I hope the powers that be are reading these comments. You guys sit in your offices and have no clue as to how these stores work. Even the most experienced and long term employees want to quit during Fall Rush, it's brutal. This Fall Rush will be something to see, these students won't put up with the cr-p you have put our stores in. Plus I'm sure you will be losing alot of contracts as Fall Rush is very important to the schools and I'm sure they will be watching very closely.
17 replies (most recent on top)
That will never happen.... They think they understand because they dipped their toe in a store once.
I’ve been reading different versions of this same post for years and the ivory tower still seems to be there….
True, but it is a different drummer now. And this band clearly does not understand the college bookstore business. I give Follett 2 years if they don't get their acts together.
The leaders in the Ivory tower should physically work a few months in a store for a better understanding of the operations. And not just the big ones, they need to go to the smaller stores too. Run registers, set shelves, merchandise stores to fit all the new merch. Pick, pack and ship online orders. Hand out orders for in store pick up. Be there for freshmen orientation to help manage the lines with parents. Hiring and training the temps needed. Then spend the time training and understand the frustration when they do not show up the following day.
I would recommend at least a month, covering both prior and after classes start. They need to understand the issues and the amount of work required for a successful rush. This will also help with store staffing issues. Then maybe they will have a better understanding. Roll up their sleeves and actually do some work vs. sitting in the ivory tower playing solitaire all day.
I’ve been reading different versions of this same post for years and the ivory tower still seems to be there….
Post from TheLayoff.com
I would personally stay far from publishers if possible. I went from Follett to Pearson, to laid off in a mass layoff 8 months later and went right back to Follett lol. Publishers are bleeding heavily, so I would try to transfer to a different industry that won't be on a downward trend.
Depending on what manager you were, you have lots of skills: customer service, project management, people management, retail (ugh) management, procurement, purchasing (generally supply chain) and, if you took a more active and analytical dive into your textbook department, data analytics etc. I was a textbook manager, and I am currently in semiconductor supply chain. It's an uphill battle, but you can do it!
Long time manager here... they have already cut so many experienced people. If you look at the career search on ESS, there are new postings all the time for Campus Store Leaders and Campus Store Manager. The experienced people are either gone or leaving. This new attitude of hire "people managers" and the rest will come is a mistake. How can Follett expect to fill positions in the future when the Campus Leaders don't know anything about CT, textbooks, etc? I am a people manager, AND I'm knowledgeable. Yet I'm treated poorly. I plan to take all of my knowledge with me when I leave. I do love my job... in its former incarnation. I just don't see how this new structure is feasible for the future. And if it doesn't work, we are going under, not selling off.
I’m a long time employee trying to ride out this JRC period. I work on Campus and love my job (at least until 4 months ago). I want my store to continue strong because I want to stick this out but… Rush is going to be a blood bath here.
Orientation is doable on a slimmer, inexperienced staff because they really are just smiling and selling merch/gifts. PROBLEMS arise during even the best prepped rush and now we won’t have the resources to handle it effectively. Sales will be lost and relationships strained with contracts.
Experienced managers: do your best if you like your job. Don’t stress out over lower sales and service. It’s going to happen literally everywhere.
New people: Just quit. If you weren’t hired at least 5+ years ago, your compensation is not appropriate… and never will be under JRC.
JRC: Hurry up and sell. There are still some great people here but we can’t wait around forever. You’re actually driving out the real value of the company as you try and “make it lucrative”. If you stay too long, the cost cutting will permanently affect sales and it will be evident to potential buyers.
Thanks for the advice!
Check out customer service jobs at publishers, academic publishers. Bookstore folks have transferable skills, especially course materials people. You know their products, you were their customers.
Post ID: @3tlj+1nv6aE54 - Correct!
JRC greed has forced many highly motivated, dedicated long term associates out.
Come fall rush, the James family investors will be disappointed.
JRC - not as smart as they thought they were.
- I have been trying HARD to get find another job. No luck. Updated resume, classes on interview techniques, etc. Not getting any bites
- as an experienced manager, I am FED UP! Follett has no idea what rush is going to bring. And I'm not gonna bust my a-s. My contact already unhappy with changes said this is a make or break fall rush for our contract. Great! Please let me go!
Who says all people commenting here are still with company. This is actually the Layoff board. I'm sure many people here were forced out of their jobs after years of hard work and loyalty.
Maybe this is a place to stay in touch, vent and offer wisdom from years of experience to those who may be contemplating a career with Follett. DON'T DO IT!
Good for you leaving before you were let go, but don't criticize those who stay/stayed because their options are/were limited. Do not criticize those who stay because it is hard to find a company willing to hire you when you are only a few years from retirement. Or fear losing medical at a point in their lives when it is much needed. Although the company let go many over 40... most were late 50s early 60s. But Hey... Good for you. Glad you found a great job. But I have to ask why you care about this site. Move on.
Do you really think they give a sh-t about you? They let go of most of the staff that did the work and now are surprised that sales are down and nothing is getting done..no sh-t! You can't fire the people that actually did the work and keep the ones that don't do sh-t. Ironically enough, the new-ish store manager that got hired last September has put in her notice. She wasn't ever there anyway. I think it's absolutely hilarious. According to my old co-worker, all she does is complain about not knowing how to do stuff... Well no duh!! She never bothered to learn because she was told by the RM, I would do it for her. She cried when I was part of the mass firing in May. 🤣
Why are people (field people) complaining so much but still stay? I have been gone for a bit, not due to layoffs, left on my own because it was too toxic, and it seems to just keep getting worse. Stop complaining, get your resume spiffed up, and start looking for work. My store was understaffed, like many others, but everything always got done, dedication. After a long career with Follett it was hard to leave, the comfort of knowing my job, but too many uncertainties, constant pressure to do more with less people to do it. I felt customer service was lacking only due to lack of people. It is a reflection on the manager, not on the company, the school and customers don't look to blame Follett. After taking a little break, think about what I wanted to do, I found a great job in a very pleasant and supportive environment. You can do find better.
Time will tell.
Knowing that ivory tower weenies are embedded in these negative rants what would happen if all the negatives were changed to positives? If great restructure move was the message and super move to rid the company of old school managers, keep cutting, were the sentiment, could the company implode and be su-ked into the black hole of stupidity?
Hmm…
Honestly what can campuses do? BN might go bankrupt and is shuddering schools that won’t go all access. The business model changed. It’s going to be a rough time for those are prepared for change on all sides.
Totally agree about the horror show coming at rush. Ill prepared new employees and no old time and underpaid managers. Couple that with a screwed up restructuring that has not happened in text or a/r functions. The managers that were allowed or convinced or threatened with demotion and pay cuts to stay must not have gotten the word from their Regionals. Ticking time bo-b ahead. Strap yourselves to your desks and take a deep cleansing breath.
time.pull up your desk chairs and strap yourselves in for the rough ride ahead.