Thread regarding Belk layoffs

Belks store in Dothan AL went down hill since covid started, crowed racks, friends w/ rollators cannot get thru isles, they quit shoping there. I only go when seasonal clearance too messy overall, lack of check out clerks also. Also constant rearranging of store brands inside store, to make it hard to find some brands.

Belk is a horrible department store to begin with. And now is getting worse. I used to work for Proffits in Knoxville TN. Proffits was a great store, great managements and great merchandise. It sold to Belk in 2005...and the downfall is on it's way. Great store managers, managements and good associates slowly left, went to another department store. The last time I went to Belk was in 2016, their merchandise are Walmart's quality. I walked out with empty handed.

I am glad Belk is about to close its doors. Jackson, Tn. store is horrible. The sales associates are rude and unreliable. The store needs a major makeover. The merchandise is not up to par. I no longer shop and Belk.

I have studied “hedge fund “ operations a little bit more especially since I became part of it. According the hedge fund history they keep a business for an average of 5 years normally. Because of the “pandemic “ they have had to hold off for a while.

I have studied “hedge fund “ operations a little bit more especially since I became part of it. According the hedge fund history they keep a business for an average of 5 years normally. Because of the “pandemic “ they have had to hold off for a while.

The people behind Belk's downfall are Sycamore Partners, Lisa Harper, Don Hendricks, and now newly "promoted" CEO Nir Patel (who has been with Belk since 2016). When Belk sold out to Sycamore in late 2015, there was no doubt retail was changing, the Belk brothers saw the writing on the wall and got out, which is understandable. From 2015-2017 not much changed with Belk except the way they started scheduling hourly employees and the lack of raises and lower starting/hiring pay. They started making hourly employees work every weekend, while store managers had every weekend off. Truly bizarre in retail, but that was the first sign something was off. By late 2018 Belk started to have a rapid decline in quality merchandise, name brands started pulling out, this was BEFORE COVID. Then in 2019 they started excessive cutting hours and layoffs. Then the you know what hit the fan in January 2020 with Covid, but it was the perfect excuse for Belk, now they can really cut cost and use covid as an excuse. The method to cut cost was called "one Belk" where every employee does everything, gone are department registers, merch team, truck team, loss prevention, comission shoe sales, The one day chapter 11 in Feb 2021 was also very telling, why would Belk have to go to Texas to file Chapter 11? The company is in Charlotte NC and Sycamore Partners is in New York. Well, supposedly a judge in Houston specialized in one day chapter 11, who knows what the truth is there? Last week the CEO Lisa Harper stepped down a few weeks shy of her five year annivesary at Belk, why did she step down? they didn't even announce this to employees, most found out reading it online or on TV. Sad to say Belk is in a complete disaster state now, customers are shocked what it's turned into and the loyal elite customers are long gone.

I have been in two of your stores several times over the past couple of weeks,and I have been greatly disappointed. I used to love to shop at Belk and I bought quite a bit of clothing from there. But after going in the stores it looks like most of your big names like Tommy bahama, Polo and Tommy Hilfiger are all no longer there. I decided last year to get a Belk's card and have gone to use the card for the first time and to be quite honest with you I don't see the quality of merchandise that I want to use my card and spend my hard-earned money. I don't know what's going on with Belk but it does not look good. If you are restructuring whoever is in charge of it needs to be fired immediately and someone else put in the place that knows what the he-l they're doing. Because I can promise you it's quite disappointing to every customer who walks through the door to see the state that Belk's department store is in. I walked around the Newnan Georgia store several times I saw only two or three employees and they were running register with lines it was very disappointing. You've taken out all the self price checks out which makes it quite inconvenient to figure out sometimes the price on things because there are no stickers telling the price. Please get it together or close the doors.

Why do the Belk store in Griffin ga only give the associates only a few penny's for a raise

Belk started going down hill after Hudson left. He knew how to keep it going. Whoever is running it now has ruined Belk. How sad. Sire wish Hudson was back

Agreed. I have worked for several Belk stores in the past. Belk is NOT THE SAME AS IT USED TO BE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO WORK THERE.

Belk in Oxford MS is unorganized, low stocked with rude sales associates and management. It is just a matter of time before it closes!

Hot Springs store is terrible......In the beginning there were good brands and plenty of help. Now the brands are terrible and there is no help. All signs are pointing to store closure!

Our Belk store in Greeneville, TN is one of the smaller stores. We keep our store very clean. It was difficult when the dressing rooms were closed as we got a lot returns due to sizing. Our staffing is low but understandable because all businesses are having problems staffing due to those sitting home getting paid by the government. Our benefits are very good so we keep working. There are a lot of items being picked for the internet orders which makes it hard to keep cosmetics and fragrances on the shelf for our loyal walk-in customers. We've been getting new stock and I hope it continues. It lifts our spirits when we get our "truck" in at the dock.

You've never worked for a company that values its employees so much as Belk does?
Really? Haha, you must work for Belk corporate then because you're not an associate, you have no personal knowledge of dealing with customers, or working in the store.
So stop lying Corporate Greed, we all know you're going out of business. You just want to use store employees until the week you close.

Belk is in a restructuring, reorganization stage?
Would you like to sell us some swamp land with that comment?
Obviously you're from corporate, and want to keep working the associates until the week of the store closing, then you'll inform them.
We're supposed to believe, you're selling all merchandise out of the store, then you'll close for renovation, bring new merchandise in, and open back up.
You haven't even paid the remodeling subcontractors, that's why they didn't come back to finish the renovation jobs.
You mistakenly underestimate the intellect of associates!

Belk is in a restructuring and reorganization phase. There will be new products hitting the shelves in the coming months. Fitting rooms are opening back up!

Our buy online pickup in store or curbside delivery is a great experience for most people.

I've never worked for a company that values its associates more than Belk does. Also, Belk takes the comments that customers make on their website very serious. If you had a bad experience or good one let them know!

Belk isn't going away anytime soon. If you haven't done so already, download the Belk app and check out the great savings and Thank You for shopping at Belk. I appreciate it very much.

We were in the Belks in Williamsburg VA Saturday. It was a mess. Inventory was low, shelves/ racks nearly empty. Brands are changing and not for the better. Belks use to be a wonderful place to shop, but since Sycamore took over its gross. I understand they typically have small stores like PAC SUN. They really need to stick with what they know. I'll be driving to Richmond for my shopping experience.

It’s no wonder that we are losing good associates left and right and good customers because they can’t find anyone to help them as there is never anyone in my store staffed in the home department or the children’s department anymore, all of us are stretch to our limits because they do not have the financial ability to hire any extra help that they desperately need, it’s becoming ridiculous the lack of staff we have in our store and customers take it out on the few associates that do work there.

I work at a store in South Carolina and I can tell you that things are really going downhill sometimes there is only three associates in the entire store to ring up people and that includes the cosmetic area now they are asking the cosmetic people to go to find jewelry because we don’t have any jewelers and with no training and make us look like id--ts and even customers are asking us what we’re doing over there if we don’t know what we’re doing and now we have to assist and shoes because they don’t put any associates in shoes except on Saturdays and also we have to go on a lot purses right next to cosmetics and we also have to go over and gift packages that are being picked up for online orders so now we are asked to do four different jobs at the same time because they will not hire anyone even though the hiring freeze has been lifted

Poor upper management in most of their regions didn't help any. They hired a lot of people from Macy's after the sale to Sycamore and most of them were incompetent. It's a shame but that lack of leadership trickling down just eroded the company even faster.

I read alot of architectual publications. I recently read an article anout the myth of the de–h of brick and mortar
People are people and we are social who wants stories about the de–h of brick and mortar. Digital stores stores may need to regroup and adjust nothing can compete with trying an item on and walking out of a store with the item free shipping for returns is a pain in a b–t same day delivery is nice but it cant compete with instant time will tell

Belk in Weatherford TX is just plain SAD!
When they opened several years ago, great merchandise, attractive displays, and well organized. Not anymore! Just some cheap, low end, retail store. The ONLY reason I go now is for cosmetics.

Store in Weatherford, Tx still well maintained, clean, extremely low stock in various depts. Friendy associates when you can find one. Inventory looks like a closing store.

The stores are filthy, merchandise piled high on your POS station, and hard to find any help. The women’s clothes are matronly.
Your sales associates are very nice, but the are on a sinking ship.

I am a Belk worker and love my job in Winter Haven Florida! We have wonderful team management and staff. We all work to gather to give the shopper a great experience. Yes, our fitting room is finally open. I consider Belk to be one of the best companies I have worked for. As long as our shoppers continue to support us, we will do our best to answer!

belk is plagued with problems. It is unbelievable that a company is run this recklessly

belk is slowly dying off.. manager never @work shes to busy closing on her house.. all members of management have left.. Human resources is a joke. nothing but a homewrecker. online dating wh–e. She a racist. the company s—s my last day is coming up shortly. worst company I ever experience.

they keep telling us we are staying opened 🤔.. but they've managed to cut hours to 6 hour shifts not giving breaks and working what's left of the employees like slaves.. I feel in my gut the store will close.. management is not being honest but, it shows on their faces how worried they've become.. I'm sure any day we will get news.. the store s—s.. I hate dealing with customers who aren't required to wear mask.. we as associate are risking our health and lives.. while mangers sit in their offices all fkn day .. fact is BELK doesn't care about their employees.. just the DOLLAR.. its pathetic..

I worked at Belk’s in Flower Mound Texas I have never worked for retail business that was ran and managed as poorly as this store. I was hired and kept calling to see when my start date was. Unbelievable the manager was not even intelligent enough to enter me into their system so I could start work. She took four weeks to get my info input for me to start. I should have known then what I was in for. After 4 weeks and finally starting my pay rate was incorrect . I would not sign new hire paperwork. It took four months for her to correct my pay rate. That was only corrected when they finally hired a HR person because the manager still did not know how to input employees into their system. No one knew one thing about helping me with signing up for insurance and benefits. I kept asking for help and even called their shared services. And never got help. Deadline for applying was a day away. So when I signed up for benefits I was instructed by the manager on duty that FSA was for my Family spending accounts for medical cost that were out of pocket. . I had money withheld for my out of pocket cost on medical for my son. I tried for months to get help to know why I could not use that money and where was my card. No one could tell me a thing. I was not even informed to call Connect Care. Again in the five months employed we had no HR manager due to some under handed termination of the one we had fir a month or two. . After getting laid off I was told that was for childcare and that money was forfeited. I have a college age son. NO way did I sign up for payroll deductions for childcare I was told by a manager that was for medical expenses. The amount is almost $400 and that money should be refunded. It’s my money and management was the one that told me to put my money in that account for medical expenses. I have gone through three HR Directors at Corporate and they all keep getting termed. Each time I have to start all over because oh they have no record of this. Now having to file with the state to report this company. My attorney wants to file suite on the manager for negligence of her duties. I am very much considering filing this in court. This company is going through hell evidently three HR directors in a little over a year speaks volumes. Store managers do not even know or have the knowledge where to get help she needed. Either does she how to manage their employees or give them a direction to get a response. I have been in retail management for years and have never experienced such chaos at any retailer. This store has gone from one I shopped at and worked at to a retailer like the Blue Light Store K-Mart. Flower Mound location looks like a clearance outlet that is about out of stock and ready to close. Empty shelves and whole areas blocked off. It’s a favorite subject to the locals as the retailer that has to go. The kind we do not want in our area. Not worth shopping at and surely not worth working for. They will take your pay and keep it. The worst employer I ever experienced and I am 58. Sad to see a store that was great turn into the joke of our town. Please help the manager that is there if you want this location to remain open. It’s a disgrace to see what has happened to the old BELK’S.

Will Belk in Winston-Salem NC close

Sounds like it’s going down

I love the clothes, but you do need to open up the dressing rooms. It is the only place I can get nice shoes. Also the employees are so nice. I shop the Hickory and Lenoir NC stores. You have a black lady in the women’s section that helps me out with outfits. She has very good taste. She is every thing a sales person should be. I spent 300.00 the first time she helped me. Also you should consider putting the larger sizes on top and go down in size. A size 2 and 4’s can reach the bottom shelf easily as us 18 and 16 sizes cannot. We have to have help. Most stores don’t have sales people anymore.

Who cares ?

Belk needs to open up at least one fitting room. I’ve seen people walk out of the Waxahachie store to shop elsewhere because they could not try on clothes in the store. I have stopped shopping there for that reason also.

I love Belk, I understand what all stores are going through. It will pass hoping Belk and all stores come through strong. I will support all stores .

the store manager s—s. she didn't have any respect for her employees. she treated everyone like her pet.. I hope the store closes. it was a racist environment.. I just want to see it come to an end finally.

Belk Columbiana in SC use to be a great high end store, after loosing many of their good store managers and then being bought out by another company the store has gone down hill. They run their employee's to death, they stock is minimal, usually the store is a mess I could go on and on.
Needless to say if it were not for Aveda , Chanel and Bobby Brown I would not shop there again. Those products I cannot get at Dillards, who has maintained excellent service, good selection even during this down time and you don't see employee's saddened to be there working. Belk, if you are about to be bought out- I truly hope it's by a great company, I compare you to Kohls now.

I worked at a Belk for a little over a year. Associates and Managers were overworked and frustrated. The way in which I was spoken to by management was unbelievably rude and disrespectful on a regular basis, including being yelled at in front of a customer for something that happened on my day off. It was amazing to me that associates accepted that kind of treatment year after year. Backrooms with storage were crowded, unorganized and dangerous leaving it nearly impossible to find items for customers. Push, push push all day long to get credit sign ups and as much rung as possible with actual customer service left behind. Returned merchandise was often tossed back on the floor without checking. Quality of clothing was ok if you didnt expect durability. Changing companies was like a breath of fresh air.

I work in a Mississippi Belk. I been with Belk 6 years and it is a shell of its old self . I frankly am embarrassed to work here. I'm waiting it out till we close for good. The best mod is treated the worst by corporate. The more one cares the less it's appreciated.

I cannot get to my account, the number listed for Belk asks for a pass number, which I am not aware of. Also cannot use email because it says my info is incorrect. Please reply.