At a time when almost 10% of us are unemployed, many are seeking and accepting jobs in a place they never would have considered before they lost their executive position or found themselves on the other end of a pink slip.
Some will find, over the holidays, when taking a temporary job to make money for Christmas, that there are some really decent retail employers out there, amongst all the horror stories that you hear about working in retail.
Forbes has done their homework and has compiled a list of the top 10 Best Employers in Retail. The retailers that made this list have a number of things in common. Their owners, presidents, CEOs, et al, all have high favored rankings among their employees. They seem to "get" their employees and know how to relate to them. They offer healthy discounts, remarkable incentives and that regular "pat on the back" that goes so far to encouraging employee loyalty and morale. They offer flexible schedules and seem to take an interest in their employees' futures. These guys know that many people that work in retail are "just passing through" on their way to something better. The difference is that these retailers accept it and even expect it and offer a helping hand up to every single employee that makes their best effort.
So, number 10 on the published list of 100 is still a fantastic place to be! Best Buy is the home for tech gurus. With the latest in technology always available, not only do tech gurus get "hands-on" fun, they ingest an amazing amount of information that will surely help them in their future endeavors. They get first dibs on new products, a decent employee discount and they get to work in a place that is known as flexible and friendly.
Sitting at number 9 on this prestigious list is L.L. Bean, Inc. This company encourages their employees to follow their passions. They have a "use room" where employees can check out outdoor gear at their Freeport, ME headquarters and one of the perks for L.L. Bean employees is access to their cabins situated along the Rangeley Lakes. Their Maine headquarters rivals just about any retail store, described by their employees and customers as "awesome".
Number 8 is Nordstrom. This up-scale department store is touted as having a "friendly" workforce and a work environment that is more like being around family. The store pays commission, which in some atmospheres can harbor unhealthy competitiveness and make for "back-stabbing" and "name-calling", seeming to foster the feeling in their employees that their "hard work is rewarded" and therefore; commission is a good thing.
Unashamedly coming in at the number 7 spot is Costco Wholesale. When asked, employees will tell you that the competitive pay and the benefits keep them happy and working here. Supervisors make .96 and cashiers average .39 an hour. That, and the fact that Costco employees absolutely love Jim Sinegal, their CEO, with the second highest employee approval rating, only following Overstock.com's CEO, Patrick Byrne, makes for a good relationship amongst the employees and staff, which in turn makes it a great place to work.
Somewhat surprisingly, Hot Topic made the list at number 6. The employees love punk/rock music and are encouraged towards self-expression through their dress. They also enjoy flexible work schedules that allow them to attend, and be reimbursed for, concerts. Hot Topic has some of the most quirky, but loved, employee bonuses.
Coach, a world-class luxury leather outlet, seems to attract Type-A personalities, or the 'powers-that-be' are very good at picking them out. But, since Coach doesn't pay commission, their sales people must be highly motivated to succeed. Coach has a goal-based system that isn't attractive to slackers and seems to bring out the very best in an over-achiever. They don't care about the extra money, as long as they get "bragging rights". Coach can brag on their 5th place ranking, out of the top 100!
Nike seems to be favored for their office setting and culture above all else, which has them sitting nicely at the number 4 spot. A highly innovative competitor in athletic apparel, its employees seem to be caught up in the same kind of excitement. They live it and breathe it and love going to work.
Maurices is a small-town specialty retailer that seems to cater to the fun-loving, young-at-heart. Their product line seems to be the draw for their customers, who one manager says are "great"-98% of the time. Employee discounts are generous and they have an exceptional management-training program that many times is sorely missing in retail environments. According to their employees, Maurices' deserves the number 3 ranking.
Recreation retailers have some big boots to fill when it comes to meeting or exceeding REI, the retailer who is the first runner up for the top position. The employees here value the communication and workplace recognition that is passed from the top on down, far surpassing other just as well-known recreation retailers.
And the number one retailer to work for? Overstock.com got achieved that status. Let's start at the top. The CEO/Chairman Patrick M. Byrne has a 92% approval rating among his employees, the highest on the list. This Salt Lake City-based online company is known for its deep discounts and really inexpensive shipping costs, but the employees love it for entirely different reasons. They say the atmosphere is fun and relaxed and that keeps the nauseous office politics that run rampant in other organizations, to a bare minimum. Kudos to Overstock.com. Keep up the good work!
So, if you find yourself looking for a retail position, either to fill a financial void or because you have no other choice, you might head first to the internet to do a little research. A quick search will turn up current and former employee comments about the companies they work(ed) for, while further research will tell you if they are financially stable and what their opportunities for advancement are.
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