What's the company culture at Dillard's?

Every business has it's own style. What is the office environment and culture like at Dillard's?

Are people dressed in business casual, jeans and t-shirts, or full-on suits? Do folks get together for Friday happy hours and friendly get-togethers?

What is a typical day in the life of an employee at Dillard's?

This is a job must be at thier corporate office. I worked there and the department that this position is in is ran by the worst Vp I have ever meet. He degrades everyone, til he needs them, then he is all hey buddy. Snide crass coments at all times. Pay you just enough to tease you and the pay increases are $.50 to $1.00 an hour, no matter what your salaray is. They suck, and they drain the joy out of your life. The director of this department can suck the joy out of an angel from heaven. This is not a family EnvIroment. They care only about thier selves and the managment is never wrong and they make sur eyou understand that. They react to problems and make it worse and never ask waht needs to be done to fix it the right way. They bandaid it adn make it worse... cause they put the bandaid on the wrong spot...

Host said: Every business has it's own style. What is the office environment and culture like at Dillard's?

Are people dressed in business casual, jeans and t-shirts, or full-on suits? Do folks get together for Friday happy hours and friendly get-togethers?

What is a typical day in the life of an employee at Dillard's?

A typical day in the life of an employee at Dillard's ranks right up there with being drawn and quartered...

Host said: Every business has it's own style. What is the office environment and culture like at Dillard's?

Are people dressed in business casual, jeans and t-shirts, or full-on suits? Do folks get together for Friday happy hours and friendly get-togethers?

What is a typical day in the life of an employee at Dillard's?

Dillards is the worst company to work for. In case you didn't know it, we have outrageous sales quotas at Dillards that are pretty much impossible to meet. Those who do meet them, may or may not get raises. Those who don't get pay cut after pay cut until they make less than minimum wage and are fired. Not to mention, at least once a month my boss threatens to fire me for those stupid quotas!!! They don't see any of the other things that you do for the store...only how many customers you have rang up for them and how much money each person spent. Then, if the people change their minds after they get home and end up returning the merchandise, the company will dock that from your next days sales. There are a lot of days where my sales are negative for the day...EX: -$645.00 and so on. There is just no winning in this business. I hate it, have always hated it, and am deperately looking for another job.

The way they run things at Dillards...is stupid.

When I go shopping at Dillards, I only go to scan the clearance racks and mark-downs. Once in a great while, I will see a particulary nice Nautica dress shirt in my size (XL), that I know won't be around in a couple months. So I might make that purchase.

I don't make a bigger purchase if a salesperson talks to me. Actually, I would be inclined to buy less. Typically, the salesperson that DOESN'T bother me, that's the person's register I take my stuff to.

The people that pestered me and acted like they were my best friend and we hadn't see each other since high school, basically annoyed me.

I think even most Dillards employees realize this. Management ought to get re-evaluate the company sales policies.

Dillard's is has very negative corporate culture, of endless markdowns, of poor buying, based on antiquated purchasing models, that don't adjust to regional fashion trends. The stores are poorly lit, which has a subconsciously depressing effect on your psyche. Management, at every level, is demonstrative of a complete lack of Human Resource principles of managing a workforce. However, It is not significantly different from any other retail employment opportunities.

i just recently started working at Little rock Arkansas Dillards. so, far I love it. i have always loved the store. I will never forget once in college that my parents took my dillards card away from me, I was crying. (overspending) Anyway, I am now 39, and working there. The man that is the manager is named "BOB". Super good person, and most of the accosiates are really cool. Especially Barbra & Barbra!

work together then.

Host said: Every business has it's own style. What is the office environment and culture like at Dillard's?

Are people dressed in business casual, jeans and t-shirts, or full-on suits? Do folks get together for Friday happy hours and friendly get-togethers?

What is a typical day in the life of an employee at Dillard's?

everyone that works at dillards are dressed nice. all the guys wear full-on suits that work there.
As far as get-togethers, IDK, I have only been there for a couple of weeks. Most of the associates are really friendly. Maybe I can update the dillard's life later. I do know that the sec. there is getting married to the security gaurd there.

Current Dillards Employee in Los Angeles, California said: Dillards is the worst company to work for. In case you didn't know it, we have outrageous sales quotas at Dillards that are pretty much impossible to meet. Those who do meet them, may or may not get raises. Those who don't get pay cut after pay cut until they make less than minimum wage and are fired. Not to mention, at least once a month my boss threatens to fire me for those stupid quotas!!! They don't see any of the other things that you do for the store...only how many customers you have rang up for them and how much money each person spent. Then, if the people change their minds after they get home and end up returning the merchandise, the company will dock that from your next days sales. There are a lot of days where my sales are negative for the day...EX: -$645.00 and so on. There is just no winning in this business. I hate it, have always hated it, and am deperately looking for another job.

well, then don't focus on doing other things for the store. Get you're quota up first. That is priority obviously.

Host said: Every business has it's own style. What is the office environment and culture like at Dillard's?

Are people dressed in business casual, jeans and t-shirts, or full-on suits? Do folks get together for Friday happy hours and friendly get-togethers?

What is a typical day in the life of an employee at Dillard's?

the people in the office all dress very nice as well. In the NLR Dillard's, the manager over the entire store tells everyone to look professional. He speaks very highly of the Dillard's. In our training program, I almost thought for a minute that maybe he WAS a Dillard. He's a really nice man. He even told some employee's that if they wanted to go to church on Sunday, and didn't have a ride, that someone would pick them up. His name is Bob. Very good Manager, Very professional looking and acts very professional.

Disgusted in Augusta, Georgia said: A typical day in the life of an employee at Dillard's ranks right up there with being drawn and quartered...

I am just curious to why so many people on the fourm are interested in the day in the life of an employee at Dillards? This is my 3rd week of training. I don't have a set area yet that I will be placed in untill next week. I Have worked every area of Dillard now just about. I even did dock work one day. Today, I worked 4 different areas. I worked womens dresses, swim suits, children's, and jewlry.

OhioGuy33 in Toledo, Ohio said: The way they run things at Dillards...is stupid.

When I go shopping at Dillards, I only go to scan the clearance racks and mark-downs. Once in a great while, I will see a particulary nice Nautica dress shirt in my size (XL), that I know won't be around in a couple months. So I might make that purchase.

I don't make a bigger purchase if a salesperson talks to me. Actually, I would be inclined to buy less. Typically, the salesperson that DOESN'T bother me, that's the person's register I take my stuff to.

The people that pestered me and acted like they were my best friend and we hadn't see each other since high school, basically annoyed me.

I think even most Dillards employees realize this. Management ought to get re-evaluate the company sales policies.

well, if I went into dillard's and they didn't help me, I would think they didn't want my business.

vegas in North Little Rock, Arkansas said: well, then don't focus on doing other things for the store. Get you're quota up first. That is priority obviously.

good advice vegas!

Hello everyone, I worked for Dillard's for almost 4years and yes I loved my store management and everyone, but the company stinks, really I worked hard, loved everything from marddowns to helping customers, but what you don't realize it isn't the store it is the pressure that the company puts on the managers.
sales quotes, if you don't meet your sales quotes of 100.00 an hour you will get a pay cut of 10%, if you don't met it again and trust it isn't as easy as you think, you get another pay cut fo 10% and if it happens one more time and it could, you will get another pay cut or you are left go. I got three pay cuts and on the 4th one they wanted to keep me so they put me women shoes and up my salary it was fine for the month or two then they hired 5 more people and that was it, 10 people in ladies shoe was to much, I was told ahead of time that I would lose my job and so I got another offer to work somewhere else, so I gave my notice of 2wks and then two days before I was left go I was dismissed, also I got my vaction pay and I can come back if I wanted to, hopefully not but you never know.

lillian, I am sorry to hear that, and I understand all of that. But, I have also heard from many employee's that have been there for 20 years that it is a wonderful company to work for. At least they moved you to another area to keep you, maybe you would be better in another area. But I believe that if my job was in jerpordy if I didn't meet my quota,(especially as a manager) I would make SALES my priority. Markdowns and other things could be delegated to other people as well, right? Pay attention to people as they walk up.
Now, an idea for you if you are in lady's shoes, is sign up for blog's and chat rooms in your area, just like you are on this forum, and advertise! Put your name out there. Seriously, it works. I am from Las Vegas, and I promoted lot's of different businesses. Be creative and think of cute little idea's to get people's attention on the forum's. If I think of something, I will help you out. Keep in touch, and good luck wherever you go.

How long have you been with dillard's, I have known people to be with the company for over 20years and got kick out, maybe your area is better but here in the south it isn't. In fact I was there today for a look and there were only about 6 customers in the whole store. I even tried something cute one day I held a sign in my arms saying thing and of course people laughed which was good. In all seriousness I don't work there anymore and I am glad, I am a great sales person, I go the extra mile for customers and I give 150% mark downs are important to not like customer but if they don't get done you are told about it, and not in a nice way. I use to love to fix the clothes to and rearrange them when not busy, in fact that is why they wanted to keep my because I was good with people customers included, my manager liked me anyway it wasn't the store that left me good it was higher up we had some much turn over at out store every 2months or so, they never told people about pay cuts and when the found out it was, they ber out looking for another job, have you ever had one and are you a supervisior, my supervisior in shoes was good she work so hard, and I mean hard, but because so many people would be left go, for her dept she got can but she did get to go to another store but only as an associate.
I go back in a heart beat but not until the sale guoted went away, they also got rid of another supervision who worked hard too, I know because I seen them work. please reply back

I have heard alot of stories just like yours, and the only thing that pop's into my mind is that obviously SALES are most important! Working hard appearantly didn't help. Sales have to be #1. That is what they are looking at. Numbers. I'm new, so that's what I see so far. And, is you think about it, the quota system keeps you on your toes. That way, you won't ignore your customers, or be rood to them, because you want that sale. I can see why it works. I am sorry to hear about what happened to you. I am sure that you will do great anywhere that you go.

Host said: Every business has it's own style. What is the office environment and culture like at Dillard's?

Are people dressed in business casual, jeans and t-shirts, or full-on suits? Do folks get together for Friday happy hours and friendly get-togethers?

What is a typical day in the life of an employee at Dillard's?

well, I love my job, but I don't love working w/ the other associates. The better I sale, the more they don't like you.

Hey!!!
It's not as easy as you make it sound. You have display's to do,you have projects that your ASM has you doing, AND make your quota. If all we had to do was make quota, there would be no problem.
Smart A@@

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK AT DILLARD'S? DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, RUN THE OTHER WAY BEFORE YOU FILL OUT THE APPLICATION.

SINCE 1969 I HAVE WORKED AT SAKOWITZ, HOUSTON, JOSKE'S, HOUSTON, FOLEY'S, HOUSTON. THESE STORES ARE NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. FOR WHATEVER REASON, THESE STORES NO LONGER EXIST. MANY OF US WISH THEY DID. IF ONLY DILLARD'S WOULD SUFFER THE SAME FATE. THE BUYING PUBLIC WOULD BE MUCH BETTER OFF. SO WOULD IT'S EMPLOYEES. THE DILLARD FAMILY HAS ABSOLUTELY NO REGARD FOR IT'S EMPLOYEES. I WISH I HAD A NICKEL FOR EVERY TIME I'VE HEARD AN EMPLOYEE MAKE THE COMMENT "WHY BOTHER TO COMPLAIN,DILLARD'S DOESN'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO US" WHEN REFERRING TO MANAGEMENTS'TREATMENT OF IT'S EMPLOYEES.

THIS CLIMATE HAS BEEN CREATED BY BILL DILLARD AND HIS FAMILY. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORPORATE ATTITUDE AND IT'S GENERAL MENTALITY. THE RANK AND FILE ARE THE ONES MADE TO PAY FOR DILLARD FAMILY MISTAKES.

OVER THE YEARS I HAVE WORKED FOR SOME VERY GOOD EMPLOYERS AND SOME REAL STINKERS. DILLARD'S IS THE BIGGEST STINKER OF THEM ALL.

As an ex-employee of Dillard's, I won't even shop in that store ever again, nor my friends, and family.

At our Dillard's we have 2 of the most vile, hateful, sub-human beings in the world as ASM's. One, I'll call Fat Albert, is so demented he makes Hitler look like an ok guy. This "man" has the camera operators spy on the employees. Watching to see if anyone is going outside for a smoke, then refusing to open the dock door. He berates employees in front of customers, and berates customers in front of the store. He found out an employee's transfer was denied 2 weeks prior to informing her, and told 2 associates about how her finally "had" her. The associates knew about the denial before she did. Fat Albert is a nasty piece of garbage, who is too good for the deepest part of Hell.
"The Warden" is just as bad. She pits her associates against each other, sets quotas too high, then berates them for not reaching them. She calls them on thier days off, demanding to know where they are at all times, denying requests for days off, including thier children's birthday's. Her day isn't complete without making one of her associates cry.
Her employees hate her so much, they talk about how ugly her CHILDREN are. And our store manager is oblivious to it. She turns a blind eye to it. I've come to hate my job there.

THE DILLARD'S ARE GREEDY,AND EVIL. I AM NOT A RELIGIOUS MAN,BUT I KNOW FOR SURE THAT BILL AND ALEX DILLARD ARE GOING TO BURN IN HELL... GREED IS ONE OF THE 7 DEADLY SINS.
I WORKED AT A DILLARD'S FOR 10 MONTHS. I NEVER EVEN SET FOOT IN ONE OF THEIR STORES TIL I NEEDED A JOB WHILE I FINISHED SCHOOL,AND NOW THAT I AM ALMOST FINISHED AND GETTING READY TO START A HIGH PAYING RESPECTABLE JOB,I WILL NEVER SET FOOT IN THEIR STORES AGAIN.
THE MANAGEMENT TREATS THEIR EMPLOYEES LIKE CRAP. THE PAY IS $.40 AN HOUR ABOVE POVERTY LEVEL.AND WHEN THEIR SECURITY ISN'T TOO BUSY RACIALLY PROFILING CUSTOMERS,THEN THEY ARE WATCHING EMPLOYEES TO SEE IF ANY ONE SNEAKS OVER TO THE SNACK BAR ACROSS THE WAY TO GET SOMETHING TO DRINK.SURE THEY GIVE YOU AN HOUR FOR LUNCH,BUT THERE ARE NO 10 MINUTE BREAKS ALLOWED.
AND AT THE LOCATION I WORK AT,THEY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST MALE EMPLOYEES. MOST OF THE FEMALES LIKE TO SHO UP LATE,TAKE LONG LUNCHES,AND LEAVE EARLY,AND THEY GET AWAY WITH IT. BUT IF ONE OF THE FEW MALE EMPLOYEES,CLOCKS IN 2 MINUTES LATE,THEN OUR ASSISTANT STORE MANAGER,WHO HAS A DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGE HEAD ATOP AN ANOREXIC BODY,AND LOOKS LIKE A HUMAN PEZ DISPENSER,COMES UP TO US,AND CHEWS OUR BUTTS OUT. AND ALL THE WHILE,MAINTAINING THAT FAKE SMILE ON HER FACE.
AND AS FOR THE QUOTA'S; THEY ARE JUST A WAY FOR THE DILLARDS TO KEEP FROM GIVING US RAISES. AND AT OUR LOCATION,THE RETURN RATE IS THROUGH THE ROOF. FOR EVERY $100.00 OF MERCHANDISE WE SELL,AT LEAST $50.00 OF IT GETS RETURNED. AND THAT JUST KILLS US ON THE SALES PER HOUR GOALS.
AND WHATEVER YOU DO,YOU BETTER OPEN UP AT LEAST ONE CREDIT CARD PER WEEK,OR ELSE THEY WILL MAKE YOU WEAR A CREDIT CARD APPLICATION PINNED TO YOUR SHIRT TIL YOU GET ONE.
THEN THERE ARE THE REDICULOUSLY HIGH PRICES. WELL,IN THE TRAINING VIDEOS THEY MADE US WATCH, ALEX DILLARD EXPLAINS THAT THE REASON THEIR PRICES AR SO HIGH IS BECAUSE HE "WANTS PEOPLE TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES FOR SPENDING $150.00 ON A PAIR OF BLUEJEANS AND A T-SHIRT".

ILD in North Little Rock asked why people were interested in this forum. I am researching different retail companies for a stock investment. I had read positive remarks in Peter Lynch's book, "Beating the Street," and was investigating to see if the "story" had changed in 15 years.

Lynch refers to the Dillard family as "a folksy bunch with a tight grip on the corporate purse strings.' He added, 'with Scroogian intensity, they search the books looking for new ways to cut costs, but not at the expense of employees."

The "not at the expense of employees" view looks to be more myth than reality today.

I am going to pass on DDS. It sounds like William II needs to visit companies like Nucor and Southwest Airlines to learn how employees' morale has a huge impact on the bottom line, stock price, and family wealth.

DCF: what's the verdict? Has the story changed after 15 years?

ILD in North Little Rock, Arkansas said: DCF: what's the verdict? Has the story changed after 15 years?

I am not going to invest in Dillard. I feel sorry for anyone who believes they have to work at Dillard's. I believe that people who work for Dillard's need to read about what a good corporate culture entails. This article describes a respectful corporate culture: seekingalpha.com/article/90474-nucor-the-end-of-steel

A company like NUCOR is what I'm looking for in a company when I invest my retirement dollars. Wouldn't you want to work for a company that had this kind of attitude toward its employees?

Something tells me that ILD is on Bill Dillards payroll.

This is the worst company I have ever worked for. How can the expect you to meet a stupid SPH goal when there are no customers in the store. At at time when the economy is as bad as it is right now customers want to shop at bargain prices. So that means that the customers that are in the store are just looking for the 75% off racks. I have grown so tired of hearing that from every customer that I approach. That or they ask if I know when a particular Piece of merchandise will go to 75% off. That and credit apps. So on top of getting a unreachable sales quota they also require you to open more credit accounts. Which is really difficult to do when they don't offer any real incentive for their customers to open an account. They get a whopping $20 coupon to use on a future purchase. And they earn 1 point for every dollar spent in the store and once they reach 1000 points they get another whopping $10 coupon. Come on get real. Do you realize how bad it has to be if Fortune 500 voted dillards as the 2nd worst company to work for.

I happen to work at a dillard's just like you do! Yes, it is slow sometime's. My numbers's are still good. You don't have to meet your quota everyday. It average's out. Maybe you don't understand it. And about the credit app's, If the economy is so bad, then $20 is a big deal! If they are already shopping at Dillard's, why would they not want to fill out the credit app., and use the extra $20 to shop with? I got 15 credit app's last month and won $50 dollar's extra on my check.
I don't make my quota everyday. By the end of the weekend, it averages out.

The numbers good in some departments, but not in mine. It also depends on the location of the store. My location is within 30 minutes in any direction from another Dillards store. All of which are at much better malls then mine, and get two to three times the traffic as our location. Once you get into a certain department at a store you have to be making your quota to transfer to a new department or to another store. So you have no way of trying to better your situation. The hole system is setup to watch you fail. Its sink or swim, which causes employees to steal sales from others just to try to make it. I know for a fact that approx. 85% of the employees at my store are not making their quota. Some of which have been with the company for 10- 20 years all of which say that this is the worst that it has been. I am aware that it averages out. The problem is when the department average is $65.00/hour for that three month period and I am selling at that. They should take that into account, but they don't. My quota as well as every other person in my department has a quota of $90.00/hour or above. And not a single one of us is reaching that goal.

Now on the those stupid credit apps. It is the same as the quota it depends on the department that you work in. We have even tried to give away gift valued up to $70 when they sign up for a account. And that has helped a little, but when you only have a average of 15 customers a day and 10 of those already have a card and the other 5 either say no they don't want another credit card or say that they have a dillards account but my amex, visa, or mastercard have a better reward program. One of my co-workers who brings in 15 to 20 accounts a month said that it all depends on your department.