retail sales associate

lead retail sales associate

retail manager

manufacturing associate

stocker

The Orvis Company

Orvis has history and pedigree, but the quality of things for employees and customers is dropping due to a combination of middle management, old data systems, and simple laziness... simplification that cuts quality.  Longer time employees (and customers) have seen the end of pants hemmed to size, gift boxes & gift wrapping, replacement components for products, etc.  I can't speak to the 'brick and mortar' side, but the managerial, warehouse, and catalog center are troubled.   Upper management and IT turnover is constant (evident from the staff change announcements regularly distributed).  Every year or so it seems there is a new managerial rebranding -- word games.  Inventory problems have gone up, long after 'Covid'.  The customer/order data software is from at least the 1980s if not older. It got 'gui' window dressing in the 2000s.  Now, changes to shipping software and efforts to integrate internet-related software to support web sales and service has exponentially made it worse, and made simple customer service work absurdly complicated while compromising CSR ability to efficiently serve the customer, even as the company continues to cut phone service hours (from 24-7 as recently as 5 years ago, to now only daytime east coast, M-F).  The quality of the product is diminishing while 'systems' gain complexity and error, putting more customer service pressure on staff, which is being answered by cutting customer options and service, stripping the company of what gave it pedigree.  Not looking good unless major changes are made. If there is ever an IPO, be very cautious.

I loved the company and culture and 1 out of the 3 store managers I had was a really great manager! The ONLY negative thing I have to say is that retail is slow these days and therefore making a 8 hour shift seem like 12 (& obviously the fact that only 1 out of 3 managers I had was good). I worked with amazing coworkers and the last manager I had was fantastic! That made it so difficult for me to leave upon accepting an outside promotion. The mark downs, sales, floor re sets are all done during store hours and handed down from corporate in a organized manner. The store operating hours are better than any other retailers! The type of customer is also a plus. Comparing other retail environments, this one by far was the most pleasant. It is retail so you will process shipment, steam everything, fold a lot (no matter what department you work in, that includes fishing managers). I wish I could rate Orvis higher but the majority of my time spent with this company was with a manager who was out of control emotionally and physically and ended up being asked to leave. The next manager was allowed to bring his wife and that was a nightmare! Not sure if the powers that be even considered that nepotism to that level is toxic. This  caused us to lose a great fishing manager.

I'd give the Orvis HQ negative stars if that were possible. I've been working at the Orvis HQ full-time five years and there are some good people there. However, I would NOT recommend this company to anyone. 

Despite social media efforts to make consumers and job seekers think Orvis is a great place to work, it is one of the most backward-thinking companies I have worked for. Orvis does not embrace change, leadership is unqualified to lead into the digital age, there is a culture of micromanagement (starting with CEO), it's a very political landscape, only a few people who get along well with the owners really thrive there, the culture covers up inappropriate senior-level behavior, there are zero innovative minds leading any type of change, extremely poor employee morale, women are treated inferior to men, with the exception of the few women who are in relationships with male decision makers. Also, at the Sunderland HQ there is zero transparency and the company tries to hide financial and senior level performance from the rest of the employees.

Check-in was done as an automated system vie the cash registers. After checking in, the first duty was to check the sales floor to see what needed to be restocked. After this was completed, then checking for any price updates.
I learned that even though there are a lot of people who don't deserve to be in management, every once in a while you actually run into someone that does. My boss was awesome, and I wish there were more members of management staff out there like him.
My co-workers were not only respectful of others, and made it enjoyable to come into work, but they also knew how to make it a lot of fun.
I think the hardest part was, sometimes, making sure the customers were getting the right products they needed. Other than that, Orivs is an awesome place to work. If it wouldn't have been for them having some troubles with excess staff, I would've stayed working for them for a very long time.
The most enjoyable part about the job was; pretty much everything. My Store Manager was great, he treated people with absolute respect, and in turn they gave him total respect. My co-workers were fun to not only work with, but to even hang around with. Everyone was like a huge extended family. It was great working with them.

Would assist people on the sales floor, especially those going around the country and fly fishing sales. I learned that in sales you have to become a master of reading people, but in the same sense, meet their needs rather than just sell them a bunch of products they don't need. My favorite manager called it "sales with morals". When I worked at Orvis Atlanta in Buckhead, it had an amazing culture. We had elder people who had been at the location for years, we had middle aged adults in management, and then there was me, the youngest by at least a decade. We all gelled really well for the most part especially me and my department manager (were still very close to this day). I would say the hardest part of the job was really just the exhaustion after a long shift and then opening the next morning. But you just have to get up, and get after it so you don't let your team down. The most enjoyable part of the job while I was there was interacting with the customers. As a huge people person nothing made me happier than when someone would come in the shop with stories of the trip they just went on, how they like the gear we set them up with and hearing their stories an experiences.

I have worked in the specialty retail field most of my career. Orvis has a not-so-common quality of having a small family feel while remaining an industry leader. 

Through 2020 and all it’s trials Orvis stayed strong with its emphasis on a diverse category line up with Omni-channel sales. 

Biggest challenge as a manager is building a team that is as diverse as the products and categories we sell. Lots of applicants are attracted to the fly-fishing aspect of the business but we can struggle to attract talent that is equally as passionate about our other core categories (ladies/mens apparel, hunting, dog) 

The only hardships and stresses that have accompanied the position to this point have been related to the roller coaster of Covid that took hold shortly after I joined the company. I feel the company has responded well, and has been supportive to those of us in the field. But the stress level of constantly managing a business around Covid has been difficult. 

Even through the current environment I have been encouraged by the investment the company has made in my success. 




Was really excited to work here. Fly fishing is my thing and I have always bought from Orvis, before working there. Training was a couple of weeks and they really did go over everything with you and if you ever had a question you could ask. Every week or so someone would check in with you to see how you were doing. Pay was not good, short breaks, leads were ok, every move you made was watched
Everyone I came in contact with was friendly for the most part except for a couple of leads
Mostly older people who work here
All they really care about is upselling. Products are already expensive enough. Most customers place big orders. This place isn't hurting with how much items cost. 
I worked during peak season and I feel like that is all they care about as well. Good luck getting hired with them after peak season. They lay many people off
You got told when you could go on break, after you clock in and out of break you only have a 10-12 minute break
If you work from home they will provide all equipment needed which was really nice. Sheets were included on how to do everything and if you had an issue they gave a number you could call

This job was like working out for 8+ hours a day, every day.   
Working in the warehouse is non-climate controlled, so in the summer, it gets HOT.   As a machine operator, normally you'd be on machine to pull merchandise, but you spend a large portion of the day on foot, generally working you until you're flat out tired.   Management will offer popsicles on the hottest days, if that's helpful. 

Management doesn't give a rats rear-end about staff.   The higher-ups won't waste a moment to think about replacing anyone with the next person at the door.   Be it low-level grunts like myself, supervisors, or even managers, no one seems to last long.   Orvis loves to hire temps, and tease them with the prospect of becoming full time hires with benefits, but then will tell you that you haven't met the ever-shifting goals.    Even if you are a full time hire, that doesn't protect you.  Once they have a reason, you're gone. 

Lately, with the Covid19 Pandemic, Orvis saw fit to release nearly all of their longstanding warehouse workers, anyone who was working 2nd shift was gone.

The work itself wasn't bad however, most of the first shift is rude, lazy, and likes to spread rumors about people who they almost never interact with. Security is unprofessional and is also in on the gossiping. Management doesn't care for its workers, makes false promises and plays favoritism based on seniority over job performance. Most of the folks will smile to your face and then will badmouth you behind your back. It is also worth noting Orvis only hires through a temp agency, so you are considered part-time, thus not being eligible for any benefits. This is despite the fact you get 40 hours a week, with the possibility of overtime if needed. They tell you after 520 hours worked you are eligible to be hired on full-time however, it is not guaranteed and HR very rarely does hiring reviews. I would highly recommend staying away from this company unless it is during peak season, but be prepared to be laid off come January or February.

The supervisors at the call center in Roanoke have NO RESPECT for the employees. They keep the people who answer the phones as ON CALL employees (with no benefits) forever. It's like working on a plantation, you are their slave. The supervisors are rude & most have no people skills or formal education. Hard work does not get you a decent raise......you get more grief. The call floor is full of drama. Employees hang up on callers and play on their cell phones when they can get away with it. Workers in the warehouse are so demoralized that they sabotage many orders.Better not be one minute late on your break or you will be punished. Most of the top sales people have LEFT the company......a pity their sales are going down. This company buys garments from sweatshops in the third world very cheap, then sews an Orvis label in them & marks the prices up dramatically. I sold over $100,000 EVERY year I was there & they gave me 25 cent raises. And wrote me up every chance they got. They would send me over 75 complaint calls a day. Just say NO to Orvis.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Retail sales associate 147 salaries reported	$16.41 per hour
Lead retail sales associate 46 salaries reported	$19.05 per hour
Retail manager 14 salaries reported	$24.32 per hour
Manufacturing associate 15 salaries reported	$18.53 per hour
Stocker 17 salaries reported	$16.09 per hour

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