Associate Design Consultant

Ethan Allen•The Villages, FL

About The Position

The Associate Design Consultant is an entry-level position intended to transition to Design Consultant within six months. During this training period, the associate works closely with Design Consultants to develop selling and interior design skills, learn the technology and products used by Ethan Allen, and support sales activity in the Design Center. At the end of the training period, retail management may promote the associate, extend training by up to three months, or end employment if performance does not meet the level needed for promotion. The role combines customer service, sales assistance, design-project support, administrative work, and Design Center upkeep. The associate greets and assists customers when a Design Consultant is unavailable, helps with project development and presentations, schedules appointments, enters orders and quotes, and communicates with clients. Other duties may vary by location and include cash handling, clerical and customer-service support, and order follow-up. Evening, weekend, holiday, and overtime work may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Interior Design or a related field from an accredited institution.
Previous internship or experience with a professional design firm or design-retail organization.
Strong sales and organizational skills.
Ability to work with others.
Positive attitude, stylish professional appearance, high energy, and a desire to learn the business.
Valid driver’s license, unless an acceptable alternative means of transportation is available during all business hours to perform the position’s duties.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays listed on the incentive plan.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of two years’ experience in retail sales preferred.

Responsibilities

Greet customers professionally and offer assistance when a Design Consultant is unavailable, including limited design consultation and sales transactions.
Wrap and package client purchases and assist with limited furniture sales under unit management direction.
Assist Design Consultants with project development, including home calls, space plans, product selection, quotes, sketches, renderings, presentations, custom soft-goods quotes, and client hospitality.
Educate customers about Ethan Allen’s complimentary design service and available finance options.
Stay current on design and color trends to create fashionable design solutions.
Introduce qualified prospects to Design Consultants through the rotation system, schedule appointments, and refer customers to consultant biographies or portfolios.
Enter orders and quotes using the retail point-of-sale system.
Communicate with clients by telephone and email about appointments and order status, including delays.
Participate in corporate-sponsored marketing and training programs.
Use corporate systems and technology to support project design, presentations, efficiency, and customer service.
Operate the information desk, answer phones, provide customer service, and manage the rotation system.
Support visual merchandising by replenishing floor stock, receiving inventory, and bar-coding and tagging items as needed.
Assist with daily maintenance of floor displays and keep the Design Center neat and orderly.
Assist Design Consultants with clerical needs, maintain files, and update price pages and follow-up correspondence.
Update Design Center price pages, product books, and samples; order and distribute memo fabric swatches.
Perform other duties as required, including location-dependent cash reconciliation, deposits, petty cash, reports, order follow-up, returns, customer-service requests, and related clerical tasks.
Work overtime as needed and work evenings, weekends, and holidays listed on the incentive plan.