SEPHORA VS MACYS BEAUTY ADVISOR

I work at Macy's at a Chanel counter. Love Chanel, but wish more and more everyday I had decided to go with another store (i.e. Saks or Nordstrom). If I were you, I would stay where you are. The only thing that is keeping me there is that I negotiated a decent hourly wage - otherwise I would be out of there. Management is disorganized. The pressure to open credit accounts is TREMENDOUS. My counter manager is a hot mess and management doesn't seem to really care, since she's been there forever and gets away with outlandish shit. Just my two cents.

Aw that's poop. We have to pull a lot from other departments too. I hate it. I always feel like I'm stalking people. But now and then someone says yes and you get a good sale out of it. 

I know!!! haha :) And right now, it's summertime which is the slowest time of the year. So it's a challenge to stay busy. REALLY A CHALLENGE. No one really wants to get a makeover because no one really wants to wear a lot of makeup at the moment. The credit account thing is bad too. Management doesn't want to hear "how am I supposed to get credits when NO ONE is in the store?" I actually had my husband apply for one yesterday so I could get one. It's so ridiculous.I really am starting to think that maybe I should just get out of this industry. The bad is far outweighing the good these days. 

Have you thought about just going to a freestanding Sephora store? I am thinking about it more and more......there wouldn't be this stupid pressure to open these accounts or competitiveness regarding commission (do you make commission at jcp Sephora?)

Ah yes, that sounds like the bonuses that they get at regular Sephora stores. 

LMAO at the coupons. Macy's has all those coupons too and they ALWAYS exclude cosmetics. Everyday I have at least one or two conversations about how those coupons exclude cosmetics, blah blah blah. People are usually cool about it, but a few get pretty wound up about it too.

This thread has me really thinking that I can do better somewhere else, whether it be in a whole other field of work or in the same field, just at another location. Thanks for inspiring me to start looking at other options!! I hope you do well with whatever you decide! xx

Good Afternoon,

I have scheduled an interview for Macy's at Cumberland Mall here in Atlanta Georgia. I have read some of the posts and to be honest I believe that working at a counter in either fragrance or cosmetics requires a sense of passion, in order to go beyound the job description. I'm not worried about the company or store that I'm in. I know that this is what I want to do, and also know that pay wages will increase depending on my performance and experience. Ladies if you are more concerned about the pay then you are with making your customers feel happy about their face and our product then to me it doesn't matter where you go. Ametur Make up artist have to start somewhere. Whereever you start let that be a stepping stone into bigger and better things.I been in retail sense I was 16 years old, I'm now 24. Starting in retail has also helped me to see things from the customer and management perspectives. No matter what though, your success depends on you and the talent and skills you put out. My advice is don't let the company stop you from increasing your productivity and business. As a makeup artist you have the ability to move up, in department stores, and develop your profile more so that you can go to into more high end stores and break personal goals and increase your clientele. I have a vision and I know that Macy's is a place for me to start not a place for me to remain. I start Paul Mitchell's School for esthetics and make up in August, just so that I can get a better understanding of the skin and make up applications. I just feel it's up to you and where you see yourself in the cosmetic industry versus what the job description entails and how much money you get paid. Every store will train you and get you prepared to do well, it's up to you to see beyond the paycheck and stress that comes with it. Passion will look pass any form of distractions... Allow the paycheck to chase you. Before I go remember this, if you don't invest in yourself no one else will. Have a wonderful day, and if it's hot stay in the a/c, remain beautiful and don't forget that the makeup only enhances ones beauty, natural beauty steams from the inside.  

All very good points!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and advice :) 

Just to chime in, I currently work for a Sephora inside JCP, and while some of the points mentioned earlier are totally valid (new CEO, things are changing, etc.) I completely adore my job.

I work with amazing people who enjoy each other and work very well as a team. My boss encourages us to pursue work outside of SiJCP (such as freelance, or college) She works with us on our schedules and is happy to try and make things work out for us. She keeps track of our Beauty Insider percentage by using my little pony coloring book drawings we colored in ourselves....She's pretty much the bomb.

That being said, there's definitely pluses to working at a freestanding store and someday I may end up at one, but like with most jobs, the store environment differs from place to place. I've never been pressured to go on the white tile (we make pager announcements overhead, occasionally we choose to go on the white tile ourselves to pass out free samples). They mention the credit apps, but we're rarely strongly pressured for them since the discount for opening an account doesn't apply to sephora.

Just my two cents.