Sportsman's Warehouse

Throughout high school I worked at Sportsman's Warehouse. By far one of the best jobs a young man can have . . . where else can you be sent free products from distributors and then on top of that be paid to fish!!! What a dream.

Now, however, looking back, I see that job as a place for people looking for an entry level job . . . not a place for top managers to work. While working there the style they wanted in the store was hardworking, disciplined, and rewarding. They did achieve this on the employee side of the business but not in the management area. They wanted to have store and regional managers be these all-star business graduates who could motivate employees to have their "style". However the structure of the business did not match. It was not a flat structure. Managers were paid almost just the same as hourly workers, to improve a store in anyway it was required that you go to the top first, get permission, prove that it is necessary, and then maybe, maybe you could implement it. The structure that actually existed didn't align with the style they were trying to create and hold.

The pain that resulted were managers who refused to work for Sportsman's or qualified managers leaving for other jobs where they were valued and rewarded so. I also believe that because of their lack of respect for leaders (except for corporate officers) they were forced to file for bankruptcy. They had a style and strategy that required great leadership but didn't have the leaders to fill the roles.

The solution to solve their worries are somewhat simple. Increasing pay and freedom of managers. THey would then have the staff needed to fuel their new style and strategy. The structure of leadership would become more flat allowing local management to relate more with employees and probably even customers. Their structure and staff would align better with their style if they valued local management more.