Brookstone Reviews

Pros

Was able to achieve a promotion quickly.

Cons

The position wouldn't be something I would look for career-wise.

Advice to Senior Management

Be more selective when choosing employees.

Pros

Great, talented co-workers; interesting Creative talent, flexible work environment to a point, great products to work on. co-workers help each other out.

Cons

salary not up to par with industry; benefits are so-so; could be more flexible with work arrangements. need to equalize pay with experience.

Advice to Senior Management

better salaries cross the board. and more advancement needs to happen to hang on to good people.

Pros

30% discount
you can advance within the company

Cons

Long hours on your feet

Advice to Senior Management

overall, not a bad job

Pros

Fun
Decent Pay
Discount
Goals Are Fun to Meet, if you try, you can do very well, there are always contests or associate specials going on, you really get to like who you work with.

Cons

Long Days during week
Incentives are hard to reach sometimes.
Wish the floorplan wouldnt be constantly changing, but then again it keeps the store fresh.

Advice to Senior Management

Out with the old products in with the new, you're getting there, but lets make everything in the store interesting, also stick with a plan, dont change things up.

Pros

The company seeks out unique merchandise to sell. The stores are fun to work in.There is a good succession planning program that allows assistant managers and store managers that have proved themselves to grow within the company. There is still a strong sense of teamwork in the field.

Cons

Company changed once it was taken private. The culture of open and honest communication was reduced to "need to know". Most of the executives that made the company great were terminated and the new owners brought in many of their own players. Expense control became much more of a focus.

Advice to Senior Management

Try to recapture some of the "magic" that existed prior to the buyout. It was what allowed the company to go from the brink of bankruptcy to a successful IPO in 3 1/2 years. Everyone was focused on sales and profit and wanted the overall company to continue to grow. There were no silos.

Pros

Very relaxed atmosphere that exposes you to innovative products on a regular basis. Very generous employee discount (30% on regular and clearance items), Has a really good bonus and commission program. I basically get paid to play with toys.

Cons

Communication has been a struggle. At times there is an overwhelming amount asked of you. There are 6 weeks that you are required to work 50 hour, 6 day workweeks. At times there seems to be a lack in work/life balance.

Advice to Senior Management

There is a lot of responsibility for mgmt on an everyday basis. Allow managers to run their business. Overall the company has changed for the better and communication has greatly improved.

Pros

Fun, great management team, excellent attitudes among colleagues, fast-moving, engaging with everyday customers with their needs, and it's a great place to learn or sharpen your people skills.

Cons

The pay isn't competitive, the hours are scarce, promotions and rewards are very hard to come by, and corporate seems to be a little disorganized.

Advice to Senior Management

Bring back incentives, give stores more hours so the sales team can perform their duties to the fullest extent of their abilities.

Pros

Discount, cool environment cool people

Cons

Psycho management, DM never gets to know staff, corporate people are always changing

Advice to Senior Management

Just be more consistant and actually try to get to know your people instead of judging them without actually knowing them

Pros

Company culture; support of upper management; promotion opportunities; pay scale; bonus structure; vacation options; and it truly is (with the exception of Q4) a 40 hour work week.

Cons

The hiring process was very time consuming, required too many interviews and seemed unnecessarily repetitive. The interviews were somewhat daunting.

Pros

Products are fun to work with and sell, as well as getting time to work with some very nice people

Cons

Back stabbing and dishonesty seems to be the practice of Sr, Management, its sad when your told that you are doing well to your face then when you turn your back you are being discussed negatively by Sr. management to your peer group completely unprofessional

Advice to Senior Management

Make better choices on who is running your districts and the conduct of said leaders. Also management should pay equal attention to all store despite volume levels and treat all Store managers as equals not based on volume levels. You devalue lower volume managers which makes them feel ignored