I've worked for the company for many years and have seen a plethora of changes. When I first started working as a stylist at Stitch Fix, it was super inspiring. It felt like I was making a difference, I was connected to others, and the expectations were entirely realistic. Very much not the case anymore and I'm very sad to say that. My biggest problems with Stitch Fix are: expectations, inventory, and company culture/management.
Expectations: With the tech changes that the company has made over the years, the expectations we are supposed to meet have also gone up. However, since something is always going wrong with tech and inventory is atrocious, it's really just not realistic. If something is wrong with tech or inventory and we can't meet those expectations, we are told we will be given leeway and understanding. However, I was passed up for a raise and a promotion both due to inventory problems and not being able to style enough people fast enough (despite showing for several years that I could meet the expectations when given the tools to do so).
Inventory: I have been screaming into a void about this issue probably for the entire time I have worked at Stitch Fix and there is absolutely always an excuse. I'm always so hopeful the excuses will stop (this shipment was late...again, we are learning about seasonal transitions, etc.). It's so infuriating as decent inventory is pretty much the rock bottom expectation I have to do my job well and not even that can be met. And you
Stitchfix...the worst part time job, where it’s all about making them more money!
They sell you on this great part time job as a clothing stylist- make your own hours, work from home, set your own schedule, all while helping women look their best in the clothes you pick for them...wrong!
Stitchfix is far from that.
What they leave out at the training is- it’s all about the money! The more “fixes” you crank out per hour, the more money they make.
And so much for that freedom- you have to punch in and out on the time clock, navigate your way around 8 different company web sites, stick to the exact schedule you create every two weeks, (or you get reprimanded) and god forbid you get sick, or something comes up and you fall behind on your fixes or work hours, there’s no catching up.
The job is 15 hours a week. That time includes: trainings, conference calls to check on your progress, paperwork, making your schedule AND styling!
Your trial period is mainly based on how many “fixes” you can get in per week.
Each week you are pushed more and more and they gradually add more fixes to your schedule with the ultimate goal of 60 fixes per week, which includes the trainings, emails & general office work!
Stitchfix could care less about finding the right clothes for their clients- my experience as a stylist ultimately meant nothing once I got hired. As long as someone is sending their clients outfits, they were happy.- it’s all a numbers game.
But at this place, you have to search their web site and try & find items to match your client with a very l
Pros40% Discount if you can find something you like!
ConsLow pay, high stress, cheap, unfashionable clothing, limited stock & sizes to choose from
Good culture but only on the outside. Stylists + CX get it much worse.
I worked here for 4.5 years and still think about it often. I started there when the company was still newer and private and allowed a lot more flexibility, a more generous sick time policy, and I had a manager who I really liked and treated me like a human. I did really well at my job - I was fast, and though I agree with people here saying that inventory was a CONSTANT challenge and stylists are pressured to work super quickly to push out a certain number of Fixes every week, I was still good.
So when two years passed and there was literally no ability for me to get a raise beyond the initial $1 promotion to Senior Stylist, it was frustrating. On top of that, you get no healthcare or benefits, 30 hours of unpaid vacation a year that doesn't roll over, and a pretty measly sick time policy. Meanwhile, your managers will micromanage every little thing you do - I once got reprimanded for writing an email that said "thank you!" while not being "on the clock" and using a smiley face in a note to a client since it "wasn't professional" even though we had a long-standing relationship. But your managers and other full-time employees will have unlimited PTO and will often send weekly emails detailing all the fun trips they're going on, or how they got to take a full week off for the holidays while stylists try to scrounge together Fixes on Christmas Eve when the warehouses are closed.
You cannot work internationally under any circumstances (security) and you're not even supposed
ProsCan work any hour of the day, mostly women coworkers, occasionally cute clothes in your Fix
ConsMicromanagement, a fake culture that values full-time employees much more, recurring inventory issues, lots of time pressure that has increased over the years, no healthcare, no ability to receive a raise or bonus no matter how good or tenured you are
One of the reasons why I applied to Stitch Fix was because I love fashion and more importantly loved the flexibility of the job. It is a relatively simple job that is easy and engaging to work. However, what really tanked my experience was the shift in time-keeping policies and efficiency guidelines.
Our scheduled requirements shifted like a table cloth being pulled from underneath a table of dishes with no warning. The people who could not fit the position into their lives with the new restrictions were given the opportunity to leave and receive a final sum of money (not guaranteed) or to make it work. On top of this change came the micromanaging from the higher-ups for our efficiency. While I was still doing every single task in my job description - checking feedback, escalating issues, meeting point totals - I was getting harped on week after week for performing at 98% efficiency (out of 100%).
I am currently in graduate school, and the reason for my efficiency dip was adjusting to the work/school/life balancing act. I worked hard, got my efficiency up to 104%, and was let go today after I forgot to clock out from my shift a week ago. One mistake on my timesheet in the midst of an adjustment period where the timekeeping policy was not made clear is the reason they fired me. They also cited my issues with efficiency.
This company is in a bit of an identity crisis with its leadership and what they want the company to look like, and I know that I am not the only person w
ProsSome ease in scheduling your own shifts
ConsNo benefits, low pay, company identity crisis, rude clients, efficiency criteria is severely outdated and not conducive to a normal lifestyle.
I used to love this job but exclusionary new policies have changed everything for me...
I have been both a PT and FT Senior Stylist for over 4 years and despite consistent inventory struggles I loved this job because before this week I could work whenever I wanted as long as I met (and often exceeded) expectations.
For example, if I signed up to work 6 hours on a given day I could work those hours whenever I wanted which allowed for a lot of flexibility - this flexibility allowed me to more easily manage my disability, and do volunteer work amongst other things. Now we can only work between 8 am and 8 pm and we have to enter our schedule in our calendar down to 15-minute increments two weeks in advance but then we don't get our actual work/hour expectations until 2 days before a new week starts at which point you have to re-do the schedule you already entered.
This is doable for me but my quality of life has already deteriorated. I am not a parent but many parents (mostly moms) work before their kids wake up and after they go to bed so this new schedule does not work. Also, we had to sign something saying we'd adhere to the new policies before we have had the chance to review them. They were supposed to come out 8/15 but we got a message that day saying they weren't ready.
Also, FT Stylists get 15 days of PTO/year which I am thankful for but our Styling Team Leads get unlimited PTO so my lead had the opportunity to take a few days off after the announcement and I sure wish I could have too but I need to save mine for a trip next month that I planned over a
ProsMy lead is nice, 40% discount but I will no longer shop here
ConsNo flexibility anymore, terrible inventory, taking the blame for computer generated Fix previews...
I was really excited to get a job at Stitch Fix because I love fashion and I am really passionate about helping people find pieces they love and make them feel good. However, that's not what this job is at all, sadly stylists don't get adequate time or resources to style people effectively. The company makes customers believe that their stylists take the time to learn about them and what they like and dislike, however in reality stylists have about 10 to 14 minutes to style someone. That isn't enough time to learn anything about the person, and in reality, we have a very limited selection of items to chose from. On top of that customers can leave reviews of how you did, and many people can be very rude because they forget a real person is having to read their comments (you have to read all the reviews people leave about your work). The pay is really great, it doesn't really feel like enough for the stress, but it's still good. My experience with management has also been great they have all been very sweet and helpful. It really comes down to the fact that I feel more like a cog in their machine than a stylist, I'm not really styling people because I'm not given enough time to do that which is sad because I really do care about helping these people find things they love. If you do decide to apply and work for this company be mindful of the fact that they will try (intentionally or not) to mislead you in the interview, just how they mislead customers about the actual styling pr
Ethos is missing from this company...but the job is fine
For the first 4 years of my employment, everything went fine. This is a part-time, remote-based styling job that doesn't have much room for growth (at least from the styling pillar). I accepted that and worked this position with no expectations of moving up in the company. I appreciate all that has been done for the compensation of the styling team, the attention to management and personal growth, and the fun, lighthearted nature of the work.
Obviously, the most enjoyable part of this job is the styling aspect. Who wouldn't love curating outfits for women, men, and child clients? That part was fun when the inventory was available. It's been a couple of years since inventory has been consistently available, on-trend, in-season, and meeting customer demands. I think that should give you a pretty good sense of what day-to-day business is like.
However, the company recently made a business move that was significantly removed from the brand ethos and operating system (the same one I had been preached about and signed a contract to contribute to). The made the swift decision, but apparently well-thought-out, to ax all CA stylists (including myself) because it had become "too expensive" to support the compensation of the team within the state (not because of the pandemic). Their plan is to hire and pay stylists to do the same work for less money in other states so that more revenue can be brought in.
For years, I had put this company on a pedestal because of it's inclusive
ProsRemote, flexible schedule, employee discount
ConsHard to work due to nature of clothing/textile industry, limited opportunity for growth
I am a former employee of Stitch Fix from Los Angeles. I left about 3 years ago because as someone who went to fashion school and has done the occasional Wardrobe Styling job, Stitch Fix didn't offer me the creativity I was hoping for. Everything is obviously algorithm-based, and inventory was not always guaranteed, which I feel made they Stylists look bad. When customers complained about their fix, they took it out on the stylists, but the Stylists were only able to work with what they were digitally given. My last day was a bit of a fiasco and I believe I got jipped on my last paycheck. The good I take away from the company is that My first two out of three Team Leaders were great, I appreciated the flexibility, and at the time, it was a growing company. They had not gone public yet, so I think the environment they created for the employees was warmer, which is why as we have been going through this pandemic and economic uncertainty, Stitch Fix was the first company I thought of to re-apply to. I have been checking their site since February, but nothing. Then I noticed they took Los Angeles out of the list of places they were hiring from. I was sad to read about the layoffs, even more, disappointed to hear how the company changed since they became a publicly-traded company. It's a shame that in this particular time a business that helped so many women earn money while still having the flexibility to spend time with family or invest in other ventures has left so many vulnera
ProsRemote Work, Flexible Scheduly, Added Income Source
ConsLack of Inventory, Some Leaders/Managers were less professional, creativity is minimal
Bottom line: Fixes need to be shipped out at a rate that doesn't allow the stylist to be able to serve the clients' needs. Schedule needs to be set two weeks in advance. Algorithms choose what items are available to offer clients, and available inventory is often not remotely close to what clients have requested. Average price range is considerably higher than a large percentage of clients wish to pay. Stylists are evaluated and held responsible when clients don't keep items.
Training materials are good, but you have to start styling before going through all training. Stylists have to view training materials on their own via videos and interactive online materials, which are presented in a way that is time-consuming to navigate and not user-friendly, once again under a time restriction. Meetings with leaders are scheduled during the first week and leaders are supportive, but most of that time is spent on social activities rather than instruction. Supervisors are often not available to answer questions on weekends. The company's culture is community-oriented, but participating in events or even reading materials is on the clock, and while it is nice to be paid for these activities, it once again takes away time that could be used for better serving clients. If you are driven by sales, enjoy fraternizing with co-workers while working from home and can stick to a schedule that has limited flexibility, this is a good job for you. If the flexibility in schedule and ability to o
ProsWork from home
ConsUnrealistic expectations to send out merchandise when it's often not available, then stylists are at fault when clients don't buy
You can give 3 years of your life to this place working the same way you’ve worked all those years, and suddenly it becomes an issue and they let you go. Management will cancel meetings when that is the only time you can speak to them and never reschedule when you reach out to. It’s their only job to do so. Very micro managed in all the wrong ways, and the quality of your work is based a lot of times off of the OPINIONS of your specific manager and not on your metrics. They don’t take inventory troubles or technological issues into consideration even though there is an issue every week. Very robotic and you cannot finish your work more quickly than the allotted time they give you, even if it is done well. They say they are here for their employees when they have personal life issues and mental health comes first, but will let you go on the same day you explained you are losing a loved one in your family over loose policies that they updated and had people decide to stay or leave within one week of learning that their whole work life and the reason they started here in the first place has changed with a measly amount of money to leave. Very toxic company. Would recommend going somewhere else if you are interested in styling. The changes for stylists made in summer 2020 ruined the culture of loving to work for them and any freedom you had. Due to the nature of the work, you are very replaceable if you can keep up with robotic high volume styling, and you will feel it. Draining
Questions And Answers about Stitch Fix
How often do you get a raise at Stitch Fix?
Asked Sep 24, 2021
Every 6 months
Answered Sep 11, 2022
Annually
Answered Sep 7, 2022
What is the best part of working at the company?
Asked Dec 11, 2019
I appreciate the employee engagement they have at Stitch Fix. The work may be tasking, but they do their best to engage their people. I love that.
Answered Feb 24, 2023
Scheduling is flexible, but that’s honestly it. They micromanage their hourly employees to bits.
Answered Jun 27, 2022
What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Asked Aug 2, 2020
Very busy dealing with. Clothes everything is timed and Supervisiors consently watching your every move even counts how many times you use the restroom and how long you been in there
Answered May 29, 2023
stressful
Answered Mar 1, 2023
What is the promotion process like at Stitch Fix?
Asked Oct 19, 2020
Two interviews then a project
Answered Sep 4, 2022
Good performance and no attendance issue
Answered Aug 29, 2022
How did you get your first interview at Stitch Fix?
Asked Jul 22, 2016
I got my interview by applying online and submitting a cover letter. The job requires you not only to know fashion, but to be able to communicate clearly with your clients, so writing skills are important.
Answered Aug 29, 2020
Present yourself well and courteous. Be truthful, honest and too the point.
