Not a "Girls Best Friend" any longer :( - Assistant Store Manager Vera Bradley Employee Review

2.0
Mar 25, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The pay is good and the discounts are great. All store employees across the board are kind, friendly people. The stores are beautiful and the guests are almost always happy. The new high level management has a good vision of where the company wants to go, however.....

Cons

Since the new "regime" has taken over at the upper level it is total chaos at the store level. The employees are currently under a "shock and awe" phase, like deer in the headlights. There is inconsistent communication from the home office, if any at times. Direction comes from many and is often varying. It is very confusing right now. I think they don't know who is doing what and it shows in the daily operations at the home office. The company has recently decided to downsize the management numbers, which in itself is not that unreasonable. However, they chose to make it a tenuous atmosphere and decided who was going, telling the possible candidates that they might lose their job, but waiting 45 days to tell them who that will be. Talk about a morale killer?! They will lose more employees than necessary just from the way they handled that situation. Again, poor direction from above. Simple communication during the process would have been a better way to handle it. There are so many changes at the moment it is becoming too confusing to want to stay, which is unfortunate because the people at the store level are wonderful to work with. The company is like the teenager going through puberty and not quite sure how to get what they want. It is total trial and error at the moment - not a great place to work. They are going the way of the publicly traded monster who is there to make more money for the share holder and undervalue those achieving those dollars for them. Also, their IT has got to be the worst I have ever seen! Always failing, codes don't work correctly, prices ring wrong, etc, ALL THE TIME!!

Explore other reviews about Vera Bradley

5.0
Mar 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Good employee discount of excellent product -Competitions set on all levels of the field to strive in -Extremely great comradery amongst each other with respect for one another (you are not just a number or a location - you are a person) with healthy communications between the fields -We serve a vast and wonderful clientele to market/sell too- -Although the rebrand was not the success some thought it would be, VB is getting back to where she once was and that is amazing! -Diversity holiday time -There is a general concern for both success, respect and diversity

Cons

-Setbacks on for tools/communication engines that lead to some confusion task management -Store closers vs proactive store relocations -Logistical inventory issues -Shopper surveys closed down (previous management choice) -There is little opportunity for internal promotions for career growth

1.0
Jun 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Hybrid schedule Generous vacation time Flexibility with schedule

Cons

Private equity mindset of new leaders has sucked the life out of what used to be a great place to work. Talented and knowledgeable staff were all forced out or saw the writing on the wall and headed for greener pastures. While the Jackie regime was inept and refused to listen to subject matter experts, the Ian and Marty tandem may be even worse. They seem dead set on draining any bit of cost out of the company in the hopes of a private equity takeover. Their creative bookkeeping is highly questionable and borderline unethical, as is the treatment of legacy employees.

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