Pros
Customers are wonderful and it is a pleasure to share your love of food and cooking. The stores are beautiful and offer a wonderful selection. Employees are empowered to do whatever it takes to make it a positive experience for the customer.
Cons
The company is obsessed with the almighty dollar. Communications from the corp level and DM level speak to you as if your were an idiot. There is no recognition for hard work, and no support unless you are one of the favored people or you make your numbers. Trying to sell a $3000 coffee machine is not the "fun" that corporate claims it is. Maybe they should not have bought so many. Sales associates receive few hours, unless they are in a high sales volume store, yet they are expected to be "available" any time needed. The Training Program is hardly a program. There is no time to learn much when there are 2 people on the sales floor and you are expected to give exceptional service and complete tasks. Tasks are piled on and no extra hours are given. Wake up guys. You are going to lose some really good people with this attitude. After having been a customer, I am shocked at how the employees are treated (from management on down). It is incredible that they can still be nice to the customers.