Holt Renfrew Employee Reviews

A typical day at work as a gift wrapper would be gathering all the supplies needed for the day. Cleaning up any mess made from the day before and setting up everything neatly. I learned many skills such as Gift-Wrapping, customer service and team building skills. The co-workers are nice to work with.

Pros

Great Management

Cons

Long Hours

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Toxic work environment and lack of care

Sales Advisor (Current Employee) - Toronto, ON - 21 September 2023

The store is really low traffic and so working is really boring, they're strict about using your phone as well even though that's where most the business is coming from because of lack of in-store customers. Management is terrible, they don't do anything and very cliquey- HR is not on your side and work-life is very gossipy because everyone has nothing better to do. Working there is super cliquey and feels like being in high school with a bunch of adults who should be able to just communicate but they can't. Management is the same and doesn't actually do anything. I like my customers which makes leaving hard but other than that I feel like it's not worth it. Still better than a lot of other retail jobs in a monetary sense because of the commission but the work-life balance and work environment is pretty terrible. Job security is good as long as you meet sales goals, if you do well they'll let you get away with more slack. Advancement isn't likely unless you really suck up to management though.

Pros

chill

Cons

management

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Insights into Holt Renfrew

Based on 48 survey responses

What people like

Inclusive work environment
Feeling of personal appreciation
Ability to meet personal goals

Areas for improvement

Trust in colleagues
Fair pay for job
Sense of belonging

Changed Environment

Associate (Former Employee) - Toronto, ON - 16 September 2023

It was definitely fun and enjoyable at first. I loved coming in to work. However, there were a lot of times where you are expected to go above and beyond, yet management does not seem to acknowledge/appreciate you. There seems to be a biased management team throughout the store itself. They know who their favourites are. I truly appreciated my time, experience and benefits there. But if a company fails you and doesn't seem to want you to grow, maybe it's better to look somewhere else.

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Average

Loss Prevention Investigator (Current Employee) - Calgary, AB - 15 September 2023

I don’t mind working here. The LP team is amazing but it’s hard to get to know so many employees well. Not everyone is open to change even when its for the better of the company. But good enough I’d come back.

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Okay and stressless place to work

Loss Prevention Officer (Former Employee) - Toronto, ON - 13 September 2023

Was fun while it lasted, no real responsibility. very braindead job. Good job for a student or someone in school, would recommend and no further complaints

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Good feeling daily

Server/Bartender (Former Employee) - Toronto, ON - 3 September 2023

Going into work everyday at holt renfrew was easy most people in a good mood, structure, good management, trust worthy human resources. And left everyday with no bad feelings.

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Interesting with opportunity

General Manager Cafe (Former Employee) - Toronto, ON - 23 August 2023

I started during pandemic and learned so many skulls outside of my typical work genre. I felt valued, my time felt valued, and my work life balance was valued. I loved all of the learning tools available which allowed for advancement and opportunity outside of your immediate areas.

Pros

Shopping on breaks

Cons

Cafe closed due to store reno

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Horrible especially cosmetics

Beauty Advisor (Former Employee) - Montréal, QC - 22 August 2023

I worked in the cosmetics department at holt Renfrew and compared to Pharmaprix and Sephora, Holts is hands down the worst experience I’ve ever had. I’ve been in beauty since I started working. I was expecting better treatment and a better work life balance and overall good working environment. I got the opposite. The employees where extremely disrespectful and not to mention the managers are worse. Everyone there wanted to quit. There aren’t any good benefits and the commission is only good during Christmas time and useless afterwards.

Pros

The discount

Cons

Everything else besides the discount

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Good discount

Sales Associate (Former Employee) - Toronto, ON - 18 August 2023

Cool clothes and accessories! Customers are fun Can be hard on your feet ! You learn a lot about the fashion industry and meet very cool people . It’s retail but more

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Shark Tank

Advisor (Former Employee) - Toronto, ON - 9 August 2023

Fun job, nice atmosphere but it is also a very cutthroat and competitive environment. Potential to make good money if you're good with social selling. If you're not passionate about the industry and if you are not a people person, then this job is not for you.

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Jobs at Holt Renfrew

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Seasonal Gift Wrapper

Montréal, QC

9 days ago

Seasonal Gift Wrapper

Seasonal Gift Wrapper

Nice workplace

Beauty Advisor (Former Employee) - Toronto, ON - 5 August 2023

Prestigious company to work for. Management treat you with respect. The employees are provided with a really good health and dental insurance. The hours might get caught without previous notice.

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Good benefits but toxic sometimes

Sales Associate (Former Employee) - Montréal, QC - 26 July 2023

It’s an ok place to work, always fashionable people and very dynamic environment. Get to learn a lot about fashion. Sometimes the coworkers and managers are toxic and gossip or try to steal clients.

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Toxic Work Environment

Audit Associate (Former Employee) - Toronto, ON - 24 July 2023

A typical day at work:1. Starving for a Break. The management's poor scheduling practices made it nearly impossible to enjoy a much-needed break during the workday. It seemed as if they prioritized cutting costs over the welfare of their staff. Consequently, we were left to endure long stretches without any respite, leaving us physically and mentally drained. It was as though the company cared little for our basic needs, forcing us to choose between nourishment and adhering to the unrelenting demands of the job.2. Exploited and under-appreciated. The burden of being overworked and underpaid weighed heavily on all of us. Not only were we expected to fulfill the responsibilities of our designated roles, but we were also coerced into taking on additional tasks that were well beyond our job descriptions. This blatant exploitation of our dedication and skills left us feeling undervalued and taken advantage of.Furthermore, staying overtime became a norm, but the company's refusal to compensate us for the extra hours spent was simply unacceptable. Our hard work and commitment went unnoticed, and instead, we were left struggling to make ends meet, without any recognition of our sacrifices. The distressing reality of my typical workday was a constant reminder of how little the company regarded its employees as anything more than expendable resources. The absence of empathy and genuine concern for our welfare painted a bleak picture of a workplace that prioritized profits at the expense of our physical and emotional health.Management & Workplace Culture:The lack of adequate training -

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Pathetic

Associate (Current Employee) - Toronto, ON - 15 July 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Some employee discount for winter jacketsWhat is the most stressful part about working at the company?The salary does not matching the responsibilities and the hard workWhat is the work environment and culture like at the company?The culture is squeezing people to make more money, ashame of a company like that pays so low salariesWhat is a typical day like for you at the company?Running up and down, getting lots of calls and sometimes not having time even for having lunch

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Fun place to work to start a career in sales.

Sales Associate (Former Employee) - Vancouver, BC - 3 July 2023

It was fun working at Holt Renfrew, my team and my managers were very supportive of the team. Great place for new to no experience people looking to start themselves in luxury retail. However you must be on top of it. The department I was in was pretty relaxed didn't really push us on sales or targets, but like any sales job with low base pay and commission, creating relationships with clients is very important to succeed. Many events and contests happening all the time, making it for a fun place to work. Only negative thing is some associates can be quite rude or try to steal sales or your clients, but thats to be expected in a large luxury retail department store. As well not really much room for moving up or learning.

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Nice place to work

Sales Associate (Current Employee) - Yorkdale, ON - 16 May 2023

I enjoy working at Holt Renfrew. I have learned how to deliver the highest quality of service and provide elevated and luxurious experience to the customers

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Completely shocking and completely disgusting.

Director, National Visual Merchandising (Former Employee) - Toronto, ON - 28 April 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Absolutely nothing … horrific. What is the most stressful part about working at the company?The executive group and their unreal ignorance. What is the work environment and culture like at the company?Fake, tired, antiquated and nonsensical. What is a typical day like for you at the company?Complete and utter waste of time against a mountain of employees who have fake and completely insignificant roles.

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Fun place to work at

Sales Consultant (Current Employee) - Calgary, AB - 27 April 2023

I work on 100% commission and at first it can be daunting but if you are a professional and also personable individual you will do well as long as you are able to maintain strong relationships with clients.

Pros

Amazing place to network and grow your career in sales and get paid fairly

Cons

Clients can sometimes be frustrating and high maintenance

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Best sale associate job ever!

Associée aux ventes (Former Employee) - Montréal, QC - 24 April 2023

C'était vraiment super! J'ai adoré travailler pour eux c'était une belle expérience.

Pros

la team

Cons

rien!

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Bad Management Team

Associate (Current Employee) - Toronto, ON - 7 April 2023

Bad management team, biased hiring, resulting in incapable leadership, toxic environment, and meager pay, want you to do extra work but resist any pay raise or promotion

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Cool

Sales Associate (Former Employee) - Mississauga, ON - 19 March 2023

It was a decent experience I really enjoyed the thought of working in luxury retail and learning sales skills, but overall I believe this place wasn't for me.

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