retail assistant manager

sales associate

order picker

store manager

assistant manager

Shoe Dept

I enjoyed the job at first because it was honestly fun for me to organize the store, fix issues, and make the store visually appealing. Things started to fall apart at my store though because we had no strong store management so I had to constantly step up in my role as a sales associate to ensure the store didn’t absolutely fall apart. I was doing a lot more than my managers, working more hours, and received no fair compensation since I was a sales associate and we only get paid minimum wage or 7% commission (which ever is higher) and i was unable to make decent commission bc i couldn’t be on the sales floor enough with all that i had to do. When I finally was able to be promoted to key holder, i thought things would get better because i had more control over the store but now that i was actually allowed to do everything the staff became even more unreliable and would just leave everything to me. I would come in almost every single day, work 6-9 hour shifts depending on the day, and i would get everything that we needed done (boxing up transfers, marking down dozens of items, putting out new sales, tracking down mismated shoes, making boxes for shoes that didn’t have any, rerunning sections, putting out clearance, organizing the accessory walls). I could hardly rely on my coworkers to do any of it bc half of the time they wouldn’t even do it correctly and i would have to go back and fix their mistakes. I was working so hard and so often that i had dreams about the shoe store almost every night. Even after working so much to keep our store afloat, i was being talked down to by higher management that i, personally, wasn’t making enough sales or upselling enough extra items. Even after finding thousands of dollars in extra stock the company had thought it had lost in inventory, i was accused of falsifying returns and stealing product. I worked until 1am putting out truck and preparing the store for the higher ups and the thanks i get is being told that i am the problem when they don’t even have cameras or security to catch actual shoplifters. They want us to keep an eye on the front door and all of our customers but they won’t allow us to stand near the front registers and we only ever really have 2 people working in our large stores and we can’t be everywhere. Not to mention, shoe dept has no extra regulations for covid. They do not care about the health and safety of their store employees, they won’t even let us enforce masks in our stores. Overall, working for this company was a waste of time and not worth wasting your time. They use outdated systems, refuse to listen to their employees who are actually in the stores, and would rather put all the blame on you than take any responsibility for their downfalls. 

My day at The Shoe would normally begin with starting up all of the computers, distributing the cash for the registers, downloading the daily tasks off of the main system that were uploaded by the home office, checking inventory and preparing order forms for areas low in merchandise and store supplies. Next I would do the daily banking and run store errands. Once that's completed I would start preparing to open the store for business which involves turning on the lights (checking them for blown bulbs and changing them if necessary), checking the paperwork (payroll, sales goals, returned merchandise slips, tasks from home office ect) from the previous day to make sure they're complete an accurate. Clean bathrooms, stockroom, windows, mirrors, sweep/shovel storefront, and dispose of garbage. When the store opens I'm usually resolving customer complaints, failed merch issues, locating misplaced merch, taking special orders via telephone and shipping those items off to customers. Once all tasks are completed I can oversee associates and assist customers with purchases which includes informing them of services the company has and special promotions currently being offered. At the end of the day I close the store, clean and organize it for the next days business, complete employee payroll and commission forms, log sales and payroll percent, file away all completed paperwork and go home and stress about whether or not I forgot anything! Smile.

A normal day at Shoe Dept involves you fixing the shoe boxes that customers weren't able to put back, help a customer in need usually there will be one shoe inside a box only for the high end brands such as Nike, Adidas, Pumas Etc.. so surely you will have to go in the back where all the shoes are at and get the mate of the shoe the customer wants. Not everyone gets to use the register, mainly just the management team if you are a assistant manager you will handle all refunds and exchanges. You will also handle all money functions you will count the safe and registers and assign tasks to the sale associates on your shift. This job will definitely help you improve your customer service as you do get paid commission the manager will keep track by giving you code as you help a customer out you will write down your code on the box so the manager keeps track of your work and by how much you are selling. This job would be perfect for someone in college or in high school as you really don't get that many hours which is really one of the downsides of the job but as well the registers tend to malfunction at the wrong moments you might have a long line and your registers just stop functioning so waiting for it to start up is a long process. Even so, everyone in the job are very easy to work with and are super nice! If you're having trouble finding a shoe size for a customer you can definitely ask your co-workers without hesitation! I personally loved working with everyone.

A typical day at the Shoe Dept. is fun and rewarding. I have met so many different people from my day to day experiences from ethnicity, military background; you name it I've seen it and it provided much needed morale on those hard-to-do days. I learned a a lot about how people shop, what they expect and how to treat others with the greatest respect, no matter what people seem like. The management is very lax. You are expected to work, but you won't be treated like a slave there. The manager is kind and sweet and is very understanding, but don't get it twisted- he does have expectations and it's just best for you to do them. 
 
The work environment can be a bit slow sometimes but there is always something to do. If you aren't doing inventory or sprucing up the store's displays, there are always customers to help, and with a little time and experience, they come to know/love you. 

The hardest part of working at the Shoe Dept. is inventory or cranky customers. Our inventory room/system is a bit weird, and oddly organized, which could end up in a customer getting two left shoes instead of a legit pair, but other than that the Shoe Dept. is a great place to work.

My FAVORITE thing about working their is helping the customers; they are my top priority and if you get to know them well enough, you may earn a new brother, sister, mom, dad, or friend while working there.

I worked at Shoe Dept as a sales associate/key holder, and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a stable or respectful job. The pay is very low for the amount of work expected, and there is almost no real opportunity for advancement or raises.
 
Scheduling is inconsistent, hours are “a joke,” and management often expects you to pick up extra shifts or stay late with little notice.
The work environment is full of drama and favoritism, which makes it stressful to come in even on slow days.

Management frequently talks badly about employees, yells in front of customers, and does not handle conflicts professionally.�� Training is minimal to nonexistent, yet you are blamed when something goes wrong or when you cannot keep up with unrealistic expectations.

On top of that, you are often understaffed, doing the work of multiple people for the same low wage. You deal with messy customers, constant box cleanup, theft, and pressure from upper management, but none of that is reflected in the pay or any real support. The only positive part of the job is helping customers who appreciate good service, but that alone is not enough to make the job worth it.

Overall, this is an easy job in terms of tasks, but the toxic culture, poor management, and low pay make it not worth your time. I would not recommend Shoe Dept to anyone looking for a long‑term or professional work environment.

This is a great place to work with great employees who always have a smile on their faces. Typical days at work include greeting the customer, helping customers find what they needed, using the cash register to check the customers out, change window displays, rotate shoes on the shelves to make room for new product, and finally keeping the store neat and tidy until closing. You learn how to make the best out of making people happy in the choices that they have made. Management is always there to lend a hand if you need help with any thing from helping with shipment to being there to ring our customers. Co-workers come and go because of school or them finding another job, but everyone enjoys their time there while they are there. The hardest part of the job is around holidays or back to school because people just over whlem the store. You have a lot of people who depend on you to help them, but it is satisfactory when they leave with what they wanted and a smile on their face. The most enjoyable part of the job is when kids come in to get new shoes. They are just so exited to wear their shoes they will run around the store to make sure they stay on their feet. They love everything from picking their shoes out to help carry them to the counter. If the parent doesn't have enough money to get the shoes there is year a round layaway which makes them smile as well.

I loved working for The Shoe Dept! It's alot of work keeping the store in order and managing 12 to 18 employees. Working around school schedules, employees with 2 jobs and family events and vacations require a calander as well understanding and patience! We are giving a set amount of hours to use and still expected to get all task done. Task include: freight (checking it in and puting the shoes on floor), running the shoes, seasonal change over, markdowns, poster changes, cleaning, displays, working in the accessories and handbags, picking up after customers, and so much more! The sales assistants work for 7.25 per hour or their  Commission, which ever is higher, which makes it hard for employees to manage doing the daily task and helping customers for commission. This makes the turnover high, so there is alot of training and paperwork! There are times when the stress level is very high but the awesome employees of The Shoe Dept stick together and get the job done! I worked as a sales associate, moved my way up to manager and  training for District Manager position so hard work pays off! Great company to work for paid vacation and great health insurance!

I would make the dept look nice then off to the warehouse to look for new incoming freight. If it is a yes, then i proceed to load up a cart with the items. I bring to the sales floor and proceed to open the boxes and put out as many pairs of shoes allowed in the locations they belong. When I am done I take any overstock to the warehouse and scan the o.s. into their prospective bin location. I continue this process until all new freight is put away. During that time I might be helping customers or covering the Jewelry Dept. I might have a chance to pierce someone's ears while i am covering or maybe I just show jewelry and ring customers up at the register while I am there. I would normally cover and do all of the Dept. Mgr, responsibilities on her 2 days off as a Co-Ordinator.. Sometimes we will get in a display quantity. When that happens we have to find a place within the Dept. Usually the lot of shoes are seasonal and we put on an end cap at the end of an isle that makes sense with what type of shoes are in that isle. Dept Mgr. Duties include price changes, setting or planning features, makes time for resets of multiple categories within shoe dept., claims, shrink, ordering or researching shoes that are out of stock. Don't forget Customer Service, have fun, and if you like shoes it is a bonus, but you might need a bigger closet.

On a daily basis, I ran the cash registers and dealt with every type of payment method. I also greeted all the customers as they came in, as well as approached every customer to give them assistance in finding the right product or shoe for them. I helped them to find their size, style, and their ideal pair of shoes. I also sold accessories, socks, panty hose, etc. I stocked the store from the weekly shipment, straightened the shelves during my shift and after close, and cleaned the store on a daily basis. 
I learned a lot of customer service values as well as how to interact with different people in different ways.
Management ran under favoritism; it was not an ideal or fair environment.
My co-workers were mostly all pleasant to work with, and I enjoyed helping them with tasks, and they were almost always willing to help and/or assist me with anything I needed.
The hardest part of the job, to me, was to look past the way management ran the store. I did not agree with it, but I needed to follow all of their rules regardless and stay positive. 
The most enjoyable part of this job was working with the customers. I loved helping people to be fully satisfied with their sale and to know that I had made a frequent customer out of them from the help and assistant I gave them. 


first off, management sucks, seriously. the pay is okay if you’re a teenager with no bills and if you’re trying to pay bills with this job, it won’t happen at all. only time you’ll get decent pay is during back time school depending on your location and christmas time, that’s it. other than that it’s minimum wage and commission, living paycheck to paycheck, hardly getting by. management- they do not know how to make a schedule and even when you give them several months notice on when you need off, they still like to schedule you even on the days you need off and gets mad when you show them proof where you said you needed off. you’re sick and need to call in? oh your manager is about to be mad and don’t care. you get no sick days nor vacation time. highly understaffed constantly and you try to manage working two different things at once even when you can’t because there’s no one there to work. most of the time the customers are very rude and want you to shop for them when giving you no idea at all what they want and want to yell at you when you don’t have what they want or think you can just go to the back and create what they want when we don’t keep anything at all other than the shoes we pull in the back, overall, do not work here. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Retail assistant manager 31 salaries reported	$13.23 per hour
Sales associate 11 salaries reported	$10.97 per hour
Order picker 10 salaries reported	$1,710 per week
Store manager 3 salaries reported	$17.50 per hour
Assistant manager 4 salaries reported	$15.00 per hour

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