employees at they learn
Relaxed work environment
Flexible hours (8 hours a day, but can arrive between about 6am and 10am)

Cons – The co-op principles seem to make for less funds for salaries and workplace luxuries
Ability for IT employees to telecommute, but it is not used regularly

Advice to Senior Management – The co-op principles are great for customer stores and obviously essential to follow to keep customers happy; however, I think putting a little more money into salary and office luxuries (dual monitors for all, ability to telecommute, free donuts (instead of requiring employees to buy them for meetings)) would keep great employees longer and bring more in.