Pros
Store Manager Fast Track Training is thorough, well thought out, and very informative. Really great training investment, providing a lot of necessary tools to set you up for success. Manager Compensation is a little on the low end but can be made up with fair quarterly bonuses for SM and monthly bonuses for AM based on store performance. Starting wage for associates is fair in my market with opportunity to bonus bi-weekly with sales spiffs. Very great comp plan for all levels of associates to be rewarded and paid for performance!!! Benefits are FANTASTIC! Very adorable plans. Cheapest I have ever seen! Close at 8pm Mon-Sat and 6pm Sunday’s all year round. Closed Thanksgiving. Great hours for retail if you ask me! Rapidly growing company, very profitable, and competitive in our current challenged brick and mortar retail environment. Pricing is very competitive. In stock position is good. Great company mission with very structured pillars, training roadmaps, and core principles that all support the mission and align with each other. This type of structure is refreshing and encourages consistency across the brand. The training roadmap outlines the career path one could take to advance once mastering the necessary skills. Expanding and opening new stores all the time leaves a lot of opportunity for advancement. Great company to work for with A LOT of things they are working on to continuously improve. Our feedback is not only heard but prompt action is taken to do the right thing! Love working for Harbor Freight Tools!!!
Cons
The training for Assistant Managers and below is minimal in comparison to the investment put towards Store Managers and above. While the online training is thorough and lengthy, we should invest more into our future leaders (supervisors and assistant managers). Allocate payroll for all associate’s training. We allocate 4-6 weeks for SM and DM. This investment in associates would reduce our turnover. Payroll is tight as the case with most retail orgs but too tight at times, specifically with new stores and high workload weeks. Hiring is a challenge to say the least. Need to work on creating a first class hiring experience for our associates. Implementing recognition programs and retention programs could help keep our stores staffed. Overall, still a great company to work for. Focused on continuous improvement and truly acts with a sense of urgency to do the right thing for the employees!
