Big Lots

I successfully managed a 30,000 square foot store and I maximized on all opportunities for improvements operationally and financially to achieve established goals. As a Team Leader I utilize all available company tools, reports and feedback to effectively analyze trends to increase profits. I achieved and maintained a high level of customer service to ensure customer issues were dealt with quickly and had efficient resolutions. I managed all store processes to company standard including freight flow, merchandise presentation and reconciliation of all sales, cash and inventory transactions. I was responsible for the interviewing, selection, hiring, training and performance evaluations of all associates. As the Store Manager I led my team with a fair but firm hand and administer appropriate disciplinary action to associates if necessary, including making recommendations for termination, in accordance with company guidelines. I oversaw scheduling and payroll processes on a daily and weekly basis always keeping the profit
margins in line. As the Store Manager I ensured that the appearance of the store’s interior and exterior were maintained to standards including merchandise presentation and recovery as the customers "first impression" is always their lasting impression. Managed and controlled shrink and safety results. I adheared to all company policies and procedures including Ontario Health and Safety. With my varied experience in product knowledge such as furniture, fashion and grocery I’m able to train my team to win customers trust and loyalty.

This is the worst company I have ever worked for. All managers do is lift furniture and work in furniture. DISHONEST MANAGERS and UPPER MANAGEMENT. Push product that is terrible and falls apart and breaks. NO work life balance. Schedule is given on Saturday for Sunday so you can’t plan anything. No weekends off, you get one a month as a manager but you don’t because another Manager needs it off or it is friends and family or seasonal time where you loose them. Worked in a store with NO restrooms for 6 weeks. Back room leaks water and mold everywhere, filthy stores. No training and I’f you get a raise it a very poor raise. Some  raises were as low as $.08.... that’s not a typo. If the store manager liked you your raise would be $.50. The targeting of employees is shameful, if the Manager did not like you they got rid of you and talked about you behind your back and everyone knew who was getting terminated before the actual employee did. Really it is the most terrible and unethical place I have ever worked for and I am so glad to be gone. You really have to ask yourself if you cry before going to work and have anxiety attacks then it’s not for you, and It was not. I can’t stand lies, tricks and discrimination and that’s what Big Lots portrayed while I was there. I sincerely recommend taking what I said to heart because it is all true.

Every day was a new one you never quite knew what challenges the day would bring, requirements changed daily and sometimes hourly so you needed to be flexible and react fast to the changes. Learning was on going with process changes and always looking for better ways to get things done. Worked closely with my Manager related well asking for help when the job became overwhelming. Has great success with my distribution clerk who was able to take over in my absence and a good relationship with employees.hardest part of the job was the time and effort it took each day to maintain both the distribution floor and the shipping department and stay on top of the paperwork that was required. Although it was a demanding job I liked the fact that everyday was a new one and you never got board with it, it was always a challenge and just when you thought thing were settling down there was a new challenge.

A typical day at work would be to manage co-workers.  Getting everyone situated and making sure they are performing their duties as per requested.  I would also get coin, do pick ups for the cashiers.  Recovery is an important asset, making sure the store is clean is an important thing.  The most enjoyable part of my job is working with some of the best people i have met and learning from them as they learn from me.  This job can be stressful sometimes but that comes with any trait of any business.  It doesn't matter what job you have the stress always comes with it.  It's how you deal with it that matters the most.  I love, love my customers, dealing with the public is a tricky trait but so worth it.  Meeting new people everyday is rewarding most of the time.

a typical day could be stocking shelves or moving product from the back to the sales floor. what i learned was inventory management, time management, how to deal with customers. management changed many times over 2 years. anytime with more then 1 boss got conflicting orders. fun coworkers that taught me things about work and ethics toward it. hardest part was either bad management or unloading of trucks in the winter. most enjoyable was helping people find what they needed.

I really enjoyed Zellers because I was always doing something different, I was either Customer Service, Merchandising or on Cash. Over all Zellers was a fun place to work and the management was also good off and on, I had 3 different managers well I worked there, 2/3 were good. The one that wasnt just needed more training otherwise she was good. Zellers was closing and that was the only reason why I left, the hardest part of the job was I always had evenings and weekends and I either had great hrs or none. Overall great place to work.

Overall working at Big Lots LW Store was and average job. Processed new stock, put new stock out on the shelves for sale. Was a cashier as well, dealt with customers weather they needed help finding something or ringing them through the till. 
Last half hour to hour of the night walked through store to make sure everything was where it belonged and everything was neat and tidy.

Now before proceeding thinking this is a permanent job it is not it’s like McDonald’s this is a place of employment for teenagers and people who only want PT work. So the pay does reflect that but with good work ethics it’s easy to promote and get bonuses and raises, as with any company seasonal changes are tough and fast paced and sometimes stressful. But for someone looking to get their feet wet with a first time job, first time retail job this is a great place to start. 

the management and employees at Big Lots were one of the best teams I have worked with.  The management was always willing to work around my schedule and were understanding if anyone made mistakes.  all of my co workers were always friendly and happy to see me when I came in to work.  the only thing that was negative about this job was the fact that we had to close our dorrs soon after opening.

typical day- plan, customer service, balancing, receiving, etc
what i learned- All aspects of retail, both regular employee as well as managerial side. as well as health and safety
management -were positive spirited and tried their hardest
coworkers- were all cooperative 
hardest part- lack of head office communication
enjoyable part- solving problems daily

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