Strandbags Employee Reviews

Hours could definitely be better, if you’re looking for lots of hrs this is definitely not the place for you. For a retail job I can’t really complain but there are things that could be improved. During the day you will unpack stock, serve customers, tidy and replenish stock. There is a lot of info you have to learn about bags and luggage but majority of it is common sense. The worst part about the job again is the hrs. During peak you can expect up to 5 shifts a week that go for 3-5hrs as they don’t want to give you a paid break and during quiet months you could be lucky to get 1-3 shifts a week. Also during peak if it is quiet they will send you home as soon as you have worked for 3 hrs because strandbags is all about saving as much money as possible when it comes to shifts. They have recently dropped hrs for shifts and even some employees have been told to look for another job as the hrs they will get won’t be enough to survive off. Overall job is alright, pretty easy although you are on your feet the whole shift. Depending on the manager the shifts can be pretty flexible except during peak (Christmas) where you are expected to be available 24/7. I would only recommend this job if you are wanting 4 - 15hrs a week otherwise it’s not really worth your time.

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Stressful/ no support

Store Manager (Former Employee) - Adelaide Region SA - 3 August 2023

You het thrown in the deep end with no support.High turnover of staff.Upper management is terrible Below average pay I wouldn't recommend workfor this company

Pros

Generous staff discounts

Cons

Long hours, low pay, no support

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Strandbags insights

Based on 10 survey responses

Areas for improvement

Sense of belonging
General feeling of work happiness
Support from manager

Not for the faint hearted

Retail Sales Assistant (Former Employee) - NSW - 18 July 2023

This job is alittle difficult at first because you are learning how to use technology, but once you get the hang of it, it is very easy. You don't learn everything on the first day. Sometimes that will take longer but again once you've gotten the hang of it, it is very easy. The only problem is that sometimes you don't get alot of support from your regional managers if for example, you are having a problem with a co-worker for whatever reason or you're looking to further your career in the company. Otherwise the pay is decent and work hours are flexible.

Pros

Easy work/life balance

Cons

Not very strong support system

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Back stabbing, no adequate training and overall poor management

Retail Assistant (Former Employee) - Melbourne VIC - 30 June 2023

Managers talking behind their team members, training is not provided in a sufficient manner and overall toxic work culture. Workers are promised certain hours however are not given them, they are expected to know exactly how a store should operate though are only given three hour shifts to gather all the knowledge that is required by them. Managers are unable to appropriately resolve concerns and instead abruptly communicate with their team when a concern is raised. It is a work environment that definitely brings a lot of negativity as well as stress to a working member.

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No career progression

Retail Assistant (Former Employee) - Brisbane QLD - 5 June 2023

If you are a uni student or a mum looking for a job to fill time it's the right company. However if your wanting to progress your career this isn't the company for you.

Pros

Staff discount

Cons

No progression

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average work place

Casual Sales Assistant (Current Employee) - Melbourne VIC - 22 May 2023

our regional manager is terrible and does not have the skills to manage stores or even do the basics, he is the reason why my co workers are not motivated to work as he puts so much pressure on us for useless things such as interacting on our work app, only using register for cash sales and other pathetic rules that makes work so stressful when it shouldn't be. The company is also very stingy, no bonuses or gifts given if you exceed budget or sales, another factor that does not motivate us to perform well, also blame you if budget isn't met even if its a quiet day.. overall theres no potential of progressing in the company. but if your store manager and co workers are lovely, it makes it easier. wouldn't recommend as a long term job

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Toxic work culture. Definite favouring of employees. Offers the world delivers nothing

Retail Sales Assistant (Former Employee) - New South Wales - 3 May 2023

Minimal training, you are either in the click from the get go or forget it. Senior staff try to micro manage casual employees like they are in positions of management and management do nothing. They say you’ll get certain hours with potential for growth but it’s all fake. Obvious favouritism within and you are not rewarded or recognised for exceeding sales expectations. Backstabbing and gossiping of others. No ongoing product training, thrown in the deep end. It was a very uncomfortable experience.

Pros

Customers were friendly

Cons

Toxic work environment

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Terrible Job

Sales Assistant (Current Employee) - Sydney NSW - 26 April 2023

Honestly, some of the worst management I have ever seen. Very short shifts (3 hours) unless you are a manager. Managers are put on a lot of stress. Unrealistic goals and expectations and when it is quiet, apparently its your fault? Very little ability to progress further in the job as every manager position is hired from outside the company. Not given all rightful breaks.

Pros

Amazing team (besides manager)

Cons

everything else.

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Progressive , evolving and challenging

Store Manager (Current Employee) - Fremantle WA - 23 March 2023

Aways moving forward , scope to grow and develop . Focus is on customer service , very busy with lots to learn , feel part of a team , with goals , many really lovely supportive women .

Pros

A network of support, always different so not boring

Cons

Retail so have to work a lot over christmas

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Horrible work place

Casual Sales Assistant (Former Employee) - Cannington WA - 12 March 2023

Save your mental health and find work elsewhere! You are just a number in a highly toxic environment!Pushed to your limits with nothing but an expectation to give more.Management speak unkindly behind backs, will never address issues to your face, but will happily discuss it with everyone else!If you make targets you steal sales, if you don’t make targets you’re lazy.Management do no work & complain when things don’t get done & blame everyone else.Don’t expect a Christmas with your family your not allowed to have that if you work in this store.

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Worst place for mental health

Manager (Current Employee) - Perth WA - 9 March 2023

This company doesn’t care about you or your mental health at all. Don’t even bother applying there’s a reason they’re always advertising jobs. They couldn’t care less about you and voicing concerns or how you feel goes ignored for weeks and weeks on end. For a company who bangs on about “people first” they are anything but that. As a store manager your pay is terrible and if you’re in a small store you’re doing 90% of the work yourself and if you ask for extra hours or help it’s quickly shut down. Don’t waste your time with this ungrateful company unless you want to feel like it wouldn’t matter if you dropped dead.

Pros

Generally nice co workers

Cons

Absolutely everything else

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Very rewarding experience

Retail Assistant (Former Employee) - Tasmania - 8 February 2023

I would love to do this job with confident and fair managers . Poor training was provided often bullying in the work place. Poor communication with interstate mangers which meant issues went in dealt with

Pros

Meeting all types of people

Cons

Poor management

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Not Worth It

Store Manager (Former Employee) - Perth WA - 19 January 2023

Staff are not paid enough for the amount of work they are expected to do. Upper management have no genuine empathy towards staff concerns. Voicing ones concerns back fires on you if it does not benefit the business. Company motto is people first but they do not care for staff mental health. This results in high turn over rates and older staff who have been with the company for years to leave ASAP.

Pros

Wonderful casual employees

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Fun environment , good staff and management

Casual Sales Assistant (Current Employee) - Warwick WA - 14 December 2022

The environment is fast paced, fun and challenging but rewarding. The staff are so fun and easy to get along with. Really friendly. Staff are so helpful. Would recommend working here.

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Coworkers are either toxic or great

Casual Sales Assistant (Former Employee) - Queensland - 12 December 2022

I’ve received disrespect and judgement from some people, but the others are amazing. Our approach towards customers is over the top and clearly annoys them, yet we were made to keep disturbing them.

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Toxic workplace

Manager (Current Employee) - Perth WA - 4 December 2022

I was expected to run the store before I got my management contract for almost a year as a causal with no days off and only one other team member. I would never ever recommend anyone work for this company. I ended up burnt out and had told my regional for months, we came to the agreement I could have a day off each week on a Tuesday to sort out my mental health. I got only one Tuesday off 9 weeks after The agreement was made and when I was at my lowest point was told “you’re gonna have to put that on a back burner for now” after I expressed that the job had spiralled me into a deep depression. No work life balance at all, you’re just a number in their eyes. For a company that claims to have a “people first” culture, that only applies if you work in head office apparently. KPI’s are outrageously high and higher up/head office micromanages everything like there’s no tomorrow. You’re better off working in a bigger store if you want support bc if you’re in a “brown store” you basically don’t exist until they want to steal you’re already stretched team members to help another store with already 4-5 team members working while you’re left alone and told to just get on with it. Also asked to stay back until close on a Thursday night if someone calls in, instead of pulling a staff member from a bigger store but it’s okay for them to pull staff from an already struggling store without a replacement or warning about it

Pros

40% off discount

Cons

Unrealistic expectations, head office always wanting more/never happy, no work life balance as a manager, terrible pay compared to the same roles in other companies, regionals who ignore requests for help, no proper training, extremely bad for mental health

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A great place to work

Customer Experience Manager (Current Employee) - Pyrmont NSW - 14 November 2022

* Great People & Culture * Career growth and progression opportunities * Supportive teams and colleagues * Beautiful, centrally located office * Flexible hours

Pros

P&c, training and development, flexibility

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Midvalley manager is the worst

Retail Sales Assistant (Former Employee) - Morwell VIC - 14 November 2022

No people skills. Rude to customers and staff. Complaints made to head office but nothing was ever done about it. Will throw you under the bus at the drop of a hat.

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A fun and collaborative environment

Marketing (Current Employee) - Pyrmont NSW - 13 November 2022

What a great place to work! Management are supportive and are keen to progress careers. There's a great work life balance and a fabulous team culture.

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Execellent work environment

Sales Associate (Former Employee) - Sydney - 27 October 2022

I had a great time working at Strandbags as the management team and my co-workers were great. The company really does care about its employees and working there gave me flexibility, especially as a student.

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Grade A Culture!

Office Coordinator (Current Employee) - HEAD OFFICE - 26 October 2022

Management place a real emphasis on not over-extending their team so the workloads are challenging while remaining achievable.Above-market rate renumeration.Managers and Heads-Of encourage open communication within the departments.Huge culture of encouraging a healthy work/life balance.