I just finished my last day at Michaels after over 5 years! During my time, I have met some amazing people, and I feel the job has truly helped me grow as a person. The reason for the job change is that I believe that the company is changing for the worse. The introduction of things like Jonathan Adler, fabric, major changes to framing, and balloons with no additional support (more hours, resources, etc.) is a huge reason for my departure. It seems ever since the new CEO came into the company, he has been constantly looking for ways to minimize store support while adding as much nonsense as possible. As someone who cared about the growth of this company at one point, I am genuinely concerned for the direction it is going in.
Additionally, the toxicity in my store has reached a boiling point. I have been in management for the majority of my tenure, and the amount of behind-the-scenes politics in this company is truly mind-blowing. This has led to frustration amongst all of the workers at my store, and as a result, many have quit (now including myself). Despite all of this, I am still going to remember the good memories, the friends I made along the way, and the skills I learned while working here. It's a bittersweet moment for me, but I am ready for the next chapter in my career. Thank you, Michaels.