Retail Sales Associate

Job Description

Job Description

KNOTTED NEEDLE

20229 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan 48236 313-886-2828

Retail Sales Associate

JOB DESCRIPTION

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

The Knotted Needle is a dynamic retailer that prides itself in offering the best customer service for needle artists in the tri-county area and across the nation. We share our passion for knitting, crochet, needlepoint and other needle arts through products, services and class offerings. Needless to say, being the best needle arts store in the tri-county area is an ambitious undertaking, and life at the store can sometimes be fast-paced and energetic. Our small team consists of exceptionally talented and hardworking individuals who don’t mind wearing more than a few hats and stepping in to help out wherever it’s needed.

Our customer-oriented retail sales associates are passionate about yarn and needlepoint and understand the value of the local yarn/needlepoint store in our community. They love to help customers find a new project or help them solve technical problems with their current projects. They provide inspiration, expertise and advice as needed in a friendly, courteous, supportive and appropriate manner.

QUALIFICATIONS

· Be an excellent salesperson and be able to deliver exceptional customer service

· Be able to work effectively with other members of the team

· Have outstanding communications skills

· Have excellent organizational skills

· Have previous retail or sales experience

· Be self-motivated and reliable

· Bring a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail

· Able to work 2 to 4 days a week, including a Saturday

· Have computer skills for point of sale, and knowledge of Excel

JOB DESCRIPTION

Sales and Customer Service

Deliver a high level of sales and service expertise focused on the customer:

· Welcome every customer in a friendly and courteous manner

· Quickly identify the customer’s needs and present the right product/information/solution ; engage another sales associate if you do not have the answer or the customer’s need is best addressed by your co-worker

· Be comfortable talking on the phone

o answer the phone quickly and in a professional, friendly manner

o be able to make calls to customers about product arrivals, classes or events in the same manner

· Understand the store layout and what overall products and services we offer such as:

o Needlepoint: canvas categories, notions, threads, embellishments, publications, stitching stands and frames, totes and organizers; finishing, stitch guides, coaching sessions, custom design and stitching, classes and trunk shows

o Yarn: yarn by gauge, publications, needles and hooks, notions, totes and organizers; ball winding, coaching sessions and classes; trunk shows

· Know our products and be able to articulate features and benefits

· Assist customers with taking in projects for finishing services and writing up the service order

· Sell and register customers for classes and events, including any class materials, supplies, homework

· Accurate use of the POS, including ringing up sales, processing payment, handling returns and exchanges courteously and accurately

· Sell, activate and redeem Gift Cards

· Sell other “add-on” merchandise appropriate to a customer’s project

· Write up special orders with complete and accurate information

· Process and prepare customer orders that need to be shipped

· Follow up with customer orders that have not been picked up

Merchandising and Maintenance:

Includes but is not limited to:

· Maintain a clean and well-organized sales floor, kitchen and back room and keep the store looking fresh, clean, neat, and organized.

· Continue to think of new ways to display merchandise and shop models more effectively

· Restock items that are out of stock or missing from the sales floor

· Maintain stock of marketing materials for classes, clubs and events at the counters

· Maintain stock of shopping bags at the counters

· Maintain stock of forms for special orders, services, coaching sessions, shipping, and any sales supplies

· Prepare shipping orders according to shop standards

· Participate equitably in all opening and closing procedures when you are scheduled for those shifts

Specific Skills – Knitting/Crochet Sales Associate

Includes but is not limited to (training in these areas can be supplied as needed):

· Have a solid foundation in basic knitting skills: casting on, binding off, knit purl, increases and decreases

· Have a solid foundation in basic crochet skills: chain stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet.

· Have a solid understanding of Craft Yarn Council yarn categories including strategies for substitutions and combining yarn weights.

· Have an understanding of finishing and blocking knitted and crochet

· Have a Basic knowledge of fibers and their characteristics once they are made into fabric.

Specific Skills – Needlepoint Sales Associate

Includes but is not limited to (training in these areas can be provided as needed):

· Have a solid foundation in basic skills: mounting canvas onto stretcher bars, start and end a thread, basketweave and other basic stitches.

· Possess good stitch-graph reading skills

· Be able to advise customers on appropriate thread substitutions

· Understand different fibers, how to use them and how they behave

· Understand the nuances of hand-dyed thread, over-dyed thread and embellishment materials

· Help customers make minor repairs or corrections to their project

· Expertise in various stitches, open stitching, ribbon work, or stumpwork is a bonus

Knowledge of Other Needle Arts

Assist in sales of all needle arts offered by the shop. Although expertise is not required, you should be prepared to identify the customer’s needs and then find a sales associate who has this expertise. Additional training will be provided to develop the selling skills necessary to assist customers in all of our needle arts.

Physical Requirements

The Retail Sales Associate position may require the following physical capabilities:

· Be neat in personal appearance and dress appropriately

· Ability to stand for long periods

· Willingness and ability to lift packages up to 25 lbs. on occasion

· Willingness and ability to climb ladders, step ladders and stools

· Ability to walk from off-site parking to the shop

If you are unable to fulfill these requirements, accommodations may be available upon consultation with store owner or manager.

Employee discount | 3 month probationary review

Contact Info: Rebecca Booth at [email protected]