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River Island Clothing Reviews
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    River Island Clothing Reviews

    Updated 17 February 2019
    462 reviews

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    3.1
    StarStarStarStarStar
    Rating TrendsRating Trends
    Recommend to a friend
    Approve of CEO
    River Island Clothing CEO Ben Lewis
    Ben Lewis
    149 Ratings

    Employee Reviews

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    Pros
    Cons

    • "below minimum wage if under 20, 8 hours a week to begin" (in 43 reviews)

    • "Long hours and constant changing dates of sale launch" (in 42 reviews)

    More Pros and Cons

    1. "River Island"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Sales Assistant in Birmingham, England
      Former Employee - Sales Assistant in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Negative Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at River Island Clothing part-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      Good discount, friendly staff, modern

      Cons

      Poor wage, long hours, poor management

      Advice to Management

      Better communication skills with staff

    2. "Customer Assistant"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Customer Assistant in Greenwich, England
      Current Employee - Customer Assistant in Greenwich, England
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at River Island Clothing part-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Always talk to people and actively engaging with customers to help them reach their goal for coming into the store for the day.

      Cons

      I don't like the pay and i need more money in order to lead a more comfortable life.

      3. Join the River Island Clothing team
      See Our Latest Jobs

    3. Helpful (1)

      "Great starter carter in retail"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Sales Assistant in Birmingham, England
      Current Employee - Sales Assistant in Birmingham, England
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at River Island Clothing part-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      Got pay above minimum wage
      Lively atmosphere
      Welcoming people

      Cons

      Just standing on the shop floor serving customers all shift
      Didn’t get till trained

    4. "Really enjoyed my time working for the company"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Retail Sales Advisor in London, England
      Former Employee - Retail Sales Advisor in London, England
      Recommends

      Pros

      Making friends
      Good pay
      Uniform allowance

      Cons

      Not being able to go for breaks

    5. "Sales Assistant"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Sales Assistant in Milton Keynes, England
      Former Employee - Sales Assistant in Milton Keynes, England
      Doesn't Recommend
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at River Island Clothing part-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Discount
      Fashion Environment
      People
      Clothing
      Christmas meal

      Cons

      Restrictions of discount
      Poor management

      Advice to Management

      Be more friendly towards employees and compassionate

    6. "HQ role"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Manager in London, England
      Former Employee - Manager in London, England
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at River Island Clothing full-time (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      Good strong brand and secure steady job

      Cons

      Typical 9 to 5 job, lack of flexibility, there is a clash of departments

      Advice to Management

      Need to move with time and market trends

    7. Helpful (1)

      "Superficial and uninspiring"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Buyer’s Administrative Assistant in London, England
      Former Employee - Buyer’s Administrative Assistant in London, England
      Doesn't Recommend
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at River Island Clothing full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Great on site facilities such as large gym and studio, great restaurant with above standard level of food options,

      Cons

      Culture was superficial and uninspiring, no recognition for hard work, being “cool” and “pretty” was seen as the aspiration which felt incredibly immature and unsophisticated. Got a job in a more corporate environment where talent and hard work is recognised and doubled my salary.

      Advice to Management

      My experience in Buying at River Island was very negative, I found the culture superficial and management uninspiring, there didn’t seem to be any recognition for hard work and the excessive middle management made it appear impossible to progress. The team culture seemed to favour being “cool” and “pretty” which felt incredibly immature and unsophisticated. This experience was so life changing that I left London and the fashion industry entirely and got a corporate role in procurement and my life has changed for the better instantly. My salary doubled, and has kept climbing quickly, being in a culture that supports hard work and talent has enabled me to progress much faster than I ever would have at River Island.

    8. "excellent employer"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Retail Sales Associate in Milton Keynes, England
      Former Employee - Retail Sales Associate in Milton Keynes, England
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at River Island Clothing (Less than a year)

      Pros

      amazing 40% employee discount is a pro

      Cons

      no cons at all with working there

    9. "Clique"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Commercial Manager in London, England
      Former Employee - Commercial Manager in London, England
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      Disapproves of CEO

      I worked at River Island Clothing full-time (More than 10 years)

      Pros

      Good Discount and uniform.
      Nice team among the non managers.

      Cons

      Store Managers that have gone on too long

      Advice to Management

      Be a bit nicer, as a person, and a manager.

    10. "lovely atmosphere, decent benefits"

      StarStarStarStarStar
      Former Employee - Sales Advisor in Stirling, Scotland
      Former Employee - Sales Advisor in Stirling, Scotland

      I worked at River Island Clothing part-time (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      Lovely managers, friendly and welcoming atmosphere, decent discount and uniform allowance. I worked there as a student and was very grateful the store manager was flexible on giving me a few weeks of unpaid leave for going home for the summer.

      Cons

      It was a bit slow at times (often on Sundays) and then manic whenever the sale was on, but that's retail for you!