anyone know whats going on with the marketing team? the store is taking on more and more of the marketing job (like doing events, demos, etc) and we rarely see marketers in store since they have so many stores to cover...just wondering if they are being phased out again.
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...and you wonder why they were willing to shut down stores in the past to keep the "unions" out. For all their Green Planet bullshit they're still just Corporate America!
John Mackey always said, "We are a business first, we're here to make money!"
The marketing team is being dine away with
What is a RPS?
They are looking at cutting costs across the board. The main way is by cutting programs and things that don't exactly equate to sales and/or things that cost time and labor (events). They are having more things centralized (certain print orders, seasonal decor posters, etc) more things will be ordered on a region-wide level as they can get a better deal on bulk orders. They are moving towards the stores getting by with the most basic of program execution. Events/Demos will be the efforts of the store as they should be. Think your average joe grocery store marketing.
I work in the PNW the structure looks like this so far
SGA- primarly stays the same, with even less chalk art again and even more of a print and hang job from now on.
Back-up SGA- they are bringing this position back in some of the larger stores
Metro Marketing- stays the same
Metro SGA- stays the same
regional peeps-stay the same
RPS-eliminated, they have been told to find work by april NO SEVERANCE OFFER
My guess is that over time (2-3 years) the SGA will go away as well as the metro positions. I can't think of many companies that put so much effort into marketing and get so litle results. Our marketing team is sub-par if you ask me. The programs s--- and don't generate sales.
As far as layoffs go in general. No severance seems to be the preferred method and before you wave the gig book at me know this. Employee handbooks are not "contracts" even at the start of our GIG it states the policies can be changed at any time without notice. It's not required by law to offer severance. I found this out the hard way. Also people in high up positions don't know any more than we do and if they know a snippet or too they are forbidden from speaking about it.
Find a way to adapt to the new structure or look elsewhere. Have your resume ready and have a back up plan. There are hundreds of great companies out there who would love to have you if you are wanting to move on.
I was a similar question - my group is small but people are freaked out