sales associate

sales lead

customer service representative

assistant manager

Journeys

Journeys was quite possibly one of the worst job experiences for me. It was a job for me to have while I searched for a career job (there is almost no room for advancement at Journeys).

One of the biggest reasons this job was so horrible was the terribly trained managers and the brutal management who did nothing to ever resolve situations at the store. Some of the people I worked with were friendly and outgoing which made working a little bit easier to handle.

Expect to only make minimum wage with no benefits and although the managers will tell you you get commission off accessories you sell the district managers will tell you otherwise. Also you don't receive any benefits.

You have to hit your daily goals at Journeys which include shoe sales, multiple shoes, accessories and socks. The goals are obtainable but really high considering some days are incredibly slow making those goals almost impossible. Why are the goals so high when the employees are only making $14/hr?

While I was there I ran into constant problems including:
-Drama caused by the managers who tried to enforce rules made up on their own terms
-The manager was reported to HR many times by many fellow employees and HR did nothing but let the manager know they were reported which just made the manager want to get the employee who reported them fired
-The managers I worked with were told to try to get certain employees fired by district managers which is absolutely ridiculous 
-Constant privacy violations including but not limited to managers looking through employee phones placed in the back room, managers taking pictures of employees on the job without consent, being told to change clothing because showing your belly button is considered inappropriate
-A district manager came to take over the store resulting in every employees hours dropping significantly and all key-holders becoming demoted. (Because clearly the district managers aren't making enough money and have to take the minimum wage employees hours right?)
-Managers would talk behind employees backs to other employees (I've had the managers tell me how they want a reason to fire employees I work with)
-Seasonal workers were hired on and told they were part time and didn't need to look for another job but then all of a sudden when the season was over they were laid off and told they were only seasonal

I can go on forever with reasons why I'd suggest you don't work at Journeys especially since most employees there are always looking to get out but need another job first.

Eventually my job at Journeys came to an end (one of the better things that happened at Journeys) when the store failed it's third audit since I've worked there. I was written up three times because the store failed an audit. Essentially I was fired because someone else might have been misplacing/stealing products which is obviously out of my control since I did nothing but be a great worker there.

The only plus to this job is making some side money $14/hr that's it. No benefits, no room for advancement, terrible pay and ignorant management. Any other minimum wage paying job is a much better option.

A typical day at work would mostly include helping customers find their desired shoes for either themselves or someone they were shopping for. Not only would it be customer relations due to the fact that I am a manager so it also involves processing shoes that are being sent in and out of the store as well as managing a staff while doing these tasks. I have learned how to manage time appropriately as well as delicate tasks to associates while managing to help customers as well as do my own daily tasks. Organization has also been a key part in my position due to so many events transpiring at once. However, even though it may become a very stressful situation my staff has a wonderful energy that allows for my spirits to be constantly raised as we are not just co-workers but rather a family. The hardest part of the jobs would be the long hours due to the fact that management is not only expected but encouraged to work fifty or more hours per week. The most enjoyable part of this particular job is being able to help customers get exactly what they were looking for and seeing how a simple transaction can make their entire day.

Chill people and environment, but it always seems like my job is on the line because of the aggressive selling behaviors that you have to execute flawlessly. Otherwise, you earn yourself a write up. Sometimes I feel like I'm compromising my identity just to make 4% commission. They talk up how you make commission, but at the end of the day the money you make turns out to be less than minimum wage because of the long hours. You make a lot of money during the back to school season and during Christmas, otherwise 9 out of 12 months are extremely slow. 

Also, you have to make sure your employees make their sales goals, but it takes away from your paycheck because you won't get the sale. Either way, you find yourself in the deep end for not making your sales goals or for your employees not making their sales goals. 

Scheduling is flexible, but if you want to make good money you have to work overtime. Thus, sacrificing time with your friends and family and putting a ceiling on your personal goals and dreams. 

The district manager is a really great guy though.

I've been working with Journeys for about 2 and a half years; it's a fun part-time gig with a relaxed work environment and no dress code. The job itself is relatively easy and you'll be comfortable so long as you're hitting your sales goals and SOPS (sale add-ons; socks, accessories, and multis). Sometimes the goals are unrealistic (given covid). 

Many of the new hires (at certain locations) are told they'll be making a commission for their sales but this isn't true. In my years of achieving and surpassing my goals I never saw a lick of commission as a part-timer. Discount is great though. Co-Manager and Store Manager pay is ALRIGHT, but you could find much better for the amount of work you're expected to do. 

The DM also ploys people into the company with false promises of growth but Managers in training make less than they would as keyholders and Managers training for DM find themselves stuck after training to move up because the current DM is never leaving lol. 

The staff are supper lovely to work with, the manager is very fresh to the job and it shows, especially in scheduling and such, but at least they're kind. Such strict sales goals and push to sell leads to not so great competition and unnecessary stress. The DM pushes and pushes and pushes, but people can't afford expensive clothing in a time like this, let alone extras, everybody is pushed constantly to sell multiple shoes, socks, and accessories all in one sale but I know I definitely can't afford that. I feel it's a little out of touch of them to expect that, and the performance evaluations where we have to write all the things we could do better feels a little demeaning. Not to mention all that stress and push for minimum wage and 0% commission, and the discount is great...but it's capped at about $50 monthly when you start and for a while after that, I don't mean to be greedy but when you're pushing me to make your company so much with very little incentive it's not as rewarding. The team vibes are great, however, the hours get cut during the slow season so half the time don't expect more than 10 hours a week.

I worked at journeys for about three weeks. When they hired me they never told me anything about it being seasonal so I was surprised when I got a text from my manager telling me that they’ll no longer have me due to “seasonal” I’m sure it was because I don’t have that car salesmen attitude, cause that’s basically what they’re trying to do. When I was working, all they made me do was stand there and wait for customers to walk in and and the managers would tell us to approach them immediately. Basically I was getting into peoples faces practically begging them to buy something. It was too desperate for me. The managers told us we need to “be aggressive and get to the customer first before another employee does” cause we also worked on commissions.  Plus they didn’t have cameras so we gotta make sure we’re watching all the customers which can get very awkward. I gotta say it’s a good experience if you’re into the fast pace quick service, assertiveness ( car salesmen attitude)

I swear a write up was always around the corner because people didn't want to buy shoes. The store manager could be nice but usually management was terrible. Co-managers and below were super cool and fun to be around, but sales could get competitive as there is a certain quota you have to make. The business model is terrible and you have to shove shoes down the customers throat, like they'd ask for 1 shoe and you'd have to deal with the face they make when you're forced to bring out 3 different ones on top of that. The district and regional managers are just bullies and treat employees and even customers like garbage, employees got like one break on an 8 hour shift, and a super low salary. They would also schedule you for days you booked off or weren't available, then you had to find someone to cover it, ask for full availability but only schedule for 3 hour shifts, then ask why you didn't sell $1000 in shoes. Make it make sense?

Working at Journeys helped me build strong sales and customer service skills in a fast-paced retail environment. I enjoyed interacting with customers, hitting sales targets, and learning how to upsell products while creating a positive shopping experience. The team environment could be motivating at times, especially during busy seasons when everyone worked together toward goals.

At the same time, there were challenges with workplace communication and team dynamics that occasionally made the environment stressful. I also experienced moments that felt unprofessional and difficult to navigate as a newer employee. Despite that, the experience taught me a lot about staying composed under pressure, adapting to different personalities, and maintaining professionalism in customer-facing situations.

Overall, it was a valuable learning experience that strengthened my confidence in sales, communication, and working in a high-energy retail setting

Working at Journeys was the highlight of a day. It was very enjoyable going to work and being able to sell our product, while having fun. In Mississauga the management was amazing and we were able to communicate our problems in a safe environment without worrying if it'll cost us in anyway related to our job. In Ottawa unfortunately that wasn't the case, management was not able to effectively communicate in a safe environment, it felt like we had to watch what we said in fear of if negatively affecting our job. My coworkers were amazing, very outgoing and caring, they were always there to support you in any situation. The hardest part of the job would be communicating with an unhappy customer, more often then not they don't want to hear you out. However eventually we are able to find a middle ground that makes everyone happy and that was the best part of the job, improving someones mood.

I find this company will just throw you in the fire, knowing you need training and help, the pay is basically the bare minimum. To run an entire store and wing it the entire time because nobody is there to guide you. You work every single weekend, you are nervous to request days off for appointments, or saturdays off for family engagements. You request vacation days months in advance and it goes ignored, you request training with the training manager and it goes ignored, you make mistakes and you get thrown around (even though you were never properly shown how to do things). Your position is temporary and all you can think is once that time is up they will just replace you with someone new. They burn you out as soon as you start with 50-60 hour work weeks , open-closes working by yourself for 8 hours before someone else comes in.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Sales associate 5 salaries reported	$15.73 per hour
Sales lead 1 salary reported	$20.19 per hour
Customer service representative 1 salary reported	$18.00 per hour
Assistant manager 1 salary reported	$17.50 per hour

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