Vantaggi
Strongly entrepreneurial culture where you're encouraged to look for projects outside your day job which would add value. Everyone even at junior level was empowered to make genuine changes. Incredible power with suppliers. Ridiculously loyal customers. 99% of partners work really hard and want everyone around them to succeed.
Svantaggi
Whilst talent and hard work are obviously very important, having a 'face that fits' is also critical to your continued success. It's not difficult to make yourself fit, but getting onside with the right people is an essential strategy to getting on. There are still a lot of people who have been working there for many years, who are pretty rubbish at their job but continue to be allowed to drift along, blocking the hard work of others. Very poor branch to head office communication, in both directions. Buying is hugely under-resouced and overworked. Diabolical pay for some of the lower levels of buying.