Find companies:

« All Companies

Marbles: The Brain Store

	Compensation/Benefits
	Management
	Job Security/Advancement
	Job Culture
	Job Work/Life Balance

4 reviews

Marbles: The Brain Store Employer Reviews

Company Attributes

Compensation/Benefits
Management
Job Security/Advancement

Job Culture
Job Work/Life Balance

	Compensation/Benefits
	Management
	Job Security/Advancement
	Job Culture
	Job Work/Life Balance

Investors: The Brain Store

Coach (Former Employee), USA – May 19, 2013

Pros: nothing on the employee level.

Cons: too many. violation of lunch/break policy is one for sure

This very word of mouth driven company seems to be losing sight of what has gotten them to where they are today or rather where their not. Currently the 30 stores, being run by a rather forgetful, and often slow to respond, Head of Operations, continues to slide downward. The brand which is relying heavily on its product choices and Brain Health concept – more... is starting to fall into the standard Retail rut that they claim they don't want to be in. Already holding off on opening stores in 2013 they have shown signs of weakness and inability to please investors. The have changed payroll companies numerous times, lack commitment to performing reviews and this past year were unable to commit to full Management Bonus incentives due to difficulties in the 4th quarter. In addition a number of products lack quality due to an attempt to cut corners with cheap overseas manufacturing. Many wood items have been flawed and are of inferior construction. The DM's possess the least amount of retail experience in the corporate structure but have survived due to the lack of follow up and naivety on the part of Corporate Chicago.

Sadly a number of stores are slow and go hours at a time with minimal customer traffic. As seen in a number of other reviews, it is correct that employees can find themselves working alone and often unable to take breaks and/or lunches.

All in all a good concept but they lack the commitment that many of their now, ex employees, had shown them. – less

Was this review helpful? Yes – No – Comment

	Compensation/Benefits
	Management
	Job Security/Advancement
	Job Culture
	Job Work/Life Balance

Complete Garbage

Brain Coach (Former Employee), Edison, NJ – January 26, 2013

Pros: co-workers

Cons: upper management, no breaks, expect you to lie, scam

This is such a joke of a company. Marbles does not care about it's employees. They are fire happy and are in denial about why their sales are low. Their products are cheaply made, overpriced, and only survive on the idea of the games being "good for brain health". In reality, most of the games are rip offs of old games or cell phone apps. It is all – more... a scam. That's why your salespeople can't sell. There were also plenty of times when I was working at the store alone for 8 hours and not allowed to take a break. That is not okay. I am currently working at a job I love, full time, (Marbles will never offer your full time, by the way, so you can get forget about that) and I'd like to think of my time at Marbles as a long bad dream. I did work with some great people...but they've since been fired, too. So, if you're considering working for this place, I'd suggest you run far, far away and don't look back. – less

Was this review helpful? Yes – No (3) – Comment

Marbles – May 19, 2013

As an ex-employee familiar with the Edison Marbles I can agree on many levels but don't believe we met as it sounds like you were there in late 2012. Edison went through a few transitions with staff turnover being a major part. It was unfortunate that upper Management was always unable to put any real value on its good employees. Edison went through a few Managers that were never really given the support they needed or deserved. Thats what happens when Corporate has a training department of 1, who himself RARELY contacted the stores. So what did they do? He is now a DM. Go figure!

	Compensation/Benefits
	Management
	Job Security/Advancement
	Job Culture
	Job Work/Life Balance

Productive and fun workplace with a loft!

Product Design Intern (Current Employee), Chicago, IL – October 3, 2012

Pros: awesome, creative, fun group

Cons: i was an intern and could only work part time

I worked in the Brain workshop at Marbles HQ as an Intern. There I learned everything from a games conception all the way until the product was ready for the showroom floor. We dealt with time management, tight budgets, and creative management that helped create some very fun and innovative products!

Was this review helpful? Yes – No (1) – Comment

	Compensation/Benefits
	Management
	Job Security/Advancement
	Job Culture
	Job Work/Life Balance

Great Startup Retail Company with lots of growth potential. Not for feint of heart.

Store Manager (Former Employee), Natick, MA – August 21, 2012

Pros: great company atmosphere, big growth/career potential, great customers

Cons: very competitive, shrinking store budget, lack of corporate communication

Marbles is a wonderful company that really focuses on providing a great variety of products with a genuine social good behind them. Neuroscience is an exciting field to start testing the waters of, and "Brain Fitness" is one of the faster growing consumer industries out there.

Managing a Marbles store entails extensive sales time out on the floor as – more... well as hiring and managing a small but effective team of sales professionals. There is a lot to juggle as a startup, and those that are used to streamlined procedures from a larger home office would not be welcome.

However if you're more the creative, self-driven type that can find creative solutions to efficiency or system-wide problems, you'll feel right at home.

The best part of the job was the playfulness of the atmosphere and the customers with whom you got to know on a personal level, far more than any "big-box" retailer.

Be prepared for hiccups as they grow however, because communication can be strained to say the least. Independence is a must in the position, because as they open more stores, its becoming harder and harder to standardize certain practices and provide effective support to even certain major problems. – less

Was this review helpful? Yes (3) – No – Comment