Sales Associate (Gift Shop)

SUMMARY

The Linden Leaf Gifts Sales Associate is responsible for maintaining a customer-focused environment in the spirit of both the Providence Spirituality & Conference Center Mission Statement. The Sales Associate provides customer relations, floor management, administrative responsibilities, and maintains positive relationships with both customers and PSCC team.  This person will also work closely with the Manager in maintaining the on-line store.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

On-line Store

1. Is responsible for photographing and editing said photographs as well as uploading merchandise to the Linden Leaf Gifts website and updating, maintaining and changing content weekly to stay current.


2. Sees that appropriate merchandise descriptions are written.


3. Maintains the online store, consulting with the online company (Timber) and/or SP IT department when problems arise.


4. Makes recommendations to the Manager and Administrative Team about the status of the online store.


5. Generate reports of online sales as directed by the Store Manager.


6. Works closely with the Store Manager and the appropriate Mission Advancement personnel to carry out strategies for promoting the online store.


7. Ship out merchandise as ordered in a timely manner utilizing adequate shipping materials so as to ensure the safe and intact arrival of a customer’s order.

Customer Relations

1. Maintains a positive, customer-focused environment.


2. Greets and assist customers.


3. Rings up sales accurately.


4. Knows store policies and procedures, including but not limited to, special orders, layaways, returns, gift cards, web orders phone orders.


5. Knows product and producer information, the mission of Linden Leaf Gifts.  Shares information with customers as appropriate.             


6. Extends the work day beyond the scheduled time when customers shop late without pressuring customers to leave or making them feel rushed or uncomfortable in any way. 


7. Handles customer orders and, when necessary, respond to complaints in a positive and pro-active manner. 

Floor Management

1. Knows procedures to open and close the store, including balancing the cash drawer at the end of the day.


2. Unpacks, prices and stocks merchandise.


3. Creates and maintains displays.


4. Sees that merchandise on shelves is straightened, tidied up at the beginning and end of each work day.


5. Assists the Gift Shop team with bi-annual inventory.


6. Other related duties as assigned.

Administrative

1. Prepares deposits in absence of the Store Manager.


2. Opens and closes Linden Leaf Gifts as scheduled


3. Assist with and support execution of regular Sisters of Providence book sale with collection, set up and selling of donated books.


4. Participate with selling events which are located out of the store and/or off campus.

Relationships

1. Attends scheduled staff meetings.


2. Reports to the Store Manager.


3. Consults with the Director, as needed.


4. Works with Store Manager to assure that the operation of Linden Leaf Gifts integrates well with the other activities of Providence Spirituality and Conference Center.


5. Coordinate promotions with the Mission Advancement Office for online sales through updated web and merchandise content on the site.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervises volunteer staff of Linden Leaf Gifts

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

1. High school diploma or GED required; Associates degree preferred


2. Experience in retail sales and operating a cash register


3. Sufficient computer skills to operate Point-of-Sale (POS) system.


4. Ability to create and maintain content for the online/virtual store, including ability to create item descriptions and upload pictures.


5. Flexibility to work every third weekend and various holidays such as Easter, Mother’s Day, Graduation.


6. Excellent communication and creative writing skills


7. Ability to multi-task.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Providence Spirituality and Conference Center is often a busy, many-faceted place, with many deadlines to meet and several conversations wanting to happen at once. There can also be moderate noise levels in shop area with computers and printers, tour groups talking, and employees coming and going from the food service area across the hall.  As the area is open for ease of communication, total privacy is not the norm. Therefore, consideration of co-workers and the ability to maintain confidentiality is essential.  Employees are expected maintain a sense of business casual decorum in behavior and clothing fashion. 

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS

The Sisters of Providence (Sisters) are committed to the fair and equal employment of individuals with disabilities.  It is the Sister’s policy to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the congregation.  In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as amended, reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities when such accommodations are necessary to enable them to perform the essential functions of their jobs or to enjoy the equal benefits and privileges of employment.  This policy applies to all applicants for employment and all employees.