Hire a Merchandise Associate
Merchandise associates are hardworking employees whose main responsibility is to provide customer service on the sales floor. While a merchandise associate is considered an entry-level role, it is a great opportunity for eager individuals who want to launch a career in the retail space. It provides valuable customer service experience in a fast-paced environment. This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate.
Hiring a merchandise associate starts with an accurate job description. Hiring managers create a job description that will allow candidates to find out more about the job vacancy. It contains a list of expectations, responsibilities, and requirements, all of which allow candidates to discern if they are the right fit for the job.
It helps to be creative in crafting the job description. Make it as interesting as you can. Consider describing the retail company. What kind of products do they offer? How many years have they been in operation? Also, share something about the benefits of working as a merchandise associate. What is the work schedule? Interesting tidbits will make your job description stand out among the many job listings out there. Make the candidate excited to apply and you will have ideal candidates lining up for the selection process.
Merchandise Associate Responsibilities
Merchandise associates perform many tasks that ultimately help customers have a great shopping experience. They take care of receiving new stock and products upon delivery. To prepare these items, associates input them into the inventory database and then carefully apply the appropriate sales tags. Merchandise associates follow the merchandise presentation design of the store and organize the products accordingly, making sure that they are neat and tidy. They assemble store displays, dress mannequins, and clean the sales floor to make it appealing to customers at all times.
Once a customer comes in, merchandise associates greet them warmly and let them know that they can offer assistance if needed. Though some customers may want to shop alone and without supervision, associates must be prepared to help out anytime they are needed. Throughout the shopping experience, associates answer questions from customers, help them locate items, and make product suggestions according to the customer’s preferences.
Furthermore, merchandise associates perform other tasks including: attending the cash register, repacking unsold items, and arranging shelves. Lastly, merchandise associates promote products during brand campaigns, working together to achieve sales targets and provide good customer service.
Merchandise Associate Skills and Qualifications
There is no formal education needed to qualify for a merchandise associate position. It is up to the hiring company to decide if they will prefer candidates with a high school diploma or GED. Previous work experience in the retail space is an advantage. Merchandise associates engage with customers and other team members daily. Communication and interpersonal skills are helpful. The ideal candidate is outgoing, organized, with a customer-centric attitude. The ability to work independently and collaborate with others to achieve sales targets. Finally, candidates must be willing to stand for long periods and work on weekends and holidays if necessary.
