Crimson Ridge

I have been associated with crimson ridge for nearly 10 years. I worked there full time for several years before moving away. It can be a harsh place to work, espically during any holidays (considering that Crimson Ridge is the bets place to shop everyone shops there) Look at all that you get, Great merchandise, free gift wrap and great selection !!! Kip is very high strung and can come off as being rude at times. But i have also seen him take coats to a local elementary school and donate them all to a first grade class with a pizza party, just out of the goodness of his heart. i have watched Kip also bend over backwards to make so many customers happy. He cant please everyone, after all he is only human like the rest of us. The staff, i can say that all the people that work downstairs are the most heart warming, caring , wonderfull people. Chad, Jennifer, Lisa, Linda, Sandy and Roger are very help full and they treat their customers with respect. I personally never wanted to work upstairs, there are a handfull of people that i felt looked down their noses at people as if to say that " I am better than you " but then again there are wonderfull employees like Christy and Sarah and Carrie who are kind and caring. You will find rude people in any work place. I loved shopping at Crimson Ridge (my house was a Crimson Ridge Museum ) and i will continue to shop there every time i visit Illinois. Kip is a big hearted soul. I think that if everyone who ever experienced a bad time while being at Crimson Ridge would just take a second out of their busy day and just look around and see that everyone is not perfect. Kip does his best to insure that Crimson Ridge is always top notch and that would be enough to stress any normal person completely out. He is a demanding boss but at the same time he is a good man that loves to joke around and sometimes it may seem that he is picking on people (teachers) he only does it to get a giggle, loosen up people, he is not hurting anyone. I think that if you take a bad experience to extremes then you need to stop shopping because you will find bad experiences everywhere you go, are you going to just stay in a shell and not venture out? Thats silly.

Posted 12/08/09 | Report Abuse

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Along with most of the other reviews, I agree the staff is very RUDE! As a gift, my husband took me there to purchase a charm for my bracelet. There were 3 sales assoc. (1 male and 2 female) in the charm area all talking to one another and the only cusomers were my husband and me. I stood at the display thinking one of the staff would come and assist me, but no such luck. I then walked over and asked if I could get some help at one of the displays and they just looked at each other. They made me feel very uncomfortable and I had decided then that I would not shop there again. There are too many other places to shop in the area for them to be so rude. I would even drive to Chicago before going back there.

Posted 12/04/09 | Report Abuse

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I have to say that I agree with all of the bad reviews; when I was looking for lillies for my fall wedding, my maid of honor & I stopped into Crimson Ridge to price their selection (I was willing to pay over $800 in fresh flowers alone)...whoever the salesperson was told me very rudely "I don't know what kind of little event you girls are planning, but lillies are not in season in November". I was very disappointed in the treatment I received. I left on the spot & will never return.

Posted 09/09/09 | Report Abuse

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If you want to be treated like dog poo on the bottom of a shoe, then trot on in to Crimson Ridge!You will have plenty to think about when you leave.The few visits that I have made have been horrible.I purchased a sale item on my second trip-a bracelet-and I was basically rushed out as if I was second class for buying from the sales table.The staff is either terribly rude or haunting you like hyenas or both.The owner is an A+ A**H**** and he acts that way wherever he goes in Rockford-not just at work.I won't be the first to say that I have seen his baby tantrums in action. Stand up for yourself and take your dollars over to Pepper Creek or Annies at Edgebrook.You will never be disappointed with flowers from Enders either. Remember,a little kindness goes a long way!!

Posted 06/15/09 | Report Abuse

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I was raised in very successful family business. It was successful because we gave the customer what they asked for. Yesterday I ordered flowers for my 15 year old daughter. I asked for a 50.00 GERBER daisy arrangement. I wanted ALL the "fun" bright colors of the gerbs I saw in there cooler. When it arrived at my door it contained 4 pink gerber daisies, some pink mini carnations, and a few mini pink roses. I called and complained and they said they would come and get it and bring me an assortment of bright gerbs and some greens to fill. This time they brought an arrangement that had 3 yellow gerbs a few mini carnations, roses iris, and lillies. I don't know why it is so hard to understand what a GERBER DAISY arrangement is. Crimson Ridge gives you what they want to give you not what you ask for. I wouldn't be surprised if it was pre-made and they just pulled it out of the cooler. I WILL NOT continue to shop at Crimson Ridge, and from reading the other reviews I wouldn't be surprised if this business doesn't last. You can not continue to treat customers (and employees) like this and expect to survive. In this day and age a business should be going the extra mile to make the customer happy, or there will be no customers.

Posted 05/10/09 | Report Abuse

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For the past year I have gone in to CR at least a half dozen times inquiring about ordering a ring from one of their vendors. I had my name taken and was supposed to receive a call when the items for sale came in. The merchandise got lost. Then it finally came in and no call. Then I asked to order a specific piece and was given a hard time. Not sure they could (or wanted) to order it. My name and phone # were taken yet again and I have heard nothing since. How totally frustrating? I give up.

Posted 04/24/09 | Report Abuse

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the store is excellent for buying gifts and I usually always go there but I believe there is just to much clutter. If some of the things were moved out and concentration was put more on the articles it would sell better. I think 90% of the staff is fantastic. Kip has always been pleasant to me and he doesn't know me from Adam. He is just a hyper type of person

Posted 02/12/09 | Report Abuse

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Boycott Crimson Ridge! There are plenty of great stores in the Rockford area that treat their customers and employees with respect and dignity. Teachers stand up for human rights...do not shop at Crimson Ridge!

Posted 02/04/09 | Report Abuse

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"Teachers are the stupedest people I have ever met," (not a typo)said owner of Crimson Ridge, Kip, while ranting on about how he hates to wrap gift items area teachers come into his establishment to purchase on a frequent basis. This is just a beginning to some serious issues I had the displeasure to observe (and be subjected to) in Crimson Ridge before I walked out on my part time job there.
Kip runs around the store stalking customers and cracks the whip on his sales staff to the point they do not take their Illinois mandated breaks and lunches. The majority of the sales staff, who are very sweet and kind people, advised me that he was an ogre of sorts and that they just try to ignore him the best they can. If you find that the sales staff seems unhappy, there is great reason why. And the reason why you see them trying to eat their lunches behind the counters between sales.
Another of his tirades involved an elderly women wanting a box for a piece of Waterford Crystal she purchased as a gift for someone. Kip had snotted to her that it was his rule that no boxes are given on sales items. The woman called back later and spoke with a member of sales staff and they indeed found a box for her. The next day when I came in, the box was smashed. One of the lead sales reps informed me that Kip had punched it in a fit of rage and screamed at the person who obtained the box. I was so embarrassed when she came back in to get this box, knowing what he had done to it just to be nasty and bully people. That was yet another red flag that there is something terribly wrong with this owner.
Next, I observed Kip wrapping a present for a customer.. He held the ribbon up to her rear end and said he was going to make a bow for her and needed to "use" her "ass as a guide." He then dished out ribbon twice the size of her rear end and said, "this is going to be a really big bow.
Finally, there was an incident with the bakery, Upper Crust, last Sunday. This exquisite bakery opened up a counter at Crimson Ridge (they thankfully do special orders so you can avoid the Ridge if you wish) and were treated horrifically. Kip frequently changes the times Crimson Ridge closes and the owner of Upper Crust was not back yet when he decided to close. Long story short, the sweet gal who was working the counter was left to figure out what to do with all the baked goods and to load them all by herself. I tried to assist her, but Kip flew into the back waving his arms around and sniping that I had to get out of there because of payroll costs. I offered to clock out and help her on my own time, but he raged on that he had to get the alarms on. I felt just terrible to leave her there..especially alone with that caustic man.
In the short time I worked there, I cannot tell you how many ex employees complained about Kip, how many of my current colleagues have shared horror stories about him, how many customers expressed to me that he was obnoxious, and how many people I personally observed his rudeness to (both employees and customers.)

Posted 02/04/09 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Hay Tom K maybe you better take the blinders off. Read most of the post they say the same things. Rude Rude Rude and to think even the owner. I purchased here years ago and don't make a habit ever again. I am only going in because I won a bracelet from the rrstar. but after reading some post I am thinking is this thing going to fall apart, like when I purchased charms for my bracelet years ago and the paint came off I was told by owner sorry there never was any paint on that. Oh OK you must have been wearing it all the time not me.Judy E

Posted 12/27/08 | Report Abuse

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Crimson Ridge has always been one of my favorite stores . i have had very nice sales associates that was until i met Kip the owner.For being the top ranked florist in Rockford IL you would think the owner would have been a little bit more friendly. it wasn't like we were going to duplicate any of his work anyways. DO not go to Crimson Ridge and if you do be prepared to deal with the a**hole Kip!!

Posted 11/15/08 | Report Abuse

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I was a huge fan of Crimson Ridge. Despite if being a full MSRP store, the selection and service made it a perfect place for gift purchases. I am from the suburbs of Chicago and still enjoyed the shopping experience. That was until I attempted to make my first exchange. I bought a costume jewelry bracelet for ~$25. The second time I wore it the clasp came off. While returns to Rockford are not convenient, (I am from the Chicago suburbs), I have family there and thought I would wait for my next visit. I went in the store and I was told that they preferred to repair the bracelet. I then got a call that the bracelet was fixed, but that I would have to pay $5.00 for the repair! I went in the store and spoke to a delightful woman. She said she understood why I thought this was outrageous, but that she had to call Kip (the owner) for approval. (Kip may want to consider empowering his more senior employees for big $5 decisions..) Kips answer was- "sorry you are unhappy, but that is my decision." Amazing that a successful business could be so "penny wise and pound foolish". I have spent thousands of dollars in Crimson Ridge and now will find a new "favorite gift shop"

Posted 08/01/08 | Report Abuse

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We live out of town & drove in for the occasion. My Mother-In-Law shops here often so we bought her a special birthday gift. We purchased a difficult item to wrap & the friendly sales associate, I wish I would have gotten his name, put his talents into it & she was so excited at first site. Thankfully the wrap was transparent because she didn't want to unwrap it just yet. Thanks for making her day special.

Kathy L

Posted 06/14/08 | Report Abuse

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Kip and the others are awesome. He took care of a special birthday arrangement with 1 hour notice. They are creative and responsive and always have been!!

Steve F

Posted 05/07/08 | Report Abuse

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I called to ask for assistance in putting together a gift basket of chocolates and other treats which I wanted delivered to my husband for our 3 yr. anniversary. The person in the chocolate department was rude and rushed me through the process. It appears morale is bad at this store. This exciting time for me ended in tears!

Posted 03/11/08 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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I have been shopping at Crimson Ridge for a least 4 years now, I can always find something my wife will love!!! I have been in there all times of the day, all days of the week, and all times of the year, and I never seen a rude associate, and the morale is always top notch!!! I work in retail........and this establishment is first class, and always has exceptional service!!!!! I would love to have the caliber of associates and management working for me!

Posted 09/08/07 | Report Abuse

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I just recently purchased chocolates from Crimson Ridge for a birthday present. They have a large selection of yummy chocolates. The lady who waited on me did a fantastic job of wrapping them. I did not have much time to look around on that day, but they have jewelry, and purses, and a flower shop down stairs.

Sharon J.

Posted 01/28/07 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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I purchased a pair of earrings from "Hot Diamonds" and the lady behind the counter was very preoccupied and wasn't going to even put my purchase into a bag until I asked her too. I thought she would be the only one that was rude until I ventured into the rest of the store. It seems that overall morale at Crimson Ridge is bad. Hmmm
There was a friendly woman at the front counter but other than her....everyone seemed to be having a bad day.

PROS: merchandise can be fun to look at
CONS: perhaps a reflection of unfriendly management?

Posted 01/13/06 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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This is more than just a store- it is an experience. From high end to affordable - you find it all here. It is my favorite place to shop! From the ordinary to the extraordinary you will be pleased. I love their coffee; gift baskets; and the staff does a wonderful job of suggesting and preparing wonderful gift baskets. If you live in Chicago or Madison, it is worth the drive!!

PROS: Great Selection and Friendly Staff
CONS: I leave with no available credit on my Visa!

Posted 12/14/05 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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This unique store offers a good selection of gifts. In particular, they have an extensive collection of soaps, lotions, and bath products. They also have a large selection of fine jewelry. They have an outstanding selection of floral arrangements. They also gift wrap for free.

PROS: free gift wrapping; outstanding sales (up to 75% off); floral sales
CONS: regularly priced merchandise can be high

Posted 11/11/05 | Report Abuse

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This is Rockford's other high-class florist/gift shop. They have a good floral selection and that is about 20% of the store. The rest consists of charm bracelets, handbags, candles, gift baskets, and body lotions. This is always a good place to start when I need to buy gifts for my wife.

Posted 08/27/05 | Report Abuse

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This place has everything! Its kind of hard to walk thru and can be overwhelming, but if you're looking for a hard to find gift, this is the spot. They also just opened a home interiors store that is fantastic. They have really expensive stuff, but also VERY reasonable and UNIQUE items as well. Great place for a wedding gift!

Posted 08/20/05 | Report Abuse

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When I need to find a gift for someone, this is one of my stops. They have two floors of unique finds. From Brighton Handbags to Socks. They offer all sorts of bath and body products and chocolates. They even have the hard to find Robeez shoes for babies, very reasonably priced. My only complaints are that the fresh flowers dont last as long as they should, and the staff can come across downright rude. If you can get past that, buy a gift and get free gift wrapping.

PROS: Large selection of items
CONS: Staff can be rude

Posted 08/18/05 | Report Abuse

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Its a good store for gift ideas, although it is a little overpriced. However, they do an excellent job wrapping, they make it look really special. They also have a good selection of flowers that are hard to find elsewhere.

Posted 06/09/05 | Report Abuse

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