It’s disheartening to witness the transformation of this company over the years. Perhaps it reflects the current management generation. I don’t mean to criticize, but I recall a time when Store Managers actively engaged with the team on the floor, and department managers were hands-on with markdowns and sales alongside the associates. We even wrote clearance prices in red pen and diligently marked them on sheets to document our work. Inventory was a collective effort, where we counted items ourselves and recorded everything on paper.
While I appreciate the advancements in technology that streamline inventory and markdown processes, the management style has shifted significantly. It’s unfortunate to see long-time Store Managers and their Assistants, some with over 25 or 30 years of service, leaving the company. Now, it often takes ten people to handle the workload that one person used to manage effectively.
Today, the focus seems more on avoiding night shifts rather than ensuring the safety of staff during closing hours, especially when there’s a key holder who isn’t proactive, along with just two other employees. There’s little concern for the store’s appearance, and management often remains in the office until the regional visits. After many years of dedication to a company I once loved, I’m relieved to be retiring.