Harry and David Reviews

Pros

Wonderful merchandise. Great benefits. I loved everything about it. The best gifts you could imagine giving to business associates, friends and family.

Cons

The last few years were difficult due to the economy. I believe things will definitely get better. They have quality products!

Pros

customers are very friendly. you are selling a product that makes people happy - so it is a fun job working with the customers

Cons

You are on you feet & moving and lifting constantly. No breaks were given except for lunch after 5 hours.

Advice to Senior Management

Management absolutely needs to provide breaks for the employees during the holidays. we were selling $2,000 -4,000. merchandise per hour with only 2 cash registers. A quick break for a breather & water was needed. Scheduling a person for a few hours to cover breaks would have really helped!

Pros

Pay was good and benefits were great. I loved my customers who were loyal to the brand.

Cons

It's retail, so it's a bit off balanced when it comes to work/home life. You are required to work nights, weekend, and holidays.

Advice to Senior Management

I feel the leadership at Harry and David was and is good.

Pros

Overall it is one of the easiest jobs I have ever worked at. Especially for the pay. On a store level the management is wonderful and your manager would usually work around your schedule and allow you to have time off if you need it. The customers are usually really easy-going and nice, and you will definitely have regulars. Christmas can be hectic, but can also be some of the most fun you will have working.

Cons

Very poor information relay from upper management to store level. They do not listen to advice given and tend to go in the opposite direction. Downtime can be excruciatingly boring at times. Raises and promotions are nonexistent. Sometimes you will get the horrible customer that manages to ruin your day.

Pros

Wonderful clientele, fun product and atmosphere. Great time having tasting parties. Seasonal products were well received. Had variety of good promotions.

Cons

No enough communication about important issues. Not enough praise. If not promoted, not raise in over three years. Came out with too many products instead of improving ones already had.

Advice to Senior Management

Had too much information to present to customers regarding promotions, events, new products and gifting ideas. Even in this economy, if you want talent to stay you cannot hold raises for three years.

Pros

good opportunities for many years, hard work and dedication to the company was recognized by management, many good benefits for all employees

Cons

many benefits taken away from employees, including pay, tuition assistance, 401K match, etc.
very difficult to maintain positive morale and continued dedication to the company

Pros

...do you like fruit? We grow some of what we sell (depends on the type).

Thoughtful decision making is completely absent, but if you know the right buzz words and are a good marketer they'll probably like you. If you fail to deliver on your promises, just blame someone who was hired before the new executives took control and they'll believe you.

Cons

Old regime (pre-February 2010) was stuck in the mud good old boys club. Self centered and out of touch. Never seemed to understand innovation or how to modernize and grow.

New regime routinely lies to rank-and-file, has no hesitation about abusing the salaried staff (though less of that makes it to the hourly employees due to fear of unionization), and seems to expect F500 caliber infrastructure from a company that has been destitute for years. All salaried staff took 4 months of pay cuts in 2009, hasn't had raises or bonuses since 2007. When disappointed, the CEO just starts firing people, whether they were the ones at fault or not.

Advice to Senior Management

You'll run out of competent people to fire soon. Perhaps you could fire some of the useless talkers instead.

Pros

The job was very easy and low stress, there isn't much skill required so of course the pay will reflect that.

Cons

The pay is a little low and sometimes getting enough hours isn't possible. You may also experience rude customers, nothing you wouldn't expect from an entry level job.

Advice to Senior Management

Good work trying to keep employees happy it makes going to work everyday not such a bad thing. Maybe allow a small amount of moose munch each week for the employees.

Pros

With change comes undreamed-of opportunities and exciting growth. Risk is high and so is the possibility of reward. There's never a dull moment.

Cons

The "plan" and how it will unfold is not apparent to those who do the work. Keeping an open mind about the changes, when the new processes are not yet in place, is difficult.

Advice to Senior Management

Please trust your experienced employees when they say time is of the essence. We all want to succeed. Respectfully, it's time to stop making changes and let people get their jobs done.

Pros

The product is great, it's an easy sell.

Cons

We went through a series of bad managers, and I still don't think they have found a good one, although I haven't worked there in a couple of years.

Advice to Senior Management

A better store manager should be found.