Fast paced and chaotic - Anonymous employee Angling Direct Employee Review

25% discount on products but there are some stupid rules to this.

Poor Management & Communication – Many staff report disorganised or inexperienced management. – Communication between head office and stores is often described as inconsistent or unclear. Low Pay & Limited Progression – Wages are generally at or near minimum wage, despite needing quite a lot of product knowledge. – Promotion and development opportunities can be limited or based on favouritism rather than merit. High Pressure & Targets – Strong pressure to meet sales and warranty/insurance targets, sometimes to the point staff feel it undermines customer service. – Staff can be blamed for store figures outside their control (e.g., stock shortages, online discounts undercutting in-store). Understaffed & Overworked – Many stores run on skeleton crews, leading to long hours and stress, especially during busy periods. – Lack of cover often means staff can’t take proper breaks or holidays. Corporate vs. Angling Culture Clash – What started as a friendly, angler-run business has become very corporate as it’s grown. – Longstanding anglers sometimes feel their expertise isn’t valued, and that the company prioritises sales over genuine advice. Limited Training & Support – New staff often get minimal training and are expected to pick things up on the shop floor. – Head office support can be slow or unhelpful when problems arise. High Turnover & Morale Issues – Many employees leave after a short period, leading to a constant cycle of recruiting and training. – Low morale can make the workplace atmosphere negative.

Very lenient on who they hire, almost no previous experience is fine

Very very limited career progression. All breaks are monitored closely, and there is often the expectation that you will work through them to meet certain targets. Very understaffed and bad at upskilling workers.