Where to begin... Many things wrong with this company. Managers are put through long hours, harassing emails, phone calls and conference calls when numbers are not made. Swarovski prides themselves on being "luxury" but there is nothing luxury about them. The jewelry is cheap and falls apart which is why there so many repairs, returns and angry customers. This leads to many customers never purchasing from the company again. The store has slow traffic in areas other than the locations in New York City. When numbers aren't made employees get harassed on why numbers weren't made...but in reality there was no traffic coming in the store to make these numbers. Many loyal customers would eventually tell us to stop calling/emailing them because there was no need for them to buy anything when the jewelry is the same for a whole season. Once they come in one season..they usually do no return, unless for a gift or pick me up, because they have already bought what they needed from that seasons collection. District Managers came to visit the store 1-2 times a month and did nothing but criticize employees and managers on how terrible they are doing and it is because of their selling skills. Quite unfair since the employees and managers are there 7 days a week working with the customers of that location and the district manager is only coming in 1-2 times a month. Selling skills differ with each associate and each customer interaction and one is not better than the other. Swarovski wants associates to be pushy with sales and in turn it makes many customers feel uncomfortable. One particular thing would be taking a piece and putting it on the person without asking..but more along the lines of "I see you are looking at that bracelet..here try it on" while putting it on them. Not once asking..if it is okay to put it. I do not like this practice because many customers could have any number of reasons why they would not want that such as skin allergies. As a former keyholder...pay was subpar compared to other companies. The company has person sales goals and a competitive environment but there is no commission. Many other companies that are selling "luxury" jewelry have commission. Managers tend to be fine leaders for their store but higher ups not so much. They do not listen to suggestions and criticize more than they praise. This is why there is such high turnover for every position in the stores.
