CosmoProf reviews

2.9

40% would recommend to a friend

(764 total reviews)
avatar

Denise Paulonis

47% approve of CEO

32% positive business outlook

CosmoProf has an employee rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars, based on 764 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The CosmoProf employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail & Wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

764 reviews
1.0
Sep 23, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You have the flexibility to do what you need to do during the day. You create your own schedule. You get free products as testers.

Cons

A DSC at CosmoProf is a "Distributor Sales Consultant" or "Outside Sales Rep". The job title does little to explain the day to day of this role. CosmoProf DSC Division lacks in support and availability to the outside sales reps. Little to no professional training was given to CosmoProf management positions. Although this company focuses on selling to hairstylists, it is run on a very corporate level by teams that may not have experience within the salon industry first hand.The bottom line ($) is all that matters. Relationships with customers (who are hairstylists) do not matter. At the end of the day, CosmoProf cares only about the $$ you can squeeze out of these salons and beauty supplies. Most of the people that outside sales consultants work with (hairstylists, salon owners) on a day to day basis are struggling to keep their business alive financially. In return, DSCs are given completely unrealistic goals for the territories they are in and when this is brought up to superiors, they are slapped on the hand for questioning how these $ goals are distributed. In fact, anytime anything is questioned, DSCs are asked to keep ideas and recommendations to themselves. A lingering statement within CosmoProf is "We promise, it will get better". It is quite apparent that the CosmoProf DSC division is struggling to keep employee morale high as the role is an ever- revolving door. Many DSCs have left this company after only a few months in the field. Manufacturers and Vendors have issues with strong communication, support and honesty from the company as well. Unfortunately, CosmoProf puts on a pretty face during the interview process about the job itself. When it comes down to it, a DSC is the equivalent of a door to door salesman. Except the DSC has unrealistic expectations lingering over them, telling them to meet an unrealistic goal while providing no insight, support of direction and no motivation financially or professionally to do so. Pay is awful. Systems are VERY old. Customers are disrespectful and have issues with trusting the system. CosmoProf leaders are disrespectful and full of broken promises. DSCs compete directly with the CosmoProf stores. Meaning, anything that a DSC sells to a salon can easily be bought off of the shelf in a CosmoProf store. You are not given a company cell phone so employees use their own data and minutes with no compensation, you are required to drive several miles per day in your personal car with no car insurance offered. You have strangers in your car up to 4 times per week (legal?). You are required to attend Saturday meetings, although this job is pitched as a "typical 9-5, Monday through Friday". You are surrounded by people that are miserable. The company makes it very difficult to get simple things completed. You must go through multiple people to have a simple request answered or completed. The warehouse more often than not ships the wrong items to your customers and because the DSC is the face of the business, you get the heat. A DSCs home will be filled with paper, boxes, hair products and junk that the company insists on sending multiple times per month.

2.0
Sep 22, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You develope some great relationships with your local team and Salon clients. Money can be good. My FSM provides me with great support when I need it. Good health benefits after 3 months.

Cons

Here are the pitfalls. I think anyone considering taking this position should be aware of the following because the company presents the position as a fun and exciting place to work. If you have the opportunity to talk to current or past DSC's about their experiences I highly recommend you so so before accepting this position. It is not for everyone. High constant stress. Company places huge pressure on the DSC's for performance, hitting and exceeding budgets and sales goals. Officially the company says you work 9 to 5. However you are expected to consult with clients from 9 to 5 and you should expect 2 to 4 hours of work to be performed at home each day to enable yourself to stay on top of things. I start my day at 8am and will work on emails, company and vendor reports and customer returns when I return home from consulting. The job is always with you and you will be thinking about what you need to get done even on your days off. The job is highly competitive. (Someone is trying to steal my color account as i speak.) But competitor distributors are not the only ones you have to worry about.... you will be in direct competition with the Cosmoprof stores. The stores phone my full service clients to buy from the store for special event sales. I lose a substantial amount of money from my clients buying at the store instead of through me. This company does NOT pay expenses. I have a vast territory and must pay my own gas, hotels, Cell phone, car maintenance and office supplies. I also spend a substantial sum making up promotional baskets for client incentives to increase sales and though this is not required it is strongly recommended. You will easily spend 5 to 10 thousand a year in expenses. Employees are treated as numbers. Even if you perform at a high level they will always want more from you. If you thrive in a stressful environment and live to work this job is for you.

1.0
Sep 21, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Large portfolio of products to sell, insurance, get to work with great salons

Cons

Terrible upper and lower management that manage with threats and fear with a beat down philosophy. Too many manufacturer ride alongs. Saturday meetings. Outdated computer systems. Company puts you in direct completion with itself. Management plays favorites. DSCs are not allowed to make suggestions without being punished.

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Glassdoor has 771 CosmoProf reviews submitted anonymously by CosmoProf employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if CosmoProf is right for you.