sales associate

assistant manager

retail sales associate

store manager

retail assistant manager

Johnston & Murphy

Great products and company that stands behind their heritage. Commissions can be nice although low compared to other companies, but training is non existent.  Smaller company so small store teams, if you get on at a good store you become family. They will work you... weeks straight sometimes (My manager and I had to do 2 months straight) and they will stop paying overtime.  It is retail but you still work way too many hours. The real problem is moving up... company is small not a lot of room to grow despite what they say, you will make less in a lot of promotions as they move you to a slower store, and on top of that the regional managers 1 per 12 stores or so make all hiring decisions. They play favorites and don't hide it, and if you are not making what they said you would based on store business they say try harder or maybe a part time job . ( Plenty of mangers told pay plan was 40 - 50 it was really 27-32k) In the end it's a great way to learn the retail game, and product is solid. If you are ok making 35-40 a year working 6-7 days a week and never getting a pay raise unless a bigger store position becomes available which doesn't happen unless someone fired or leaves. then this company is great. But if you want to grow with a company and move up the ladder and have a career go somewhere else or be the regional best friend.

When I come in into the store I have to count the registers and make sure they have equal amount after a closing shift. Then I make sure everything looks presentable on the floor. Normally just there is just one person who opens the store, so they have to wait to take their lunch until another person comes in.
I enjoy working with my coworkers. It is a good environment to learn self-management. We always try our best to represent the brand by dressing appropriately and of course greeting our customers. When the customer is in the store we treat them like our good friends. It is important to have a friendly chat with them, besides just trying to sell them our product. When we establish a good rapport with our customer, they feel more at ease purchasing our brand and they will also come back to shop with us again. 
I love meeting new people every day and being able to assist them. It is a great success for me personally when I could be a help to someone who needs my assistance.

Corporate culture is completely centered around personal and store sales volume. Commission environment opens the door to unhealthy competition among staff. Schedules at my location were heavily slanted by the Store Manager to place himself in the most lucrative selling periods. Regularly worked 1 or 2 unnecessary all-day solo shifts to hoard 100% of sales opps. This may represent a unique situation within the retail division but it was definitely our reality.  The Regional Manager was a long-time employee who definitely displayed a “don’t ask-don’t tell” approach to any negative issues in the store due to the heavy volume generated by that location. No desire to upset the apple cart by addressing such problems. Complaints were either quickly shut down or ignored completely. Staff was actually forbidden any direct contact with the RM by the SM under threat of being written up.

The 3 years of my employment here have been a rollercoaster. I was burnt out from a dysfunctional company and landed with a good team and great management. The increases in $'s and all comps for the company at the Kittery location were noticed. It was an enjoyable time. Management at store and RSM changed and it has changed the whole dynamic for the worse. The market for employees in Kittery is stunningly low and so is the bar for hiring. 2 years in it all changed and the current management as of 12/25 is stunningly inept and, with any luck, will change in 2026. RSM has had 7 managers in the District leave in 4 months specifically due to her skillset. The only good employee is a silent one is my takeaway on this phase of my career.

What is the best part of working at the company?
My immediate boss/store manager was incredible to work for and an amazing human being. Further up the food chain, most were neither.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Details that  operations that other members of staff considered to be just suggestions. Favorites were played. The usual 4th grade behavior of most insecure employees under the age of 30.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Depended entirely on who you coworkers were each shift.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Opening procedures and paperwork, interacting with customer, processing sales, returns, managing shipping to other stores and customers. Merchandising, cleaning, organizing, and recovering the store to directed display and cleanliness standards.

Toxic work environment -The company's conservative, exclusive vision.

Expect to be micromanaged.
As an entry-level mgr when you show 
more care/concern about the company 
than your boss does - that's a major reg flag.

Management doesn't know when to manage, 
and when to back off & trust that 
you can do your job effectively. 

Poor communication skills; 
The company's culture has merit, 
but only if the people who enforce it 
practice what they preach, and lead by example. 

Management gossips at times daily about 
other employees from other stores in front 
of coworkers which creates a negative work environment.

If you are looking for a company
where you will have a voice, 
and a seat at the table - you won't find it here.

Johnston & Murphy is a great place to work. However, the management that I worked under was terrible. Myself and another full-time guy had to work and run the store ourselves at times because our first manager was relocated to Michigan, another came in from Pittsburgh but she left 3 months later and we were still running the sore ourselves, so we just left because we were fed up with the consistent changes. Now the management there is much worse, and none of the employees have product knowledge of the new/previous foot wear or even the apparel. I would recommend a friend only because it's a great place to start if you're looking to get into sales, so you get all the objections out of the way and know how to over come them as you proceed on in your career.

Manage all operations involved with running a retail store and managing profitability. Employee selection, training, evaluation, and finding employees with the ability to move into management positions when available and preparing them for any upcoming advancements. I am responsible for schedules, payroll, shipping/receiving, inventory, and making sales goals with above average metrics. most enjoyable part of my is still helping customers and have them walking away not ever wanting to shop with anyone else in the future. The hardest part of any retail job is balancing work time and home life and being able to take vacations earned.

If you ever work at an outlet location never expect the pay you are told. The numbers they show you are inflated by a projected margin that is unattainable. Just know that if you do work for this company to try to only work for full retail locations. The outlets give you outlet wages. As a store manager I make less than I did working as a full time sales person at the retail locations. Very unhappy, they micro manage and don’t let you do your job. Make you try to hire people based off inflated projections. In general hard to hire people and keep people without a consistent pay rate.

Trained staff in effective sales and customer service strategies leading to excellent team
performance with increased sales, efficiency, and client satisfaction. Instruct employees in
company guidelines and communicate all expectations. Conduct ongoing training utilizing
years of experience and proven sales techniques.
Maintain a positive work environment, enhancing productivity and Recruit applicants, interview potential candidates, and make hiring decisions. Select the
most qualified candidates with potential for long-term success. Establish and manage
relationships with all team members to maintain high level of productivity

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Sales associate 111 salaries reported	$17.50 per hour
Assistant manager 35 salaries reported	$22.06 per hour
Retail sales associate 5 salaries reported	$16.50 per hour
Store manager 37 salaries reported	$32.35 per hour
Retail assistant manager 1 salary reported	$17.00 per hour

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