Mixed Emotions - Anonymous employee Talbots Employee Review

4.0
Sep 7, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Loyal Clientele Great Relationship Building No Individual Sales Goals (Relationship Focused Environment) Enjoyable and Encouraging Co-workers and Associates Invests in Employees/ Listens to Employee Feedback Forward Thinking Environment (Beautifully Remolded Stores with New Technology) Excellent Employee Discount Team Environment/ Non-commission Based Good Full-Time Benefits (3 Weeks PTO, 3 Floating Holidays and 5 Sick Days, Cigna Health Ins.) Great Place to Learn Importance of Product Knowledge and Customer Service

Cons

Extremely visually demanding without the resources to achieve demands. One of the only large retailers to not have a dedicated non-selling/ visual team. The company switched from payroll hours to payroll dollars to save money and, although great in theory, stores continue to struggle to achieve the demands of non-selling tasks. Regional Visual Managers have no understanding of selling and expect the store to look perfect at all times. In addition, schedules were more inconsistent than typical retail; sometimes worked 8-13 days in a row, ranging from 6-10+ hour days. Associates struggled with the inconsistency, too, which led to high turnover and loss of great talent. Not much room for growth after reaching assistant manager level.

Explore other reviews about Talbots

5.0
May 12, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Team was so supportive and kind - Taught me lots of valuable industry experience

Cons

I have no cons to mention

1.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

None. This company is garbage compared to how it used to be.

Cons

Slave wages, not enough hours for anyone except management because the private equity company that owns us has cut our staff to a skeleton crew even on busy days. Management and associate alike are stretched super thin to the point of exhaustion. Even as a sales associate, there was a time I supported myself on a Talbots salary. Now I have to choose between paying my car insurance or getting an oil change. I used to get 30+ hours a week even as a sales associate. Now I'm lucky if I get 20. Health benefits are a rip-off. The company in my observation has had a time finding and maintaining good workers. If you value your livelihood, run fast and run far.

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