https://www.forbes.com/sites/retailwire/2018/01/17/the-new-whole-foods-adopts-one-of-old-grocerys-most-condemned-practices/#27442e49632c
4 replies (most recent on top)
RH is pathetic. She single handedly dismantled a successful and profitable program and replaced it with a program that does not work. Vendors are angry. Stores sales are suffering. The program is so expensive that vendors don't think it is worth it and are not scheduling. They ones that want scheduling can't get the portal to work correctly. All th SW stores used to have at least 5-7 vendor paid demos and 2-5 visiting vendors a week. Some stores haven't had any demos since December. None. So many lost sales. She doesn't return emails from anyone, so vendors are contacting stores and the stores hands are tied. Vendors are showing up at stores asking if they can demo because they can't get scheduled in the new system and RH and the rest of her new team won't communicate with them. RH stopped talking to the old demo team in September and refused to answer emails or phone calls. She didn't attend the conference call when we were laid off in November. She hasn't said one word to us in 4 months and some of us worked with her for years and it was our hard work and success that propelled her into her new global position. She is cruel, thoughtless, unprofessional and incapable of executing the job she now holds.
Our regional office sent out an email shortly after this program was announced saying that it would have minimal impact on the current demo specialists. Why are regions still operating so differently from each other?
RH left demo high and dry. Not a peep from her. At a time of such change and losing our jobs just a general reaching out from our own regional boss would have been appropriate. Vendors are STILL contacting us even though some of us are on new teams. The vendors are absolutely pissed about this. What a joke.
.....at least when the stores had a demo speciaist there were demos. There were local showcases and attempts to bring in vendors to support their products. Queen RH at the global office continues her policy of silence and unreturned phone calls and emails to vendors and stores with questions about the changes in demo program. It is a matter of time before this "let them eat cake" attitude implodes.