Universal Store Reviews

A huge downside to Universal is easily the unrealistic budgets. We are given the most unrealistic budgets/targets and are faced with disappointed higher ups when failed to achieve. Constantly feeling like you’re failing to meet something so unrealistic becomes extremely tiresome to those managing stores and subsequently the team; it really affects the overall well-being of the entire team. Despite this, there is little to no encouragement from higher ups, and you are only met with praise when budget is made. It is truly such a damaging mentality. On top being expected to achieve unrealistic budgets, we are also expected to process stock, recover the store, complete online orders and much more. This just becomes extremely difficult to manage and completed in a single day. There’s just so much expectation from the higher ups. Another obvious downside is how we are forced to sell to customers. I have watched so many customers become visibly uncomfortable because of the way we are selling to them. Not every customer will want to purchase something, AND THAT IS OKAY! Overall, it is not an easy job. But it should be.. Retail is meant to be fun! It’s fun to style customers and banter with them. If done simply it could be enjoyable. But unfortunately this is not the case.

Upper management of Area Manager and Regional Manager strive for a work culture that is borderline harassment to customers. They train you in ways to never back down from a customer, even if they wish to be left alone. There is also prejudice against certain employees, if you don't fit their ideals, you won't be tolerated - even if you are exceptional at the job. Rostering is managed by Area Managers who grill store managers on why certain employees are being rostered - questioning their judgement when the store manager knows best, as the area manager only appears in store once a week. The upper management never acknowledges positive performance, except for putting your receipt of high ticket sales on a wall - there is only negative recognition. Most stores have incentives to perform at higher levels, however Universal only considers poor performance and is ignorant of effort. The store manager turnover is insanely high, yet upper management doesn't focus on the core issue = THEM.