Associate Design Consultant

Ethan Allen Global Inc•The Villages, FL

2d•$19 - $22

About The Position

The Associate Design Consultant is an entry-level role intended to transition to Design Consultant within six months. During training, the associate works closely with Design Consultants to develop sales and interior design skills, learn the technology used by the team and become familiar with Ethan Allen products while supporting 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 terminate employment if performance does not meet the required level. The role combines customer service, sales support, design-project assistance, administrative work, and Design Center upkeep. Depending on location, the position may also include cash reconciliation, order follow-up, customer-service issue resolution, and other operational duties. The position requires a valid driver’s license, except where the company accepts an alternate means of transportation that enables the associate to perform the job duties.

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 desire to learn the business.
Valid driver’s license, unless the associate establishes to the company’s satisfaction that an alternative means of transportation is available during all business hours and enables performance of the job duties.
Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays listed on the incentive plan.
Ability to work overtime as needed.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of two years’ experience in retail sales is preferred.

Responsibilities

Greet customers when a Design Consultant is unavailable, establish rapport, provide limited design consultation, and complete eligible sales transactions, including take-with and direct-ship accent sales and limited furniture sales under unit management’s direction.
Assist assigned Design Consultants with project development, including home calls, space plans, product selection, quotes, sketches and renderings, presentations, custom soft-goods quotes, and client hospitality.
Explain Ethan Allen’s complimentary design service and tailor the level of service to each customer’s preferences.
Stay current on design and color trends to develop fashionable design solutions.
Introduce qualified prospects to Design Consultants through the rotation system, including in-person introductions, referrals to online bios or portfolios, and scheduling in-studio or in-home consultations.
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 as required.
Educate customers about available Ethan Allen-sponsored financing options.
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 the visual merchandiser with floor-stock replenishment and inventory receipt, including bar-coding and tagging as needed.
Assist with daily display maintenance and help keep the Design Center neat and orderly.
Provide clerical support to Design Consultants, maintain files, update price pages, and prepare follow-up correspondence.
Update master and Design Center price pages, product books, and samples.
Order memo fabric swatches for clients and distribute them to Design Consultants when they arrive.
When required by location, reconcile and record cash transactions, charge cards, and bank deposits; process blind cash balancing and exceptions; and maintain petty cash.
When required by location, perform daily business clerical duties, run end-of-day reports, and check signatures and other audit requirements.
When required by location, follow up on clerical and delayed orders and handle cancellations, merchandise returns, and other assigned duties.
When required by location, coordinate follow-up service between the service center and Design Center staff, review open-order reports and workroom logs, and communicate with design teams.
When required by location, manage customer communications, research and resolve inquiries under company guidelines, monitor recurring problems, and forward service requests to the Customer Service Department.
When required by location, identify unrecorded delivered sales and implement procedures to prevent recurrence.
When required by location, identify custom soft-goods and non-Ethan Allen orders and forward copies to an OA for processing.
Perform other duties as required.
Work overtime as needed and work evenings, weekends, and holidays listed on the incentive plan.