How much longer do you think this company has?
Introducing the 365 concept I think is a sign saying main stores aren't going to continue to prosper, but some people are optimistic. Are you? Why and Why not?
12 replies (most recent on top)
Prices still going up
.i thought this whole restructure was about lowering prices and making us more competitive?
Probably going to be bought out, and then rolled in as a department at a Big Box store.
If you have to ask that question (and in this case it is a very valid one to ask!), then it's clearly time to update the resume and start looking elsewhere. If WFM or 365 manages to survive and you want to stay, then great, but if not, then at least you are well on your way to networking and interviewing elsewhere. Who knows, you may even get a much better offer!
I agree with other replies in this thread that WFM and 365 have major competitors who can offer everything they can at better prices, and have superior leadership and operations. Given all the negative factors surrounding WFM/365, (which if you work for the company and have been visiting this site you already know, so I won't list them) the survival of the company is tenuous. I seriously doubt it will survive the next economic downturn. Don't take anything for granted and realize the upper leadership will lie to you if it suits their purposes. Start looking for a new job and take care of yourself and each other!
WFM continues to crank out a nice profit every quarter. This will become more so when you count 365's incredible sales per square footage because of low building expenses and cheaper buy-ins. This company makes money honey....what we need to do is dump wall street! Negative comps are inevitable with any company.....it's a freakin pipedream to think a company will always comp higher ad infinitum..forever and ever....it will get uglier before it gets better. I hope it gets better...I need and kinda like my job.
Main stores aren't going to continue to prosper? I don't know of any store right now that's prospering at all. Every store I'm aware of (SW) is negative comping since january, and the last holiday quarter was awful.
This is what happens when you once had a great idea, great product, great employees, and you sit and do nothing while the products AND the employees go to the competition. This company will probably continue to exist, but with way fewer stores, staff, and way less fun and optimism.
Whole Foods may be known for organics, but now people can buy organics anywhere, at a cheaper price, probably closer to them. Bad leadership can be replaced, but won't be, and in the end that still wouldn't solve the core problem.
A lot of people still trust whole foods market for organics and they will continue to shop there. Management poor decisions have nothing to do with customers shopping there. Yes comps are down and all that but they will continue to make reasonable cash to support their operations. Its how fast they will react to changing landscape that matters - do they continue to keep useless executives who never add value or do they show them the door and focus on stores? Do they let real qualified operators run stores or they use favoritism take over common sense?
@Jdbaxvp-ant, could not have said it better !!!
But why do you think they will continue to make more?
They still have money and will continue to make more. Issue with WFM is arrogant leadership. They are slow to move with fast changing times and will continue to dance to the old music.
They still have money and will continue to make more. Issue with WFM is arrogant leadership. They are slow to move with fast changing times and will continue to dance to the old music.
I don't think many people are optimistic. I think the people leading this company are too out of touch with current trends. They think they have empowered all of the right people to help them stay on the right track but in reality, they have empowered greedy people who tell them what they want to hear. It is obvious when you shop at sprouts, luckys, vitamin cottage, trader joes, etc., that employee happiness means something and people there like their jobs. Whole foods does not have this atmosphere anymore and customers can tell. Customers like to be served by people who enjoy serving them no matter what what retailer it is. It's the simple old school interaction between a knowledgable and happy employee and a customer feeling good about how their money is spent that whole foods has forgotten about. When people start to understand that they're nothing more than a figure on paper to a corporate machine, all the personal vibe is lost. Whole foods knew this at one point but their egos grew too large at the core and the whole business model is now slowly imploding. 365 stores will not save this company because they are whole foods and people are over it. Too many competitors offer better service with equal or better products.