Clueless about retail - Store Manager Vans Employee Review

2.0
Oct 10, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great brand. 50% Employee Discount. Loyal customers.

Cons

Horrible communication from senior management. Corporate Managers lead by fear, threaten, and are condescending. Heavily task oriented, yet tell you to cut payroll and do not complete tasks during business hours, but don't come in early or stay late (!!?). Vans retail is disconnected from Vans the brand. They are not cutting edge, they run the retail side similar to companies I worked for 10 years ago which are now out of business. Micro manage with an insane amount of daily checklists and sign off sheets. Absolute worst company I've worked for, and would not recommend it to anyone except first time managers looking for experience and resume building.

Explore other reviews about Vans

5.0
May 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Everyone was so nice and the job was very fun! I miss it every day.

Cons

Sometimes I didn't like the shoe designs.

3.0
Apr 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The environment is absolutely amazing with my coworkers and they are always supportive. Any issues that arise are met with a high level of humanity - on the base level of the people I work with, because I haven't really delt with corporate. It genuinely feels nice to work here when you have a team like mine. The culture of skating is absolutely amazing to learn about at VANs and be a part of as well. I like the history behind some of the shoes, but that's probably just because I'm a history nerd.

Cons

Part time doesn't get many hours or enough pay to survive off of. However, you can't become full time unless you get a higher position. Sadly, they are incredibly hard to get, due to the fact people seem to stay with VANs if they get that promotion, just because it seems to be great to work here once you have that higher position. As well as the usual shift is 4 hours, and sometimes you only get one shift a week. It's just incredibly hard to stay here when it can't even give you enough money on your paychecks to get a small amount of groceries that'll last one person two weeks.

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