Pros
Discount of 50% (although frustratingly customers are entitled to 40% off nearly constantly so not exactly much of a perk) Store enviroment - friendly and sociable, targets set daily and there's always something to be doing so you're never clock-watching Regional Managers - I can't speak for every region but the 2 managers I've met and worked closely with both bring energy to their role and I have learned a lot about my own managment style. Although sometimes hard to reach they've both been extremely helpful when I've needed support.
Cons
- approach to selling. No matter how you dress it up or how you train your team and yourself to think you are helping the customer with your advice.. you ARE selling. I feel awful for customers who (like myself when shopping) simply ENJOY browsing. Not all customers want engagement.. however our stores are set up so that no customer is ever left alone. Having to trot on over to introduce a new product is all well and good but not everybody wants intense 'sit down' based service and I feel it's unfair to pressure store teams into having to deliver this service to every person that walks into the store. -lease lining. LISTEN to your staff for heaven's sake. They DO NOT enjoy it. At best...some don't mind it, at worst some find it embarrasing and intimidating. I feel awful having to send my team out, although I happily do my fair share. Despite promoting self esteem as one of our original values we put a lot of emphasis on a selling technique that maybe sells us an extra £15 body butter at the expense of staff member feeling literally pushed out and embarassed. It's simply not worth it. - Offers. I won't say more than what I've heard hundreds of customers say to me... ''Oh I'll wait till next month when it's on offer, you'd be stupid to pay full price for anything at the Body Shop.'' silly idea alert - LOWER OUR PRICES and CUT OFFERS DOWN? - Meet company targets OR go on a performance helping plan and risk losing your job.