Clueless about retail - Store Manager Vans Employee Review

2.0
Oct 10, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great brand. 50% Employee Discount. Loyal customers.

Cons

Horrible communication from senior management. Corporate Managers lead by fear, threaten, and are condescending. Heavily task oriented, yet tell you to cut payroll and do not complete tasks during business hours, but don't come in early or stay late (!!?). Vans retail is disconnected from Vans the brand. They are not cutting edge, they run the retail side similar to companies I worked for 10 years ago which are now out of business. Micro manage with an insane amount of daily checklists and sign off sheets. Absolute worst company I've worked for, and would not recommend it to anyone except first time managers looking for experience and resume building.

Explore other reviews about Vans

5.0
Jul 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great job to work at

Cons

Other than talking to people, there are no cons

4.0
Jul 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Depending on District/Store great culture. Awesome discounts and bonus incentives for full time management. Relatively lenient on being able to use your discretion with difficult customers, "What Would Van Doren Do?" - basically make the customer happy reasonably. Great position to learn retail and people management in - applied itself to any career field later on.

Cons

Job Security (retail and working in malls in today's landscape can be tough depending on location). Corporate can be corporate sometimes, DMs or RMs pushing unreasonable and ridiculous selling behaviors sometimes.

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