Blue Ruby

Honestly I'll start with the pros - this job is not physically demanding, I would say majority of the retail floor staff across all locations and very friendly and on the same page, the procedures are quick to pick up as well, and there is of course a discount. It's enticing to want to work for a local company for sure, especially one that makes a point to support local designers and such. 

However, there are many cons along with it. Cons would be - no break rooms, so do not expect to be able to bring a lunch/dinner for your shift as there aren't fridges or microwaves provided, it's also discouraged to bring in any food of any kind so you're basically expected to purchase a meal every shift from the mall foodcourts. You are standing for your entire shift without floor mats, and that along with the "formal" dress code (which isn't inclusive of many comfortable shoes), can make for very sore feet and lower back. The job at entry level is quite simple, however generally the expectations are much higher than the wages/rewards provided. The attempted discussions for wage increases are met with a lot of resistance and not many results, and if there even is a raise, the amount is abysmal. Never mind even trying to discuss promotions. There also tends to be many scheduling mistakes as you'll request a day off (it can get approved) and you'll still get scheduled that day, with it then being your responsibility to get the shift covered on short notice. Along with other scheduling mishaps such as being scheduled against your availability, which in that case may also then be your responsibility to get the shift(s) covered. Being that a lot of things are done through HR, a lot of the issues also stem from there, so it's near impossible to contact the proper department (which would be HR) to even get a conversation going, never mind even solving the issues.

The entire "culture" of this company is skewed, they are more concerned with their image as part of the Hill's brand than much else. Majority of the employees all have the exact same frustrations, yet nobody actively speaks out and it's swept under the rug so everybody can just get by. Being that you can't contact a department to discuss that department, it's never brought up. So nothing is ever done and nothing changes.

In conclusion - this company needs a major overhaul of it's culture and how they treat their employees through H.O., wages need to be competitive with other companies, as well as legitimately reflecting expectations/responsibilities, as well as I would encourage for them to simply be more supportive and empathetic towards their employees if they want them to stay for an extended period of time and have a good impression of the company.

Low Compensation: The remuneration for the sales associate position at this workplace was notably subpar, failing to align with industry standards or adequately compensate for the responsibilities and workload.
Unpleasant Work Environment: The overall atmosphere within the workplace left much to be desired, characterized by poor management practices, lack of support, and minimal opportunities for professional growth or advancement.
Inadequate Training: Training and onboarding processes were insufficient, leaving sales associates ill-equipped to perform their duties effectively and serve customers with confidence.
High Turnover Rate: The workplace suffered from a high turnover rate, indicative of systemic issues and dissatisfaction among employees. This turnover not only disrupted workflow but also hindered team cohesion and morale.
Lack of Recognition: There was a notable absence of recognition or appreciation for the efforts and contributions of sales associates. The lack of acknowledgment for hard work and achievements further contributed to a demotivating work environment.

This company has no sympathy or support for their store workers. Unbelievably high expectations. Target sales are way too high for store traffic and even if reached you don't get any beneficial compensation. You are selling hundreds of dollars throughout your shift and you really only get incentives ($5-$40) towards jewelry - can't even buy anything in the store with that. Locations have established work culture which majority is cliquey catty environment. They hire mainly highschool students as they are easily disposable which create many problems. Training is horrible - was thrown in the sales floor and expected to know how to sell immediately when only given product knowledge. Low wages for expectations. Don't even want to mention how you are expected to dress in very uncomfortable shoes for long hours on hard wood floor which makes for very sore feet and back. No break rooms so you are expected to buy food in foodcourts - bringing in your own is looked down on. No talks about promotion or advancing yourself in this job.

Overall, I do not reccomend this job at all. 

The job is simple especially if retail or jewelry is your interest. 

It is fun to get knowledge of the jewelry. 
The sale goals are pretty achievable. 

However, this company is a family run business and there is some weird stuff you have to put up with. 


Also, I think this depends on which location you work at but mostly the sale staffs (There isnt really any positions in this company except sales) are cliquey and pretentious. A lot of schmoozing you gotta do. 

Most of the retail scene is just female and I have worked with different circles but I never have seen such a bland and arrogant group of people. 
Not everyone is like that of course but if you want to be happy here you have to join that atmosphere. I think this company hires favors hiring and keeping those people. The managers also encourage this scene as well. 

Lastly, too many staffs working when it isn't even necessary.

At a store level I enjoyed working here. Upper management is what made me leave and not want to grow within the company. LOW wages and HIGH expectations. Many people I know that did or still do work here feel the exact same way. They aren't willing to invest in the people they hire which was the biggest disappointment. As someone who is passionate about jewellery I did really enjoy selling and growing relationships with customers. It came down to not wanting to work for a company that doesn't value their employees and act as if you are replaceable if you reasonably ask for what you deserve. Hopefully one day they see this continuous pattern and change.

We enjoy helping customers find funky, fashion jewellery to add to their everyday look, or for a special occasion. I've learned about different designers we carry, and what materials they use. I've also learned about semi precious stones and researched their healing properties. My co workers are generally pretty supportive, and we try to work as a team to fulfill store and individual goals. You do have to work hard, and there is always something to do to keep you busy during slow times. I really enjoy helping customers with finding exactly what they're looking for. I love looking at jewellery all day and also love wearing it.

I worked at Blue Ruby for 3 years.  The job is easy but they expect a lot for VERY LITTLE PAY (minimum wage). Depending on the location, I really enjoyed the people I worked with. I was simply there to make money as a student, with no desire to advance. I think management picked up on this, although considering they were paying me 11 dollars an hour, I didn't really care. The hours are very long, with a very short lunch break (45 mins for 8 hours shift). I ended up leaving because overall, they weren't a flexible for company for part-time staff.

No benefits, strict dress code, terrible management, competitive for no reason because there is no commission, no break room so you have to go out for your breaks which = spending money to sit somewhere, all issues are blamed on your incompetency, growth in the company is only if higher Management likes you (not based on any other credential)

Don’t work for these people if you have any respect for yourself. i did not feel appreciated and valued at this company not even for one minute!
High expectations, not so friendly head office, unprofessional HR, mistakes with the payments and scheduling, reduced hours after high season, unfriendly managers, no room for growth, little commission, being treated like a selling robot! I have worked for big retail companies and now I know why this company can’t grow as much!!

Was the worst job I have had by far. They do not value their workers and only care about the money. As a floor manager, I was making $17...how are you gonna make someone a manager and give them a million task but little compensation? If you have respect for yourself, run as far away as possible. To top it off, the scheduling is always messed up. Ask for a day off and expect to still be scheduled even though they approved of your time off. This company is a joke 

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