marketing specialist

project manager

customer service representative

editor

director

Lifeway Christian Resources

Lifeway is a very unique place. It's a retail job so the work is pretty much the same as any other store (such as putting out stock, pricing things, arranging the store, etc.) and the pay is practically minimum wage so no difference from anywhere else. But Lifeway really does have some of the nicest and caring people working at their stores. If they didn't I would have most likely left three months in. I'll work my way from bad to good. The worst part of the job has got to be the customers. 

I have worked in customer service for years and never have I seen ruder customers. They will come into the stores looking for a very specific, sometimes non-existent thing and if you do not find what they are looking for EXACTLY they are very upset and will tell it to your face. 

The second worst thing about the job is the Plus selling. Every month there are certain products that Lifeway highlights and sells for $5.00 at the front of every register (usually an updated version of a popular book in paperback, a Bible, a CD/DVD, and finally a product relating to an upcoming holiday/event). These products do not sell at regular price at all so they've marked them down to get rid of them. These are usually products that people don't even want but it is every employees job to push the products at each customer. It is a job killer to not make your 10% sales goal. This of course is no different then most (if not all) retail establishments and I really don't oppose Plus selling as it is a necessary evil in this day and age. But Lifeway poses a moral dilemma for me and others I have spoken to about it. 

The Bibles that are usually on sale are cheaply made things with extra small print and very thin pages. Most people have trouble even making out the words so it's usually passed over. As a way to sell the product they allow the stores to donate the Bibles to a charity of some kind and customers will gladly donate to see the Bibles placed in a women's shelter or prison. For some people (myself included) I feel it makes a good thing out of a bad situation. The problem I have is that I feel it demeans the Bible and makes the employees regard it as nothing but a cheap piece of product rather than the Lord's perfect word. Again, this is just how I feel on the matter. I have no problem with the Plus selling whatsoever I just have a problem with the type of product they are trying to make a quick dollar off of. 

There are definitely some great things about working there as well. At every store they do book and CD signings every few months which is exciting. You'll discover new books and authors and get a first peak at upcoming works by renowned authors and artists. You'll also learn a lot about Bible details besides just different translations and why every person's Bible choice will be unique. Well, it interested me at least. You'll also have wonderful and lovely people come to the stores too and they'll make up for the ones that upset you. Your whole week gets better sometimes because they are so sweet. The most enjoyable time with the job is when you do help a customer find just the right product and you just know that you've given them a product that truly touches their heart. The second best thing is the relationships you can have with your coworkers. Just like everywhere there may be one or two employees you may not always see eye to eye with but the majority of Lifeway employees are great including the managers!

Now management I would have to grade on two levels. Store level wise (i.e. Manager, Assistant, etc.) I would grade them with five stars. They work harder then any other managers I've ever seen. They are all over the store every single day bouncing around from the front of the store helping customers, to the back to help get the inventory in the store, back out on the floor to set inventory out, and then back into the office to finish some paperwork before the cycle resets. They are not above taking a turn on the register just to give regular associates a quick break from the monotony. But they are not push overs either. If you're given an assignment that isn't done, they ask about it and coach you so you don't repeat your mistakes.  Every one that I've spoken to truly cares for their employees and will help any other store that calls them to the best of their abilities. I can't speak more highly of the store level management. They all deserve raises for the work they put into their stores. They are the heart and soul of the company. 

Upper management, however, I would have to give them a three. I do not feel that they fully know what they are doing. On one side of their mouth they try and speak like a ministry but then the other side talks like a business. Needless to say the two don't mix well. A member of management once said that if the company wanted to make money they'd sell candy (which we do at the front of the stores) but when acts of God happen (i.e. snowstorms) we are to take our cue from Walmart. If Walmart is open Lifeway should be open. I am not saying that they aren't nice and good people because they are, just like the other employees. I just don't feel they know what they want to be: ministry or business. 

In conclusion, Lifeway's work is going to be just like any other retail store. Don't apply for a job if you think all you'll get to do is
read books and pray goodwill for people. What makes them unique is the people that you'll end up befriending when you work there and the knowledge that you may truly bless a customer if you give them just a little of your time. 

Every day is something new. Helping customers is the most important thing as soon as we walk out on the sales floor. We put out newly received items almost every day. We have to organize. I am the head gift and card associate at the moment so I make sure those sections are looking great constantly. I also am in charge of the other associates; making sure tasks are done and that everyone is being productive.
I have learned patience at this job. Dealing with difficult customers and odd requests has been a really good learning experience. Respect is the key, if you respect another individual you can usually calm them down and figure out what problems you need to solve and make the customer satisfied.
My manager has always been great. He has always worked with me when I had school hours and when I needed time off. He is a very affective communicator and has taught me a great deal in good work ethic and management skills.
I have always been able to enjoy and become close with all my co-workers. Everyone has different strengths and it is very important for me to do my part in bringing and helping my coworkers to be better associates.
I’m not sure there really is a hard part to this job. Most everything is enjoyable to me. The most fun would be to meet people and help them find items that could have an impact on their lives. I am a people person and I enjoy helping customers as much as I possibly can. We are always told to go above and beyond our customers expectations.

I have worked at Lifeway for almost 3 years. For the most part, my coworkers are supportive and flexible, we help each other out like family. The customers are mostly patient and kind, but you still get the occasional demanding and rude person like in any retail establishment. I love being able to minister to hurting customers, but having the time to do that has been greatly diminished recently as the work demands have rapidly increased. It appears that the company may be experiencing some financial trouble as they are scrambling to remain relevant and this leads to many changes often. The manager is a terrible communicator and incredibly disorganized. He leaves early every day and rearranges the schedule at the last minute to accommodate his plans, not caring how it effects his employees. He is always in a bad mood. He is inconsistent with his rules, allowing his favorite employees to do things (like constantly call off) that others would never be permitted to do. He refuses to help on the floor and is always in the office. I’m certain that there are other locations with much better management as I see and hear stories about them. I am beginning to diligently look for other employment as I am afraid of the company’s stability and have had as much as I am able to handle from the current manager, who doesn’t appear to be interested in changing or in moving on.

A Typical Day at Work:
I would stock our product, not only books but artwork, movies, music and gift items. This is done throughout the shift, and is not the priority. The main emphasis of my shift is to talk to customers and help them with whatever they need. Plus-selling and capturing customer information is required but is a reasonable percentage of transactions. If I opened or closed there were different cleaning responsibilities as well as counting down the registers. 

What I learned:
I learned about sales, zoning and how to interact with retail customers. 
A very specific tip I learned from one manager was to display items in a triangle to help sell product and keep things looking neat.

Management:
Management was fine, easy to talk to always available to help, and kindly encourage plus-selling.

Co-Workers:
I worked here for a while, and there seemed to be a core of about 10 of us who stayed, after us there seemed to be a high turnover rate. Almost everybody was very easy to get along with and everybody worked hard so there was no extra slack to pick up.

Hardest Part:
Plus-Selling the random items at the register. 

Most Enjoyable:
I would have to say the atmosphere. I very seldom had those "I just don't want to go to work" days. I enjoyed spending the time with my co-workers as well as seeing the new books we would get in.

Since being a part of the LifeWay team, I have learned to be patient and understanding of people. Work is about more than accomplishing a goal, but also uplifting the people that we work with day to day. I have  enjoyed working in a space where I can openly operate in my faith, while praying for others. We are realistic that no one is perfect and that we all have flaws, so we try to show grace towards each other. Though faith based, we operate as a business while balancing the needs of customers and churches.

The CEO supports initiatives that foster a positive culture and a sense of belonging. During times of organizational change, there is an opportunity for newly hired executives to provide clear communication that explains the direction and strategy for the organization.  Expressed desires and vision is not enough to minimize doubt and uncertainty, which impacts culture.

Most professional positions are remote and many are outside of the Nashville area. All employees travel in twice a year to meet as an organization and with work teams. LifeWay invests in technology and is adjusting to provide resources to customers and churches of all backgrounds. It’s a good place to work.

Employee morale is at an all time low. Workloads have doubled for many employees due to cut positions, even though products are not cut. Editorial teams are much smaller. You really need to know and trust your team members when you have to produce so much material. Working away from the office is a plus, especially with the location of the new HQ—it's not in a easy location to get to. 
Management expects a lot from employees—even beyond training or comfort. Making sales calls to multitudes of churches was required of employees, in addition to doubled work loads. 
The new building is full of sweet perks, but the open office/cubicle workspace is difficult. Office temperatures and lighting are problematic—too many differences of opinion of what those should be. The reality is, very few are pleased with overhead lighting. Some work areas are extremely cold while others are warm. 
There are some pluses to that kind of work space. Employees work hard. Multiple departments are housed on the same floors, which sometimes makes it difficult to celebrate work milestones due to not wanting to disturb other departments. Those celebrations have to be relocated to another part of the building or off site.

Working at a bookstore was nice. They scheduled my lunch breaks in a weird way, though. Instead of letting me have a break during my shift, they would schedule two shifts in the same day with a break in between. As a sales associate, you will do everything. I worked as a cashier, greeter, book-shelver, and sales associate every day. Just because it is a Christian bookstore, don't expect the customers to be Christ-like. They are still customers and they get frustrated just as easily. Some of them will be the sweetest people and they understand if you are new; other customers don't care if you are new and expect to be waited on hand-and-foot! Be careful. If you can handle a lot of stress, you'll be fine. If you are someone that easily breaks under conflict and high-stress, stay away from this job (and any retail, for that matter)! Again, it's a nice place to get some retail experience or make extra money. My assistant manager was mean to everyone, and so my experience was tainted. Oh, and good luck getting off work for any reason. They are tight with their scheduling and you have to request off work a MONTH in advance (at least in my store).

This is not a job one can live off for long. You begin at $7.75 an hour and raises are few and far between. Legally you are only allowed 20 working hours a week due to its status as a non-profit business. This is a good part-time job for students needing some extra cash, but if you are looking for a stable job that you can live on, then you had better get a second job or look elsewhere.

You are expected to answer phones, be a cashier, stock and clean the sales floor and restrooms with only a couple people working the sales floor at a time because the store is under-staffed. Also, sometimes customers call or come in with religious questions and concerns; because this is a religious store, you will need to be a Christian and be well-versed on the Bible. If not, then the constant Christ-centered atmosphere will take its toll on your sanity, because you are not allowed to disagree with customers about religious views and beliefs.

The LifeWay Store in Edina, MN has great people and a very calming work environment, but be ready for hard work for not a lot of money. And if you do not abide by their daily requirements, then they give you fewer hours, less then 20/week.

Your typical day at work is relaxed with a couple of early, midday and evening rush of customers. I learned how to better deal with people, communication skills, working with others. I also learned to have a flexible schedule, but had enough time to plan accordingly (shift schedules were posted 2-3 weeks in advance). Managers were great, flexible with other job hours or school hours. Asking for time off was not an issue. Workplace culture was nice, everyone seemed to be on the same page as far as ethics, missions, or values. Since it is a Christian based company it was nice to always be surrounded by positive and uplifting people with similar views and interests. The hardest part of the job was dealing with the few difficult customers, or sometimes dealing with corporates decision that as individual stores did not agree with or had harder times adjusting to the change. Best times is knowing you helped someone who was in need of a specific item  that was a blessing to them. The family like atmosphere with coworkers, you ended up becoming such great friends with everyone. Frequent customers were always great to see and create relationships with!

A typical day at work starts with answering emails and completely the daily reports. After the reports, we survey the sales floor and make a detailed list of all the tasks that need to be done throughout the day for the sales associates to complete. We combined those with the tasks that we get from corporate for the week.

When the store opens, our focus is solely customer orientated. All associates including management help customers on the phones and those that come through our door. As our associates help customers, we observe their interactions and use these moments as training tools. After lunch, I would check our corporate posting of weekly updates for the floor. I will either execute the tasks myself or delegate them out to associates. Then, I call churches and ask if they need anything or have an order that they would like to place. At some point, the bank deposit needs to be sent out so I would prepare it and have an associate take it to the bank to be put in our account. Then, I would go back onto the sales floor and continue to train, help customers, or accomplish the tasks set out on the checklist from the morning.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Marketing specialist 5 salaries reported	$55,600 per year
Project manager 10 salaries reported	$106,585 per year
Customer service representative 3 salaries reported	$33,667 per year
Editor 4 salaries reported	$58,000 per year
Director 4 salaries reported	$123,250 per year

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