store manager

I started work for BCF in Albury as a seasonal casual in November of 2020, and really enjoy working here.

Days range from working register, tidying shelves, rearranging displays and stock, putting stock out, helping customers... often we'll chat while doing so and enjoy each others company, the overall work atmosphere is jovial and almost family-like.

The managers are lovely and do their best to look after their employees, as well as arrange our shifts in ways that suit us, they are always receptive to feedback and making sure that we are all safe and content in our places.

Our training portal provides ongoing training in things that effect us and how to operate safely, there's also a workplace library that contains heaps of information on products, interpersonal skills, and ways to improve your output at work, with a strong focus on making sure that everyone healthy and fit to work, as well as being willing to work around injuries, disabilities and the like.

The hardest part of the job for me is probably the getting up early during summer for opening shifts, during the 2020-2021 summer, we were open from 7am to 7pm, with our nightfill shifts going until 10pm at night.
Obviously we didn't work all day, but waking up at 5am when you have insomnia isn't the most pleasant experience in the world, however, I slept really well afterwards!

The most enjoyable parts of the job - aside from getting to see and learn about all the different products, new and old, and being able to take them home for a discounted price (most of the time, brands like Weber don't give team members much off at all) - would have to be all the people I get to meet and the stories they can tell, either about where they've been or where they're going, as well as being able to get the store looking nice and tidy, the fishing section is especially satisfying to stock!

I've learnt so much since I began working here, for example, I can now talk 12V fridge freezers and sounders/fish finders for hours! I've also been able to spend more of my time doing the things I enjoy, going fishing and camping, with people who share the same excitement for it that I do!
While I'm still learning about all the little things that come to do with rods and reels, I can ask the other members of the team for help without fear of judgement, and as someone with extreme social anxiety, that says a lot.

BCF has been the best workplace I could have ever found myself working in, their acceptance and understanding have been massive self esteem boosters, even contacting and going to other stores gives the sense of meeting cousins you haven't seen in years, there's an unspoken understand I don't think any other business has managed to create.

Loved working as Store Manager in the time I was there, however the inefficiences from the Area Manager upward were incredible. None talked to the other about their upcoming category sales resulting in many apologies to Store Managers for mistakes made, and far too much money having to be spent on wages fixing issues that could have been avoided on a regular basis. 
Staff were fantastic, really making the job so much easier. I will always be indebted to the team I worked with, their loyalty to the store and to their manager. Awesome crew.
In saying that I would never want to work there again. The pay is terrible as a manager, working a minimum 43 hours a week and an hourly pay rate lower than a part timer. All extra hours, no matter how many, were considered reasonable overtime, with an expectation of working 60 and 70 hours a week at christmas with no offer of compensation. It is just considered part of the job by all the Store Managers in SA that the pay is never going to be reasonable compensation for the work you perform and the effort you put in. 
Management in the head office consider OHS far more important than they do the team that work for them, causing divisions between stores and head office.

I've worked at BCF for about 6 months starting as a Seasonal Casual over the Christmas period, and about to commence a full time position at the same store.

I found that if you work hard, put yourself out there to learn new skills, are friendly and collaborative with your team members, patient with, and focused on, providing a great customer experience  and show a keen interest in boating, camping and fishing, you will be rewarded with plenty of hours and job security, either in the form of ample casual hours or offers of permanance. They look to promote from within so there is plenty of opportunity for growth if you want to pursue it.

If you like the outdoors, camping or fishing it is quite literally the best job you will ever have. Very chilled culture most of the time, but can become more intense at peak times like Christmas and Easter with the huge volume of customers and the stress of getting stock out on the floor after load days. Even in moments of some stress, everyone gets along and works together to get the job done.

Customers are great 95% of the time - the 5% are those impossible-to-please types, grumpy older clientele or people who have some kind of prejudice over the retailer not being a legitimate enough specialist fishing store.

I have found there is very little pressure (on a retail team member level at least) from management to meet sales targets, however if you close a sale on an expensive item you are positively acknowledged by management.

At BCF Warrawong, management was toxic. I was expected to know how things worked without being trained… there is extreme nepotism within that store, they get the casuals to do all the hard labour intensive work while the permanent staff sit back and watch. There’s h&s violations everywhere (fire doors blocked) etc. Managers talk down on the temporary/contracted staff. You work hard and see no benefits. All managers act like they own you, condescending remarks, dirty looks. I was let off without any notice they just didn’t roster me on anymore because “I took too many water breaks” (6 hour shifts of straight 24/7 labour) It’s a shame because with the right management I could’ve seen the job being great. I’d recommend not going anywhere near that place in regards to work, you’ll end up likely regretting it. This was my first job and after working in other workplaces it really showed me how terrible that job was. Good luck.

I received and completed the offer of employment for Seasonal Team Member early October then did not hear anything from them for eight weeks. When I finally got a start they had “IT” problems and couldn’t get me into the online induction. They use UKG Dimensions app to find your shift schedule and punch in and out to record your hours worked. It only intermittently opens so you struggle to see if you have an upcoming shift. I was going through the lengthy online induction and becoming familiar with location of products in the second week of December so The Seasonal Employment was just about finished. So I had about 6 shifts of 4 to 5 hrs before the Seasonal staff were not required. So my advice is do not be loyal to BCF get other casual jobs lined up because a BCF job is all about BCF an nothing about the people needing work.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Lovely  customers. Rewarding work because of the customers.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I worked every shift at the last minute,  apart from one or two shifts. I am sure my experience in areas was used to their advantage with no intention of retaining my employ. Very disappointing to feel used.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Was OK, certain team were nice.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Was not any real direction,  either at the register or in Apparel area. Most of the time , I just self motivated myself.

The culture at BCF is like being at a family BBQ... All sorts of different people who come together because of one thing. Family, but at BCF it's the DISCOUNT! Jokes, the benefits are great but so is the work place itself. No stress, no worries, no nothing.
Work life balance is great, so I get to enjoy what we sell on a weekly basis, but that comes down to yourself. Lets not forget that it is retail So it does come with it's Cons, but the pros far outweigh them. I recommend BCF to anyone. Most BCF's have a variety of age groups and that's what makes it like a family!

Always a pleasure to go to work here.  The staff were great and accepting.  Always someone singing or laughing to put a positive attitude on the day.  The team worked well together to get all targets met and exceed expectations, which created a real sense of pride.  

Fantastic management, fun loving, joking around when appropriate and a real love for the industry was felt by all team members.

Hardest part of the job was going home! Best part was going back!

BCF is such a fun place to work. Other team members, management and customer are all amazing and its a great environment to work in. 
Even just working at the registers its hard to get bored during the busy times of the year because they are rods and clothing to price and prepare to go out into the store.
During the winter months its hard to get hours as not many people come into a store like this in the colder months but during the warmer  months its lots of fun and lots of hours.

Enjoyable atmosphere , Building  relationship's with new people every day, from delivery drivers through to store customers. Working with people who were considered friends not work colleagues.Getting stuck in on what we called load days when we would receive up to 26 pallets of stock which had to processed into store .All working together and enjoying the task ahead. These days were the hardest days yet the most enjoyable.

Working at BCF: Company Overview and Reviews

BCF

BCF Ratings

Popular jobs at BCF

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected