Reader L is an employee of Wilson’s Leather and has the following to report from inside the liquidation. Everything and everyone must go.
Here’s the most important take away. Now that L’s store has been taken over by a liquidator the prices are actually higher than before. Don’t fall for this so-called “sale.” Apparently, it’s just CompUSA, but with coats.
I’ve been at a Wilson’s Leather store for over a year when we were told about the closings. Since nobody has reported it yet, here’s how it all actually went down and certain points that makes all this even worse.
1. On 2/13, there was no indication whatsoever about what would happen the next day. We were sent the usual e-mails and price changes, as well as shipments.
2. Some new sign kits showed up on 2/14 (Valentines Day) and my manager knew immediately what they were. (They had the signs with the “Everything Must Go” wording on them.) She called out District Manager and asked him about it. He knew nothing and made some calls. They told him everyone would be told in a conference call at 3:00PM. Otherwise, they told him nothing. It’s always fun when signs stating you’re going out of business arrive before you’re told you’re going out of business.
3. The conference call consisted of them basically firing almost all their Regional and District managers (including ours) and telling stores they were being liquidated effective immediately. The best part was them thanking everyone who was now pretty much fired for being loyal employee’s. Nothing was said about severance or unused vacation time, etc. And that was it. We–or any other cut store–had no real ties with Wilson’s anymore. We were sold to a liquidator and they were taking over day-to-day operations from here on out. We received an e-mail listing all the stores that had been closed and a really vague FAQ about what was happening and why. That was the last communication to or from the Wilson’s corp. to our store.
4. The signs are up, the tags were put on everything and we get to deal with customers who are angry that we can no longer accept returns or exchanges on anything regardless of when they made the purchase. Not to mention that the prices now (since the liquidator took over–who we haven’t even seen yet, by the way) are higher than they were before the closing. So consider that a heads up to anybody planning to buy anything.
The only parts of this that anger me more than anything else are these facts:
-We have NO idea when we’re being closed. The guy could show up at any time, say thanks for working, and shut the store down. We’re just standing there waiting for the other shoe to stomp us flat.
-Despite e-mails to Human Resources, we’ve heard nothing about severance. If it actually happens and is not worth even getting, you’ll be hearing security gates shut all across the country.
-My boss, who is the sweetest, most honest woman I’ve ever met in my life, has been a manager for about 14 years and trained the majority of the managers in other stores in our area, was let go without warning. There are people out there who were with them even longer who were dropped as well.
Everyone in the store considered each other family since we were always together and hanging out. My manager gave me a job when nobody else would and became probably the best friend I’ve ever had. Though I’m angered that all my coworkers are now left in the lurch, I’m especially pissed about the way she was told. I couldn’t even speak when she was left in tears over this.
So thats the real story behind the closings. Nobody had any warning, no indication, not even a rumor of anybody being shut down. I’m sure other ex-employee’s of companies have similar or worse stories about their closings, but I didn’t work for them. This is a job I actually enjoyed doing taken from me without so much as a kiss.
Thats it.
Our condolences to the folks at Wilson’s Leather. A big hug from the Consumerist to all of you.
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First off, I’m not sure if this is addressed in other comments (as there are so many)but Wilson’s managers are actually getting a severance. It is NOT from Wilson’s, but the Hilco Liquidation place that had bought us over is giving us an “incentive” to stay.
Second, I’ve worked for Wilson’s for about a year and a half. As a business major in college, I really analyzed the company. So here are a few things that happened which were completely rediculous.
1. We started carrying Nylon and polyester coats. Who comes to a LEATHER store looking to buy nylon? No one. Especially when you can find it elsewhere for alot cheaper.
2. We started carrying different brands – Calvin Klien, Guess, Kenneth Cole, Sean Jean. Though the coats were nice, Wilson’s should have stuck with their own branding since that was what people were looking for when they came into the store. To coincide with this, there was no marketing effort to introduce the new line of brands in the store except for store signs and word of mouth. The marketing department was screwed up too sending us signs that did not reflect merchandise we had in the store but a “lifestyle” they were to project. Wilson’s spent tons of money on signs that we would change at the very least once a week, and there were many upon many signs that we would never use at all.
3. We had NO product during christmas. The whole month of december we did not recieve a single case of shipment though we begged for XL’s and other items. How can you be expected to meet sales goals when you don’t have the product or size the customer wants?
4. They alienated their own customers by not sending us any cycle merchandise. Men only had 2 coats to choose from, while women had none. We BEGGED for over 2 years for vests, and didn’t get them. Finally now they are offering 3 styles on the website, but there is no reason we could not have had them in the first place. And we quit getting pants a long time ago, and skirts, which we had to turn many people away and into the department stores for these products.
5.Along with anlientating their own customer, Wilson’s was trying to move toward a higher priced consumer market. This tactic is simply rediculous to say the least. Especially during this time. And Wilson’s is trying to do it again with thier new store “Studio” which will feature so called high end purses and accessories.
My prediction: Wilson’s Leather will completely go out of business within the next few years. They can’t get out of debt, they can’t buy the right merchandie, and introduce new keepy trying new things without making anyone aaware. They don’t let anything last long enough to make an impression to see if it actually works. Besides that, we would change the sale like every 3 days, because they were too impatient to see if there were results. They are nothing but screw ups in the Home office, and will continue to do nothing to make the company money.
And who needs to pay for a liquidator? Not that I am not happy with mine, I was fortunate enough to get a great easy going represtentative, but there was no use for it. All I’m thankful for is that unlike Wilson’s, Hilco is not giving customers what they want (ie. returning merchandise) Because Wilson’s would still let people. So just to let anyone who is going to work for “Studio” or stay that the oulets, You’ll be going out of business soon, and Don’t get a retirement plan from them, many people LOST their with this.
Anyway, that was just a few of their problems. Here is a website that I completely agree with. If if does not take you to the wilson’s leather article, just type it in the search box.
[www.ecracreative.com]
Thanks to all Wilson Employees for writing me directly who provided much information on the things they’ve seen with this company. Stay in touch and I have recorded your info and you will be contacted to take your statements. We’ll try to get a fair settlement for everyone involved from Goldner Hawn once bankruptcy is declared. From your accounts we believe we have enough to go forward with and win a major law suit against them.
I don’t understand why everyone gets emotional about a process that should be (and it sounds like in this case is) completely devoid of emotion.
retail job = probably shouldn’t even be classified as work
Unskilled labor should rightfully be at the mercy of the economy…you contribute the least.
It is a fact of life that I can be fired at any time…stop whining about it. That is why I drive an 8 year old paid for car, live below my means and save money as much as I can.