Retail Sales Associate Job Description | Duties & Responsibilities

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To be a celebrated retail sales associate, you must understand your duties and responsibilities down to every piece of information in your job description.

But how can you know the job description of a retail sales associate plus your daily duties and responsibilities when you don’t have the job yet?

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We’ve got you covered.

This article details what a retail sales associate must do daily.

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A full understanding of the duties and responsibilities of a retail sales associate outlined in this job description guide will set you up for success.

This article outlines a retail sales associate’s qualifications, skills, duties, and responsibilities.

By the end of this article, you will have full knowledge of what to expect on the job.

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Who is a Retail Sales Associate?

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A retail sales associate helps provide a great customer experience and increases a business’s revenue. 

The role of a retail sales associate requires excellent customer relations skills, impeccable communication, and the ability to handle tense situations. 

These people are the face of the business, and they create rapport with customers guiding them throughout the buying process.

They do this by explaining the uses and benefits of products and services and assisting customers in making the right purchasing choices. 

Retail sales associates also assist with marketing and promoting the company’s products and services, ensuring they meet all customers’ needs.

This, in turn, encourages customers to come back for repeat business. 

They may also handle payments and assist customers with their vehicles. 

An experienced Sales Associate makes a lasting impression on customers and ensures they leave your business with a good experience.  

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What does a Retail Sales Associate do? – Daily Duties and Responsibilities of a Retail Associate

Sales associates are essential to the final step in that supply chain process, helping customers select and purchase products. 

The job description of a retail sales associate may vary depending on the company you work for and the products you’re selling. 

But generally, the duties and responsibilities of a retail sales associate include customer service, sales, and administration. 

To be more specific, here are some of the common duties and responsibilities you will find in a retail sales associate job description:

1. Retail Sales Associates Guide Customers in making Buying Decisions

It is part of the duties and responsibilities of a retail sales associate to work closely with customers to determine their needs.

They answer their questions about the company’s products and recommend the right solutions.

They also actively seek out customers in the store to ask them what they need and proceed to advise or direct them. 

Thereby offering help and direct assistance to make buying decisions.

2. They help in the Smooth Running of the Store.

Because of the close relationship with their customers, retail sales associates are almost like customer service representatives.

As a result, they help facilitate activities within the store and improve efficiency.

3. Help to Resolve Customer Complaints 

Since retail sales associates interact firsthand with customers, they help to resolve customer complaints and ensure maximum client satisfaction promptly. 

They also answer all customer questions and queries without involving higher authorities. 

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4. Stay Updated with Product Features

Retail sales associates help customers to make buying decisions. 

As a result, they must stay up-to-date with the latest product features and maintain the store’s visual appearance to high standards.

As a retail sales associate, you can develop product knowledge by reading current vendor tags and pamphlets.

Additionally, you can attend training classes to communicate a product’s features to customers effectively. 

5. A Retail Sales Associate is responsible for all Sales Activities 

The retail sales associate’s activities include greeting customers, answering questions, offering assistance, and providing product information.

They also ensure that products are cross-sold by suggesting items and lending opinions.

In addition, they organize and replenish front stock and maintain a clean and tidy work and retail space.

6. They Show Excellent Customer Service and Marketing Skills

A retail sales associate’s responsibilities may include showing excellent customer service and marketing skills.

You must convince customers to purchase in the store.

They also present new products to customers and discuss other available options. 

In addition, the retail sales associate is responsible for keeping the selling floor stocked with merchandise.

They assist in displaying merchandise or organizing the selling floor and stock areas.

7. They Process all Payments

One of the daily activities of a retail sales associate is to process payments by totaling purchases.

They also process checks, cash, credit cards, and other payment methods. 

In addition, they deal with and process all customer refunds and exchanges courteously and professionally.

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Other Duties and Responsibilities of a Retail Sales Associate 

  • Ensure that customers enjoy high levels of customer satisfaction through excellent service
  • Work towards meeting and even exceeding the department’s sales goals monthly, quarterly, and yearly.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to ensure proper customer service
  • Build productive trust relationships with customers and attend to their individual shopping needs.
  • Receive and process newly received shipments.
  • Adhere to the company’s inventory control procedures, help organize back stock, and perform inventory counts.
  • Suggest different strategies for improving sales.
  • Upsell to customers when appropriate; promote current sales, promotions, coupon deals, etc.
  • Encourage customers to sign up for store membership benefits
  • Take direction from and report all unusual activities or major incidents to the supervisor.
  • Help create a positive environment for customers to shop and buy

A retail sales associate’s duties and responsibilities aim to achieve excellent customer service while consistently meeting the store’s sales goals.

Qualifications and Requirements of a Retail Sales Associate

To get the job of a retail sales associate, you need a high school diploma or equivalent.

A bachelor’s degree in marketing or similar fields is also a plus.

In addition, you must also have the right retail sales associate skills to stay on this job.

You may need proven work experience as a retail sales associate, sales representative, or similar role.

If you don’t have prior experience, the company may train you if they can afford to.

Part of the requirements for being a retail sales associate is having a basic understanding of sales principles and customer service practices.

A person with a good record of over-achieving sales quota will gain preference. 

Hands-on experience in carrying out POS transactions is also an advantage. 

  • Familiarity with inventory procedures
  • A friendly and energetic personality with a customer service focus
  • Ability to perform under pressure and address complaints promptly
  • Availability to work flexible shifts

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What are the Special Skills and Abilities a Retail Sales Assistant Needs?

Being a retail sales associate requires certain skills since you will be interacting with many people.

Among other things, you should know how to communicate with customers, easily identify the location of products on the shelve, etc.

The skills you present to your employer will determine whether you have all it takes to run the store.

Here are some of the basic skills you must possess. 

1. Organizational Skills

A retail sales associate must be able to easily remember customers’ preferences, keep track of inventory and document all paperwork in the store. 

2. Communication Skills

You must be proficient in the language peculiar to your geographical location)

Besides the language, you must also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 

A good retail sales associate should be able to greet customers, engage in small talk and listen to customer concerns.

Effective communication will help you to handle all situations within the store effectively.

3. Problem-Solving Skills

A retail sales associate must be a great problem solver.

Having this skill will help in situations when customers have complaints or concerns.

You must show a high understanding of situations to proffer solutions to them.

4. Time Management Skills

Because of the volume of customers sales associates attends to, you may be everywhere in the store.

As a result, you need these time management skills to manage your time to attend to more customers.

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5. Product Knowledge

A good understanding of the products on the shelves will allow you to answer customer questions.

It also allows you to help customers make informed decisions, thereby building customer trust.

6. Interpersonal Skills

Different customers have different kinds of behavior.

Because of that, you need to have excellent interpersonal skills to relate to them differently. 

In addition, you need this skill to relate with your colleagues and avoid problems.

7. Team and Leadership Skills

Employers want to know whether you can interact well with others and take charge when problems arise.

As a retail sales associate, you should be able to work with a team effectively and contribute your quota where needed.

8. Retail Software Skills

You’ll need to understand the specific software that your future company uses.

While general computer skills are helpful, including your proficiency in Microsoft Office skills, for example, will impress employers more. 

Be sure to include these skills if you have experience with them.

9. Numeracy

As a retail sales associate, you must be very good with numbers.

While it can be easy to depend on retail software, being a good mathematician in a sales associate position is essential.

This skill will help you in a situation where there is a computer glitch or malfunctioning.

Your ability to manually calculate prices, discounts, and transactions will be valuable in this case.

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10. Languages

Earlier, I said something about understanding the local language of your geographical location.

In addition to that, you also need to understand a few other foreign languages. 

This is because you may encounter customers who speak different languages.

In this case, speaking to them in a language they understand will make them feel more comfortable around you.

Your employer might even increase your salary for possessing bilingual skills.

11. Multitasking Skill

Attending to several customers at the same time is one of the features of working as a retail sales associate. 

Sometimes, you may answer a customer’s questions while completing a purchase transaction for another customer.

As a result, you need the multitasking skill to respond to them all at once.

12. Ability to Work Under Pressure

Retail companies experience peak periods like holidays where there is high-volume shopping.

This period is important to them as they depend on it for a significant share of their profits. 

As a result, you must be able to rise to the occasion without impacting the quality of your work.

How much does a Retail Sales Associate make in a year?

You may receive hourly payments or monthly salaries depending on your employer’s arrangement.

Generally, the wages for retail sales associates range from minimum wage to about $20 per hour, with an average hourly wage of $12.67.

This salary figure also depends on the kind of industry, which greatly affects the pay.

The pay is usually higher for most technical stores (say those that deal in automotive fields).

Retail sales associates may work full or part-time and earn commissions, bonuses, or other incentives for exceeding sales goals.

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