Sales Associate II for Fair Trade retail

Position Summary: 

A Sales Associate II provides a unique shopping experience by engaging customers and using the selling process developed by Ten Thousand Villages while maintaining excellent customer service standards. This role participates in other tasks necessary to running a successful store including but not limited to: quick and efficient register skills and processing orders and maintaining the cleanliness of the store. A Sales Associate II opens and closes the store according to Ten Thousand Villages policy, and oversees the day-to-day operations of store and staff as supervisor on duty when management is not present.  

This position supports and contributes to the Ten Thousand Villages mission by:  

This is a front-line position that is the bridge between our artisan partners and the customers. Success of this position is crucial to Ten Thousand Villages to be able to maintain or grow our purchases to artisans.  

Position Duties/Responsibilities: 

·                    Greet customers and build rapport according to Ten Thousand Villages selling processes. 

·                    Apprise customers of promotions or special events happening in the store. 

·                    Determine and understand customers’ needs by asking open-ended questions. 

·                    Explain product features and benefits while addressing customer shopping needs. 

·                    Differentiate Ten Thousand Villages from other retailers by explaining the mission and telling product and artisan   stories. 

·                    Suggest additional items while using the selling process to build sales. 

·                    Ring items on the register system; suggest additional impulse items and ask for a donation to Ten Thousand Villages. 

·                    Ask for customer email, offer printed materials, and wrap items appropriately; tell customer of upcoming event, thank them and invite them back. 

·                    Anticipate and resolve customer service issues. 

·                    Perform opening and closing procedures including balancing registers, accurately completing opening and closing paperwork, ensuring store is locked and money is secured, ensuring lights and electrical devices are turned off at night, and taking deposits to the bank. 

·                    Use the intranet and online catalog to provide additional information to customers, follow through on special orders and customer requests 

·                    Maintain awareness of store metrics including sales goal, conversion rate goal, dollars/transaction goal and meet goals through excellent customer service and effective selling techniques.  

·                    Work with store team to ensure consistent coverage of the sales floor. 

·                    Participate in regular training and attend store staff meetings.  

·                    Maintain an awareness and control of loss prevention through attentive customer service.  

·                    Maintain displays and back office through regular cleaning, straightening and dusting. 

·                    Receive, price and stock orders as assigned. 

·                    Work as an effective team while respecting the roles and contributions of other team members. 

·                    Perform additional duties/responsibilities as requested by Store Manager or Assistant Manager which contribute to the position’s success and the mission.   

Preferred Experience/Knowledge/Education/Skills/Abilities: 

·                    1-2 years’ customer service and retail sales experience 

·                    Self-motivated, outgoing, energetic and enjoy working with people 

·                    Basic arithmetic and data entry skills, including the ability to balance registers and complete bank deposit paperwork 

·                    Ability to execute multiple tasks simultaneously 

·                    Ability to communicate clearly and be a participant of a driven store team 

·                    Ability to attractively display merchandise according to company guidelines  

·                    Commitment to maintain compliance with company dress codes and policies  

Types of Interaction (internal): 

·                    All members of store staff 

·                    Sales leadership 

·                    Staff from other stores 

·                    IT, Operations, Human Resources, Accounting, Merchandising, Marketing 

Type of Interaction (external): 

·                    Customers 

·                    Outside vendors 

·                    Delivery personnel 

Physical Requirements:  

·                    This job operates in a standard retail environment not exposed to adverse environmental conditions.  Standing for extended periods and walking for short periods of time, and the visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work or to make general observations of facilities are required. 

·                    This role requires the ability to climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, push, pull, finger, grasp, and feel objects of varying textures and size.  Repetitive motion occurs frequently, hearing and talking abilities are required constantly, and the ability to lift and move objects up to 30 pounds is required frequently and up to 50 pounds is required occasionally.