Sales and Merchandise Associate/Warehouse

Southern States Cooperative.•Flemingsburg, KY

13d

About The Position

Provides friendly, efficient, and professional sales support to customers at Southern States Cooperative, Inc. locations. Uses product knowledge and training to help customers select merchandise, recommend products, services, or equipment for their projects, and provide advice on product use. Maintains effective merchandising and a safe, welcoming shopping environment. Job functions and their complexity may vary by location and grade level. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. The role may involve customer service and sales, merchandising, telephone support, store security, housekeeping, inventory, loading customer vehicles, maintenance, and cashiering. Depending on location, the employee may deliver merchandise to customers. Employees must follow facility procedures, company policies, government regulations, OSHA regulations, and Southern States Environmental Health and Safety standards. The position is primarily indoors in a climate-controlled environment, with occasional work outdoors or in a non-climate-controlled warehouse. Schedules vary by location; extended hours or alternate schedules may be required, and employees must be able to report on time in adverse weather.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least one year of work experience in a retail sales environment providing high-quality customer service.
Consistently demonstrate customer-focused interpersonal skills, communicate positively and professionally, and resolve customer concerns effectively.
Have effective knowledge of specialized areas such as equine, livestock, pet, home, farm, and/or lawn and garden.
Learn and follow facility guidelines and standard operating procedures.
Learn and apply knowledge of a wide variety of merchandise to answer customer questions and make recommendations.
Perform arithmetic calculations using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals, including calculating percentages.
Demonstrate attention to detail.
Speak, read, and write English proficiently.
Work extended hours to meet business demands.
Meet the role’s physical requirements, including prolonged standing and walking; frequent bending, stooping, reaching, twisting, climbing, crouching, stacking, and sweeping; and lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling loads up to 100 pounds, sometimes with assistance.
Communicate with coworkers and customers about operations and safety, hear service calls and equipment or vehicle sounds, and meet the specified vision requirements.
Report to work on time, including in adverse weather conditions.

Nice To Haves

Additional college coursework or an associate degree in agriculture, plant science, animal science, or a related field.
Experience in agriculture, livestock or pet care, horticulture, or a related industry.
Previous Southern States work experience.

Responsibilities

Greet customers proactively and provide welcoming, professional, customer-focused service.
Discuss customers’ merchandise needs, help locate items, explain product features and uses, and recommend appropriate merchandise, companion products, equipment, or services.
Understand the scope of customers’ projects and identify opportunities to assist them and provide efficient service.
Maintain product displays and facility appearance by replenishing, facing, and organizing merchandise; updating signage, prices, and shelf labels; building displays from diagrams; and cross-staging related products.
Assist customers with loading, pricing or merchandise inquiries, product accessibility, and other service needs; resolve issues diplomatically and escalate complex matters to store leadership.
Provide telephone support, including answering calls, communicating order status and product availability, sharing information about sales, promotions, and events, and contacting customers to arrange order pickup or delivery.
Deliver merchandise to customers where applicable to the location.
Monitor entrances and exits to support store security and safety and reduce merchandise loss; request proof of payment according to facility procedures and escalate potential security concerns.
Perform daily housekeeping and, as needed, support inventory, vehicle loading, facility maintenance, cashiering, and other storefront or warehouse functions.
Work safely, use required personal protective equipment, and operate equipment according to company policy and government regulations.
Comply with OSHA regulations, Southern States EHS standards, work rules, and policies.
Perform other assigned job functions.