Bose Reviews

Pros

Bose is a company which prides itself on treating employees well, and customers even better. All employees are empowered to make decisions which can satisfy the customer. The compensation is generous, and the perks are exciting. Contests for product and bonuses are held fairly often. The energetic atmosphere is a welcome change to stifling boredom.

Cons

Bose is a niche market which sometimes can be frustrating to customers, who sometimes don't come into the store for hours on end. Mundane tasks and busy-work only keep one sane for so long.

Advice to Senior Management

Innovation, Innovation, Innovation! Our customers are bored with our product offerings, and our cult-like affection with certain products (you know which one I'm talking about) is maddening! Our in-store focus on selling up to sell down, being undermined by marketing to the lowest common denominator ("home theater" commercials) is frustrating to say the least.

Pros

Great product
Great Employees
Innovative training and Employee advancement opportuities
Great Benefits and earnings capability
Mission Centered
Excellent Communication
Focused Management

Cons

Somewhat Cultish with their focus on certain product lines.
Sometimes then focus on their priorities overlooks the needs of clients

Advice to Senior Management

Keep innovation alive. Strive to increase employee engagement. See the traditional brick and mortar for what it is, an aging dinosaur, and look for a new innovative distribution channel.

Pros

With a fun, open culture environment that encourages discussion and learning Bose provided a sound place to begin a career in retail.

Cons

Always working on the weekends was a bummer, and working on an unpredictable schedule was frustrating. Plus the products are often considerably higher than the average consumer is willing to pay.

Advice to Senior Management

My store manager was fantastic, and I would consider working there if i knew there were more options in the next year or two, but seems openings are rare.

Pros

Allows for some flexibility in hours (depending on your role). There is a week off between Christmas and New Year's, which is wonderful!

Cons

No chance for advancement, if that's something you desire. What you do when you start, is basically what you'll be doing years down the road.

Advice to Senior Management

Think about growth for the future and not just bide your time until you retire. Do your best to make it a better place for those who work there and not just go through the motions.

Pros

The work is interesting and the people friendly

Cons

No advancement
micro-management, at least in my dept.
salary stagnation
No clear way to get to the next level

Advice to Senior Management

Do away with all of the company acronyms
5S
True North
A3s
etc

Pros

A good part time job with a reputable company

Cons

retail is bad almost everywhere

Advice to Senior Management

replace them and products

Pros

recognizable brand, good to have in your resume;
good balance between work and life;
good place to wait for retirement

Cons

no professional advancement;
balance of creativity and process is shifted to process completely;
middle management is not effective;
endless meetings;
long time for decision making

Pros

A great environment, with great people, making great products.

Cons

It is difficult to get into the company, most people hired are friends or relatives of higher ups.

Advice to Senior Management

Hire more entry level candidates instead of older, closer to retirement candidates that will not be able to provide the same excitement, and ethic, of a younger candidate.

Pros

Decent work environment.
Employees very good people - good to work with.
They do have learning opportunities, but you have to be pro-active in signing up.

Cons

Has become like most other large companies - focused on bottom line.
Used to be about creativity, teamwork and doing anything to please the customer.
Now it is about process, cutting costs, and pushing more product.
Professional advancement is almost non-existent. Any critical jobs seem to get filled from the outside.
My manager does not provide any support. Too busy looking up the organization rather than around the department to really see what's going on. Out of touch.

Advice to Senior Management

Another person had said that middle management does not practice the values that upper management does. My recommendation would be to measure your middle managers on the companies essence and values. If you want the company to be great, then you have to treat your employess like they are great.

Pros

Discounts, strong technical experience, you can climb the ladder if you are technically inclined versus being business inclined

Cons

Too much of middle management interference.