12 Jun 2022
SharpDots Reviews
2.9
35% would recommend to a friend
35% positive business outlook
Reviews by job title
7 reviews
5.0
17 Jul 2019
Growing company with a wealth of opportunity for growth and self-development
Former employee, more than 3 years
Azusa, CA
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook
Pros
I started working at Sharpdots right out of college in a design role and over the 4 years I worked there, also got involved in marketing and business development. The company provided a fast-paced work environment, with some engaging projects, unique challenges and a ton of opportunity to learn. I was able to work directly with CEO John who is a very strong and intelligent business leader with a sincere interest in helping you grow your professional abilities. I learned and grew a ton, and can directly attribute my current success in a managerial role to John and Sharpdots. Some of the other reviews on this site mention John as being abrasive and engaging in a lot of micromanaging - John may have a direct and blunt personality, but he was only challenging employees to find solutions, solve problems and ultimately make the company better. I can see how low-functioning employees who don’t have much interest in personal or company growth can see any challenge as the boss ‘being mean’ to them. With the new headquarters headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, the focus on a shift away from a print-focus business to design and marketing and someone as driven as John in charge, Sharpdots is definitely going to achieve some great things in the future and should be an exciting place to work for talented, high-level young people looking for a challenge.
Cons
Back when I worked there, the company was still in a transition phase from its old identity, which was a differently named company (Sari Art & Printing) run by John’s father Peter. The old identity, developed by Peter, included putting money first and employees and quality last. This attributed to most of the stress involved in the job: poor treatment of employees, the terrible toxic customers we had to deal with (usually Peter’s friends), having to deal with a lot of customer complaints, not having faith in the quality of the print products, low compensation and benefits and ultimately the high turnover rate. (As of 2019, I’m pretty sure Peter has retired.) John has been working hard to move the company away from this old toxic culture, and take it in a new direction. This will be one of the biggest changes necessary for making Sharpdots a better place to work, and an overall better business.
2.0
27 Nov 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook
Pros
Peter is retiring. He was half the stress. John the CEO is only there first half of the day the other half of the stress.
Cons
All of the above is true. Just being a witness. Treated people pretty coldly most of the time. Very stingy when it comes to pay or raises or benefits. Minimum given. All about the dollar not the faces. Never looked forward to going in to work. No morale. No positivity. No insentive. No growth or if there was anything learned and gained made to feel like you still were lacking. I think this way a raise wasnt warranted. I wouldnt say hostile but just a negative environment. You might get a free donut on a really special occasion so not look like they are completely careless. Bottom line... Just a place to do a job and go home.
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