When the best isn't good enough! (Clinton Cards PLC)

Member Name: kiss_me2070

Product:	Clinton Cards PLC
Date:	20/11/08 (142 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Career Prospects

Disadvantages: No Proper Training Given, Stupid Hours

***MY WORK EXPERIENCE***
I worked for Clintons for over 4 years, and started off as a sales assistant in 2001. (My first job, after leaving school) My job roles were:

- Stock Replenishment
- Cash Handling
- Customer Service
- General house-keeping duties such as cleaning, etc.
- Stock-take

Whilst working as a sales assistant I was given a bronze book, to go through and read and answer various questions which would help me progress up to a higher position such as Supervisor. After completing this book, you receive a certificate. I think my pay was about £4.80 an hour, which was about the minimum wage at the time!

Within a year I was promoted to Supervisor and I had more responsibility. My roles included all the above with added extras such as:

- Cashing Up
- Daily Banking
- Ringing through orders
- Checking off deliveries

I was again given another book to work through which was Silver, which when completed would be Assistant manager level. I complete the book, but my area manager never signed me off and I never actually received a certificate. My pay was increased and I was on over £5.00 an hour (I can't remember how much exactly!)

I had now been with the company for 3 years and I got promoted to assistant manager. I had a lot more responsibility which included all the above and added extras such as:
- Daily/Weekly Figures
- Daily/Weekly Paperwork
- Staff training
- Daily Rotas

When I got promoted to assistant manager I got given a big folder, which was my induction training which was to last 4-6 weeks. You would get sent to another store to complete your training and induction work folder. This never happened to me, I was never sent to another store to complete my training. Assistant manager pay was about £6.80 at the time.

I was acting manager for 4 months, as my previous manager had left on maternity leave, and they hadn't found anyone suitable for the role yet. I don't think they were in any rush, as they knew I was quite capable of running the store and doing other duties. I didn't actually want to get promoted to Manager as I was quite happy as assistant manager.

When I was acting manager, I wasn't expecting it to be easy, but I feel the company just took the Mickey! It was coming up to Christmas and as you all obviously know, it's the time of the year where Clintons make most of their money! I was the only member of management and because of this I was unable to leave the shop for my lunch break. If I needed lunch, I had to give a staff member some money to go and get it for me!

The shop's hours also got extended and as I was the only member of management, I had to work from 8:30am - 8:00pm in the evening, mostly working through my breaks as we were so busy! I lost a lot of weight, where I was stressed, and unable to finish my lunch breaks properly as I would get called onto the shop floor. I feel I didn't have any help or support from the other stores in the town or from the area manager.

We finally got a manager in the store so I was relieved of all the extra work I had been doing for the past few months. I suffer from asthma and one particular day it was really bad. I didn't have a inhaler and I had really big trouble breathing. My only staff member in the shop was really worried and thought she was going to have to call an ambulance for me.

I couldn't even speak properly, as I was so short of breath. I tried ringing the manager (day off) to let her know that someone else was covering me as I had to go to the doctors, but I got no answer. I tried calling her at least 3-4 times to let her know! I got an emergency appointment at the doctors and rung another store to see if a member of management could cover me and shut the shop so I could go the doctors. (Management from other stores can cover you, if you need to leave the shop) They sent the Supervisor down.

I got to the doctors and he immediately gave me a prescription for an inhaler and wanted me off work until I got better. Although the doctor told me this, I went back to work the following day and explained to the manager and area manager what the doctor had said. You'd think everything would be alright after that, but it wasn't!

I got told off because I never let the manager know what was going on (even though I tried ringing her phone and their was no answer)! The Supervisor had also shut the shop 30mins early when she shouldn't have, this led to me getting a disciplinary which I thought was extremely unfair.

I left the company in September 2005, I was sick of the way I was being treated and my health is more important than my job!

***TYPICAL DAY***
The shop would open at 9am, you would then fill your card section and clean the shelves (cleaning the shelves once a week). (You are allocated a card section!)

You would follow the rota to see what your jobs were each hour.
Customer Service is between 12-3, where no work is to be done. Customer service only!

For your lunch or tea break, you can either sit in the staff room or leave the shop.
Banking would get taken to the bank in the afternoon after everyone has had their lunch.

At 5pm, you would start and tidy the cards and other stands. One person would start at one end of the shop and another person at the other end. Management would also take off 1 till at this time.
At 5:30pm, close the shop and hovering would be done whilst management cashed up the second till.

***PRODUCTS***
Clintons sell a large range of cards for every occasion, soft toys, gift wrap, gifts and other items such as party wear which includes balloons, banners, badges and more!

After working for this company for 4 years, I did notice that the cards did used to get repeated every year at Christmas, they never used to vary the designs much year to year, and to my amazement, I went into Clintons this year to buy a card for my nephews 1st Christmas and it was the same design card, from when I worked there, (bear in mind, I left the company over 2 years ago now!)

I also think some of their products look quite cheap and some items are over-priced. How-ever I am a big fan of the tatty teddy range!

***UNIFORM***
The uniform has changed since I worked there, thankfully I don't have to wear the uniform anymore, but it consists of an orange shirt and navy blue trousers. They do also supply a name badge with your name on.

***DISCOUNT***
Discount was 25% off all items, excluding sales items where no discount is given.

***LUNCH BREAKS***
If you work a full day from 9am - 6pm, you would get two 15 minute tea breaks (1 in the morning & 1 in the afternoon) as well as 1 hour for lunch.

***BENEFITS***
You have the chance to progress up to management, and they also do their own pension scheme. At Christmas you may also qualify for a staff bonus, which varies, depending on how well your store performed over Christmas.

***OVERALL OPINION***
You may really enjoy working in this environment, especially if you enjoy retail. Bear in mind though, there is a mad rush at Christmas, then after the Christmas rush is over its very quiet and sometimes boring, but I'm sure you'll always find something to do. I'm not sure what the pay is like now, I'm pretty sure its improved since I left there.

If your lucky you may get the support you need, but I do know a few people who have left the company because of the way they have been treated and the things they have had to put up with.
You might not get the same problems as I had, and you may well be lucky and receive training and 24/7 support.

Whatever you choice to do, whether its starting a career with this well known company or just working there as a Christmas Temp I wish you the best of luck!

Summary: Career Prospects not worth the hassle at Clintons!