Customer Service Wine Consultant

What is my job:

The job of the Wine Consultant is to assist customers with every-day wine selections. The Wine Consultant will use relationship building techniques, product knowledge and selling techniques in order to improve customer satisfaction as measured by customer feedback and increased store sales. 

How do I make a difference?

Providing Incredible, Knowledge Based Customer Service

• Proactively seek out customers and engage them by asking probing questions in order to identify their needs
• Build relationships with customers by gathering customer contact information and following-up by phone or e-mail to address specific concerns, inquiries, or comments
• Provide complete customer service from initial greeting through point of sale service including; selecting the products, carrying the product to the register, ensuring that the product is correctly rung out, and carrying the product to the customer’s vehicle when necessary
• Use knowledge of wine in order to create a complete solution which meets/exceeds customers’ needs
• Gain knowledge of culinary industry by reading trade magazines, in order to pair wines which match culinary focus and trends
• Stay up to date on wine industry and customer taste profiles by reading Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Robert Parker materials
• Educate employees and customers on wine basics including wine industry, wine production, wine regions, grape varietals and tasting methods
• Expand knowledge of various regions, varietals, taste profiles, and retail price points in order to communicate with a diverse customer base

Continuously Improving Results

• Continuously look for ways to improve efficiency; communicate suggestions to Team Leader and Store Manager
• Use caution when carrying out all tasks to reduce damages and shrink
• Perform other tasks essential to the proper functioning of the operation as needed 

Living Who We Are

• Support, encourage, and respect co-workers
• Work with supervisor to set and achieve goals for professional development
• Comply with Wegmans Policies and Work Rules, as well as, federal and state laws
• Maintain open lines of communication with supervisors and coworkers to ensure the most efficient operations in the department

What skills, learnings, and experiences are required?

• Knowledge of Wine industry, regions, production and tasting
• Ability to communicate complex information in simple terms
• Living Who We Are values by caring about the well-being of every person, having high standards as a way of life, making a difference in the communities we serve, respecting and listening to others and making decisions that benefit our customers and company
• Possess teamwork & diversity awareness by listening to others' points of view and recognizing and appreciating differences
• Recognize and seek opportunities for continuous learning to gain new understandings, skills and knowledge
• Provide incredible customer service, acknowledging customers, listening to their needs, proactively offering assistance and thanking each customer for shopping with us
• Properly handle, prepare, transport and store products; ensuring food & human safety practices are strictly adhered to
• Possess organizational skills, prioritizing requests and department activities while managing interruptions and attending to details to complete tasks within deadlines
• Has knowledge of products used throughout the store and works across departments to provide knowledge based service to assist customers in finding complete meal solutions
• Utilize resources to educate self and others about product uses and characteristics, being sure to share acquired product knowledge
• Able to problem solve, anticipating, analyzing, and identifying problems, responding quickly when situations arise and preventing problems when possible

What skills, learnings, and experiences are preferred and will set me apart? 

• Certifications; Master of Wines, Sommelier
• Customer service experience, preferably in a food retail, grocery, restaurant, retail or wine shop setting
• Experience with merchandising, meal pairing., planning and customer relations

Work environment: 

• Work includes walking, standing for up to 4 hours without a break, frequent lifting, shelving of product, climbing, repetitive hand and arm movements, bending and reaching along with interaction with customers and co-workers. The average weight range of items lifted is 5-40 pounds frequently with a maximum weight lifted of 50 pounds occasionally. Work may involve exposure to various environments, include cold temperatures (walk-in coolers) and seasonal outdoor temperatures and weather (loading dock). May receive assistance with heavy items, if available. May be exposed to various allergens (things that may cause an allergic reaction)

Other: 

• Employment at Wegmans may be contingent upon your completion and our evaluation of a drug screen physical and/or criminal background check
• All Applicants will be screened; only those closely matching the job posting will be interviewed