Associate Interior Design Consultant

Ethan Allen Global Inc•Palm Beach Gardens, FL

7d•$18 - $22

About The Position

The Associate Design Consultant is an entry-level role intended to transition to Design Consultant within six months. During this training period, the associate works closely with Design Consultants to develop sales and interior design skills, learn the technology and products used by Ethan Allen, and provide ongoing support for sales activity in the Design Center. At the end of the training period, retail management will decide whether to promote the associate, extend training by up to three months, or terminate employment if performance does not meet the required level. The role supports customers and Design Consultants through customer service, limited design consultation and sales, project development, appointments, order processing, presentations, and follow-up. Depending on the location, responsibilities may also include cash reconciliation, additional clerical and customer-service work, and monitoring open orders and workroom logs.

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, except where the associate establishes to the company’s satisfaction that an alternative means of transportation is available during all business hours and allows the duties to be performed.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays listed on the incentive plan.

Nice To Haves

At least two years of retail sales experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Greet customers when a Design Consultant is unavailable, establish rapport, offer assistance and limited design consultation, complete eligible sales transactions, and wrap and package purchases.
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 interior design service and available finance options.
Stay current on design and color trends.
Introduce qualified prospects to Design Consultants using the rotation system, or schedule in-studio appointments and in-home consultations.
Enter orders and quotes in the retail point-of-sale system.
Communicate with clients about appointments and order status by telephone and email, including promptly reporting delays.
Participate in corporate-sponsored marketing and training programs.
Use corporate systems and technology to support design projects, presentations, 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 help keep the Design Center neat and orderly.
Provide clerical support to Design Consultants, including maintaining files, updating price pages, and preparing 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.
Perform other duties as required.
Work overtime as needed.
Depending on location, reconcile, deposit, and record cash transactions; process cash balancing and exceptions; maintain petty cash; perform daily business clerical tasks; and run 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 matters between the service center and Design Center staff.
Depending on location, review and control 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 customer issues, and route service requests to Customer Service.
Depending on location, identify custom soft-goods and non-Ethan Allen orders and forward copies for processing.