Strong earning potential, but I would not recommend the company without serious cultural change.The good thingsOne of the things I have enjoyed most about working at Kitchen Connection has been the people, particularly the consultants I managed and worked alongside day to day. I enjoyed supporting the team, helping them with customer conversations, coaching them through challenges, and seeing them develop confidence in their roles.
I also enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the showroom environment. Working in a retail-based role meant that every day was slightly different, whether that was dealing with new customer enquiries, resolving issues, supporting the sales process, or helping customers feel confident about their kitchen renovation journey.
The challengesOne of the main areas I feel could be improved is work-life balance, particularly at management level. As a manager, there is an expectation to be available on days off for calls and support. During the interview process, this was presented as occasional contact, but in practice it can become disruptive, with multiple calls sometimes coming through between early morning and late evening.
I also feel the management structure could be simplified. At times, there are too many layers, meetings, scripts, and processes, which can make the role feel overly managed rather than supportive. More autonomy for managers, consultants, and designers would help create a healthier working environment.
From observing consultants, the performance expectations appear high compared with the basic wage and realistic commission opportunity. Consultants are expected to manage pressure, customers, KPIs, and product knowledge, but the financial reward does not always reflect this.