Saks Fifth Avenue Reviews

Pros

Saks is one of the most elite department stores worldwide... It's a great place to gain product knowledge and clientelling skills!

Cons

Being internally promoted at Saks is nearly impossible.... It doesn't matter how well you do your job, management has their own agenda and is quite hesitant to help you further your career.

Advice to Senior Management

I'm torn with management. I've had some of my best managers and some of my worst from Saks. I think my advice would be hiring consistant managers and better Human Resource employees.

Pros

Discount was great, liked co workers

Cons

Schedules were always changed on weekends

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your employees more

Pros

The discounts are amazing and the people are very nice.

Cons

The company is very structured.

Pros

The Enviroment is amaseing to be surounded by such beauty, the Discounts are incredable.
I bought things that I only dreamed of.

Cons

when sales are down, you can't always help it. if someone does not want to part with there money you can't make them. Management does think that, if there are very little sales it is the sales person's fault. not true....

Advice to Senior Management

put your game face on and show your team that, if the sales are not good for the day encourage them to try harder the next day! "we will do better tomorrow!"

Pros

It is a great place to work on the luxury end. It is nice to work for a high end retailer and there are a lot of perks with the discounts, etc. Also the name recognition is an added benefit.

Cons

There is a clear distinction in how you are treated based on your position. There is an air of elitism from upper management as well as the sales people towards support positions. In addition, they expect you to serve customers and the sales associates at all levels, I often felt like in was the butler getting them supplies, catalogs, etc. Also a lot of hassle dealing with customers not getting their packages, it drives you crazy! The sales people need to stop diverting everything to the general office, it's ridiculous.

Advice to Senior Management

Please show some respect towards those in support positions and don't take advantage of them by combining several positions together and paying for only one position. Be fair!

Pros

Prestigious Company
Company growth
Great multi channel expansions
Some flexibilitiy in regard to schedule

Cons

advancement in company driven by likes vs. actual talent

Pros

Great Discounts! As an employee we get very nice percentage off employee purchases.

Cons

*Very low pay for the amount of work that is expected out of the employees.
*No training provided. As the newly opened store during the holiday season most employees were just thrown out on the floor. They received no training whatsoever and no support from the management. Most employers offer at least an orientation of the store, product knowledge, but at this store none whatsoever.
*Management is not seen on the floor much during the day shift. They are not out there on the floor looking to see if what its employees are doing, and this type of workplace needs that.
*Management doesn't communicate its daily/weekly promotions to all its employees and most people are not aware of what is going on a daily basis.

Pros

Salary makes NYC livable without 20 roomates and Raemen noodles. The Demand Planning team is excellent.

Cons

Growth not important there. A lot of the buyers, planners, and DMM's are catty. The process is very manual. No guard rails when it comes to process. Work life balance does not exist due to the manual nature of the process, and the lack of competent reporting.

Advice to Senior Management

Management needs to focus on growth, sales growth in particular, and the process needs to be brought into the technological age.

Pros

Tremendous discounts
Able to share knowledge with other people
Meeting and working with people from various backgrounds
Love being around beautiful and luxurious clothes and accessories!

Cons

Management could be more fair and understanding
Long hours plus asking people to stay extra at the last minute
Need better raises
Need more higher-end apparel in stores in the greater DC/MD/VA area

Advice to Senior Management

Be as fair as possible and listen to the people who are working hard for you.

Pros

If you have Saks on your resume, you can pretty much go anywhere else! It's a great place to set a foundation for your career.

Cons

Very hierarchical. At the assistant level, there is not much interaction with senior management.

Advice to Senior Management

Communication