News from the conference - Tim Mantel Chief Merchandising Officer, the one hired at the same time all the full-timers got let go, has been let go himself. Also, Mary Ellen Keating’s last day was Sept 13. Daunt is taking control and he’s going to change it up. Stores and store managers will be empowered to Merchandise and choose their own titles to fit their individual market needs. No more mystery shops - can anyone say “heck yeah” !! And it’s going to a more casual style, employees can now wear jeans and sneakers, “heck yeah” !! Daunt is going to make it a happier place for the managers and the employees - I say give him a chance.
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If a company has a new owner, yet retains the staff that contributed to bringing it down. Nothing changes.
Will never walk-in, will never spend a penny there !
Doesn’t affect me either !
Was fired after 18yrs and have not set foot in a BN since, nor will I ever !
Was assured by a lying manager and DM that my job was safe and if it ever be an jeopardized, they would make sure I was safe.
So, a change in ownership does not change the liars , still there.
A co worker called me about a week after I was fired to ask how to do something. I politely said “ask your manager” . She said “ he told me to call you” I told her “ tell him if he has b*lls enough to call & ask, I’ll tell him.
I didn’t expect, nor did I receive a call.
So, yeah, new owners with same employees = never patronize them ever again.
If only someone intelligent and brave had been in charge a couple years ago. Still, Daunt himself called the changes he first implemented at Waterstones "horrendous" in an interview, so there are going to be some unhappy people somewhere, at some time, probably after the holiday is over. My feeling about the man is that he is smart, decent, practical, and has a clear idea of what needs to be done to try to save the business, without being hamstrung by a bunch of greedy stockholders and old guard id–ts. It all doesn't affect me, since I was shown the door after nearly 15 years of being a Children's Lead, interim Merch Manager, Digital Lead and Head Cashier. I don't shop there, replaced my Simple Touch with the far superior Kobo when it became necessary, and I wouldn't work for the company again. However, I am in a better place now, and as a lover of books and future published author, I see the value of book stores. Every book store. This country has already fallen far enough down the evolutionary ladder.
Show me the money!!
Still won’t shop there...