Bath & Body Works Reviews

Pros

On boarding associates for holiday was a lot of fun. The products are amazing and easy to be passionate about.

Cons

They really focus a lot on the business. It is understandable that it is a business but with out good strong happy associates there is no business. They hired outside the store for a new Store Manager. She boasted about how she had all the questions for the telephone interview out of the on boarding tool box from a friend who worked in a different store. When that position opened up the Store Co Manager applied and wasnt given the chance she deserved because the district manager doesnt like her. It was hard to respect the new Store Manager when she was incredibly immature and would take her name badge off to deal with customers who complained. She also would push her management team against each other.

Advice to Senior Management

I think the regional manager should really look heavier into his district manager and how she runs her stores. There is favoritism and very unfair treatment. It is sad to see the district manager turn a blind eye to problem store managers only to use an excuse of she isn't a micro manager.

Pros

Associate Engagement is strong, product sells itself.

Cons

Sometimes feels like you work for commission, but don't.

Advice to Senior Management

Be present in stores more to understand the customers.

Pros

Most of the associates are really great people. There area lot of great customers too & the products are great. Once in a great while, you get a "gratis.". A gratis is a free gift - usually what's coming out - new fragrances, etc. I've worked here for 2 years & have only gotten 1 full size ritual. Usually it was the small 3 oz but it was still free. You also get a 30% discount - just know that it's not off the promotional price, it's off the sticker.

Cons

Hauling crap from downstairs to upstairs or vice/versa because thebackroom is too small. Running garbage & mopping floors with mops that are disgusting/filthy/old. No raise - ever. Politics. The "scratch-off" cards that they give (redeemable for free product) the favorite people over & over again. Role-playing. Floor-sets until 2:30am on a Sunday night. Role-playing. No benefits whatsoever.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop talking down to your associates. Don't spew the corporate babble (I.e. "set up so & so for success") . Stop the "chat-ins"/make you interview for your job at every single shift. Know that people have lives and other jobs and can't stay til 2:30am on a weekday because you decide that the bottles need to be positioned a certain way. Stop making us role-play & sit on the dirty floor at meetings. Recognize those who work hard for you & those that don't.

Pros

When I first started and up until very recently I loved my job and had a very positive experience. Overall I would say this is a great job. Not very much fair offering of promotions to employees in my opinion. This is a very good job but I am starting to feel burned out from doing the same things for years. This is a good job if you want to work some place fun and bubbly. One great thing about working here is that they are VERY flexible and understanding with school, other jobs, and request for time off.

Cons

female dominated workplace can sometimes cause drama, low pay, easy to get burned out, gossiping , the occasional rude and condescending manager, politics of getting promoted/lack of opportunity for advancement. Again, I believe this to be conditional to the store as well as the district so depending on where you live your experience could be completely different.

Advice to Senior Management

Great job overall, no complaints, overall the managers hired onto Bath & Body Works are great and nice, and even for the mean ones, they still do a great job for the business which is a huge plus at the end of the day.

Pros

Very exciting place to work

Cons

Sometimes it can get really slow after holidays

Advice to Senior Management

With a minimum of hours if your a part timer you dont get a lot of hours

Pros

Great employee discount. Wide range of health and beauty products. Never bored when you work your shifts.

Cons

Management did not follow-up as indicated. They only treat their Store Managers well, and not the Co-Manager whom would run the business the same as the Store Manager. There is no difference in responsibilities between Store Manager and Co Manager except for pay and recognition.

Advice to Senior Management

Spend more time with your Co Managers and not just the Store Manager. The store manager's ideas where probably the co-manager's ideas first...and no recognition given to the appropriate individual.

Pros

Most of the customers are very friendly and so are all of my co-workers. Its a nice environment. flexible hours. You also get a lot of cool free stuff! You always end up smelling good when you get home!

Cons

The pay is not great and there is no room for advancement. Great first job though!

Advice to Senior Management

I wish the pay was a little better. I would stay if they payed more.

Pros

It's really exciting when you engage with the customers and feel the excitement they have for the products. Especially when someone comes in with no idea what to buy and you help them pick out the perfect gift, whether it be for themselves or for someone else. Also, every one of the associates are all incredibly friendly and willing to help each other out, so there's never any drama going on. That helps a lot when it comes to floorsets too! They can be a little stressful at times, but when we're all having fun it goes by quickly and the store ends up looking beautiful! :)

Cons

There are a lot of associates, so one week you can have a lot of hours and then the next you can have a small amount. That's only for the beginning/end of seasonal though (Temporary employees).

Pros

Fun, fast paced atmosphere.
Customers are the best for the most part.
Products and the discounts.
Helping people smell good.

Cons

Call ins
not enough hours, if you do get hours you have to work and prove that you are an excellent worker.

Pros

Management is the best I've ever seen. Everyone likes each other & work as a team.

Cons

Home office sends products they think we need not what we are out of. We could have make more sales during holiday if we had the products to sell.Because we are out of everything customers ask if we are going out of business. Had to put an 'out of order' sign at sink because we have no paper towels. During holidays we were out of tissue paper, ribbon, bags, & cello bags. This created a lot of unhappy customers.

Advice to Senior Management

Let each store order what is needed. Offer more money to associates who work very hard to keep store stocked, orderly. clean & keep customers happy. Don't hire so many people that your loyal regulars do not get 30+ hours each week.
Who ever picked the new computers, should be fired. They require twice the time to get the customer out the door.
Do not hand out a zillion coupons & then expect us to make each segment. Everyone that came in our store had a $10.00 off 30 coupon, there was no way to make the segments.