Does anyone on this board work for Lowes home improvement? After over 20 years in the tech and endless layoffs and the continued recession that has lasted over 4 years now, I am tired. The company I work for is about ready to announce yet another layoff (the fourth major one in 3 years). I am going to put my newly found business/finance/accounting expertise to some use - at someplace that is actually growing. Lowes has a good in-house Manager in training program and I am good at Supply Chain Management. Any insight into this company? How much do Managers in training make?
I don't work for Lowes but know that they are a growing company and they have a top-of-the-line datawarehouse computer system*. *disclaimer - I work for the company that they bought their computer system from.
Great! Hook me up with a job at your company. The company I work for has lost nearly 30% of its value today alone. Ugh! And the prediction is that the very small spike the semi industry had in the last year (and I mean, very small when compared to the 96-01 run-up), will burst in 2005. Most competetors are now laying off. Of course we can all get jobs at WalMart. Or better yet, in corrections. The laid off are either going to get into a life of crime or watching criminals (such as what happened when the auto industry tanked in the late 70's)
I live in a place where there is neither a Home Depot nor a Lowes within short driving distance. I have to drive into Massachusetts to go to either. The Home Depot is closer by 10-15 minutes. I tend to go to the Lowes however because my experience is that their sales people are more helpful. Jack
I shop at Lowes quite a bit. One thing I have noticed is that they appear to have very low turnover. I have been seeing the same faces in the store for quite some time. They must be doing something right. My brother-in-law is a manager at a Menards store which is in the same vein as Lowes and HD. He makes decent of money but he works ALL THE TIME. He's paid hourly so he makes a shitload of OT. I don't think his hourly rate is all that high for a manager...I'm guessing less than $20.00, but time and a half adds up.
I talked to my friend's wife the other day (she was an accountant at a Lowes store here in the bay area). She said the third assistant manager brought home about 2000 every pay period (26 pay periods per year). Not too bad for retail. In nearly every market where a Lowes has moved in the Bay Area, they are surpassing HD. The reason is simple. At one time HD was run by the founder who understood customer service first. The new management of HD wouldn't know a light socket from a cresent wrench. The Managers and Assistants are paid a salary for the most part. Bonuses, etc.
Trust me, retail sucks! You work when everyone else is off. I owned and ran a golf store for two years. While the ownership part is great, I would go back to retail only as a last resort.
