Some important outlines about working at Avenu - Anonymous employee Avenu Employee Review

This was my first job ever working as an assistant manager, all my prior experience had been either as a fashion stylist or sales advisor which is something that the owners were well aware of. The benefits of working at Avenu sadly and overwhelmingly, are shadowed by the downfalls of working for a small, independent shop. Once you are taught the very basics of opening and closing the shop and are trusted to work shifts alone, the owners will be watching you through the store cameras while they are at home or wherever is deemed more important on summer weekends to call the store phone number and literally yell at you for not tending to a particular customer they are watching through a screen (in my case, that exact customer was already being helped by another associate, and I was already tending to customers that had asked for help). It is purely illogical and unprofessional to sit at the comfort of watching a screen without knowing the full context of what is going on and for the owners to assume that you are not doing your job when there is no indication of idleness. Even trying to explain that there are other customers in the shop that need your help is inexcusable apparently, because if you work here, it is okay to trust your sales judgement and entirely neglect customers that only seem to be window shopping. Instead, you should be glorifying those that wear designer garbs and you should be showing them every new piece of merchandise in the shop. Be aware that there is a definite customer hierarchy and you should not be afraid of demonstrating it, even if it means giving customers that spend less a negative shopping experience. You can read the Yelp reviews. I must also leave it very clear for any prospective employees that this is a workplace where you are not taught how to interact with a customer in the specific way that the owners want you to, because it is assumed that you already know which customers are priority. And that if you do something wrong, you are NOT corrected, you are deliberately disgraced. In my experience, I was talked down on the sales floor by one of the owners while customers were shopping, where they could clearly hear the conversation and made clear facial expressions indicating so. This system of micromanagement does not create a healthy or enjoyable atmosphere to work in whatsoever. On the contrary, it is humiliating not only for the employees, but the business itself. It is unrealistic for the owners to demand a better performance from their employees when there is no real example of a respectful work ethic to begin with. I advise the owners to spend more time training new staff than depending on other assistant managers to do it themselves. There were no goals or expectations communicated to me whatsoever since the beginning, the only induction training that I ever received was learning how to open/close the shop. As an employee, you are expected to give exceptions to certain customers as requested by the owners. The legality of some transactions are easily overlooked if it means the shop is receiving an important sum of revenue. During the summer especially, when Coronado is filled with rich Arizonians and Mexico City locals, you can expect to deal with many many customers that will not have read the return policy (no refunds, only store credit) and that will make you the best target to release all of their resentment. Yet somehow -- allowing reimbursements to special customers as exemplified by store owners. I advise the owners of Avenu to make a list of the names of these special customers, and to also write right next to their names, the specific special treatment that they are given to spare any confusion when an employee tells them the total price of their purchase and the customer responds back by saying "Irma always gives me 10% off if I pay in cash" or "Alexa allows me to pay in checks". If a list is made, it will simplify the process greatly, and allow new employees to quickly understand which customers have a greater advantage than the next. Once the new employee learns which customer to grant an exception to, the customer (usually wealthy) will need not be offended for believing that they must pay the same for the overpriced merchandise as any other customer (usually not wealthy). That brings me to my last point. As an employee, you will experience the multiple times a day a customer complains about how expensive the clothing is (especially Avenu's own label) and swallow the fact that they are selling the same exact piece at Marshall's or ASOS for a fraction of the price. It is completely understandable that a profit needs to be made in business, but there exists a realistic price to pay for polyester sweaters and flimsy tops with pulled threads. Of course not all merchandise is like this, but these pieces are much easier to spot. I honestly do wish that there were more positive things to say about working here. Working shifts alone during low season can be bittersweet. The owners can be very nice and affable when caught in a good mood, but it is overall not a pleasant feeling to go into your shift wondering what you will be criticised for each time. I do not recommend.