Associate Design Consultant

Ethan Allen Global Inc•Danbury, CT

132d•$23 - $26

About The Position

The Associate Design Consultant is an entry-level role intended to transition to Design Consultant within six months of hire. During the training period, the associate works closely with Design Consultants to develop sales and interior design skills, learn the technology and products used and offered 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 for up to three months, or end employment if performance does not meet the level required for promotion. The role supports customers and Design Consultants through customer greetings and limited design and sales assistance; project development, presentations, appointments, quotes, and design materials; order entry and client communications; and customer education about Ethan Allen’s design services and financing options. The associate also helps operate the information desk, maintain the Design Center and its displays, replenish and receive inventory, update product and price materials, and provide clerical and customer-service support. Depending on location, duties may additionally include cash handling and reconciliation, order and return processing, customer-service request management, and open-order and workroom-log monitoring. The position pays $23.00 to $26.00 per hour depending on experience, with the opportunity to earn a monthly incentive. Benefits are offered, with availability varying by full-time or part-time classification.

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

Nice To Haves

Minimum two years of retail sales experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Greet customers when a Design Consultant is unavailable, establish rapport, offer limited design consultation, and assist with sales transactions, including take-with and direct-ship accent sales, wrapping purchases, and 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 and support.
Educate customers about Ethan Allen’s complimentary design service and available financing options.
Keep current on design and color trends to develop fashionable design solutions.
Introduce qualified prospects to Design Consultants through the rotation system, in-person introductions, online biographies or portfolios, and by arranging in-studio appointments 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.
Use corporate systems and technology to support project design, presentations, and customer service.
Operate the information desk, answer phones, provide customer service, and manage the rotation system.
Support the visual merchandiser with replenishing floor stock and receiving Design Center inventory; barcode and tag items as needed.
Assist with daily maintenance of floor displays and help maintain a neat and orderly Design Center.
Assist Design Consultants with clerical work, maintain current files, update price pages, and prepare follow-up correspondence.
Provide customer service before and after sales and promptly update customers about order status and delays.
Update master and Design Center price pages, product books, and samples; order memo fabric swatches for clients and distribute them to Design Consultants.
Perform other duties as required and work overtime as needed.
Depending on location, reconcile, deposit, and record cash transactions; process blind cash balancing and exceptions; maintain petty cash; and perform daily business clerical tasks, including end-of-day reports and audit checks.
Depending on location, follow up on clerical and delayed orders, process cancellations and merchandise returns, and coordinate service follow-up between the service center and Design Center staff.
Depending on location, review open-order reports and workroom logs and communicate with design teams.
Depending on location, manage incoming customer communications, research and resolve inquiries under company guidelines, monitor recurring issues, and forward customer-service requests to the Customer Service Department.
Depending on location, identify unrecorded delivered sales and implement procedures to prevent future occurrences.
Depending on location, identify custom soft-goods and non-Ethan Allen product orders and forward copies to an OA for processing.

Benefits

401(k) plan with employer contributions
Multiple medical plans with prescription drug coverage
Health Savings Account with employer contributions
Dental plan
Vision plan
Basic and supplemental group term life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance
Dependent group term life insurance
Short- and long-term disability
Business Travel Accident Life Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts for health care and dependent care
Commuter savings plans for public transit and parking
Voluntary whole life insurance
Voluntary critical care insurance
Voluntary accident insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Monthly incentive opportunity