Retail Sales Associate Job Description

You probably don’t give it much thought when you go shopping but retail sales associates are all around you. Retail sales associates need to help customers find what they are looking for and also encourage them to look at other items that might be of interest. A retail sales associate must be able to work the computer to handle the financial side of sales as well as the ordering and stocking of current supplies. Overall, the retail sales associate is the face of the store when customers are shopping.

Customer Service

One of the most important parts of the retail sales job is to problem-solve for your customers. You want them to leave the store feeling that they got what they wanted and with an overall positive feeling for your store. This encourages them to come back and do more shopping. When customers are in the store you should help them find what they are looking for and even point out other items that might be of interest.

Organizing the Store

Just like you home it is important to keep things organized so customers can find what they are looking for. Customers often pick up items and put them back in the wrong place and you need to get everything back where it belongs. If you are dealing with clothing, this might mean refolding or re-hanging clothing after customers have tried them on. You should also sort out items by size and color so that things are easy to find. You should report to the when items are running low or if things need to be ordered in another size. If you have any special requests from customers you should also pass the information onto the store manager.

Cash Register

You are in charge of taking payment for the items sold in the store. You must be able to make change for cash purchases and run the credit card machine for credit sales. At the end of your shift you will have to reconcile your drawer to make sure your sales add up to the amount of the cash and credit receipts you have in your drawer. Your goal should always be to have an equal amount of both, but sometimes you might have issues with overages or missing cash. This can be a problem if it is a consistent problem. You should be careful with all your sales so your drawer consistently balances. This is a great way to head towards a promotion.

Career Path

From retail sales associate you might be able to move into a position of floor store manager or store manager. These jobs require all the knowledge of the retail sales associates with the added responsibilities of scheduling, planning, purchasing and working with corporate. If you enjoy working in the retail environment you can formulate a very successful career by climbing the ladder through management. Eventually you could even own your own store.