How long before you’re part of sports direct. Will be sad if it ends that way
I really hope it doesn't come to that.. I think overall, this Christmas will determine our future.
What's their business plan going forward? How much has your store seen in a reduction of salary budget?
The company has currently introduced 5 strategic priorities (I don't want to say too much about them as I might get into trouble) but they are focusing on customers, products, expanding in certain areas where there is a high demand i.e. beauty and to look at ways we can reduce costs.
Budgets for stores vary depending on size, location and customer demand. During phase 1 of the redundancies last year most stores lost 2/3 Sales Managers which resulted in those left picking up an extra department and Supervisors really stepping up (without any pay increase). Since then we have not been allowed to recruit for any new staff (unless we were desperate and had to have this approved via area/regional managers)... Only last week would most stores received a little extra to start recruiting Christmas staff and even for that we have received a limited number of hours that we are allowed to give out. Overall, since last year we have not been able to ask or do anything that would cost the company...
Do you actually get any incentive or commission for getting customers to sign up for the credit card?
Staff (not managers) get less than 40p loaded onto a VIP Gift Card every-time they get a sign up.
How long do you think they can last realistically?
To be honest, I think this Christmas will determine that but if I had to answer that, I would say currently we are still profitable but we are still changing things up fast by putting money into the area where the demand is and for that I think we have at least another 4/5 years before we are in the same situation HOF is in currently.