Sales Associate/Department Specialist - Full-time / Part-time

About Ace Hardware of Appleton, Inc.
Ace Hardware of Appleton opened in 1979, with current owner Ed Swartz taking the reins in 1985, meaning 30 plus years serving our community! We are very customer and neighborhood oriented. Our rental department has all the "stuff" you need to make your household outdoor project go smooth and fast. With a huge lawn and garden area during the spring, bird seed and feeders (all year!), a wide variety of windchimes and unique giftware, we strive to have the "core" hardware and a whole lot more! We also fill propane tanks and are an Authorized UPS Outlet. New to the area? Sign up for our Ace Rewards card and receive special offers and incentives throughout the year. We love Weber, Big Green Egg, and Traeger Grills, YETI (coolers and more!), and Nurtisource (pet foods)! Our staff has over 225 combined years in retail and many have backgrounds in people and projects. Our convenient hours and location on Northland Ave also make us THE place with the Helpful Hardware Folks! 

General Summary
The Sales Associate/Department Specialist will assist in the receiving, stocking, pricing of all merchandise and help maintain a clean and orderly merchandise presentation and overall store cleanliness. As a Department Specialist, you will be an expert on the product in “your” department. You also will be responsible for maintaining and assisting in managing the department.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Customer Service:
•	Provide a positive representation of Ace Hardware of Appleton, Inc.
•	Proactively assist customers in solving problems.
•	Greet customers entering and throughout the store. Thank customers when finished and when they are leaving the store.
•	Possess a friendly outgoing demeanor; work well with customers as well as associates.
•	Ensure all pages and calls are answered promptly, courteously and effectively.
•	Forward any customer complaint that cannot be handled to a member of management.
•	Possess strong product knowledge and knowledge of store layout and location of products.
•	Assist customers throughout the store with personal, customized service based on the premise of amazing every customer, every time.

Store Operations
•	Assist in creating a positive, professional and safe work environment.
•	Assist with receiving, checking in and stocking of merchandise throughout the store.
•	Assist with maintaining back stock levels.
•	Assist with daily maintenance, orderliness and cleanliness of the sales floor, stock room and outdoor merchandise area(s).
•	Assist with providing a clean and orderly sales floor, including end caps and ad merchandise.
•	Assist with merchandise resets through the store.
•	Provide assistance to other Department Specialists, i.e. price changes, special orders.
•	Ensure signage is current throughout the store.
•	Operate forklift with proper training.
•	We are a service based business. Must be willing and able to assist with store services (paint mixing, propane refilling, key cutting, glass cutting, etc)
•	Communicate any merchandising, cost control or sales idea to the management.
•	Participate in store meetings.
•	Be professional in appearance and actions.
•	Actively participate in continuing education opportunities.	
•	Be able to maintain a consistent work schedule, but also available for evening and weekend shifts.
•	Punctuality for shifts is mandatory.
•	Perform all other duties as assigned.

Department Specialist
•	Maintaining “your” department (cleanliness, stocking, backstock management, etc)
•	Be an expert in “your” department through personal knowledge and continuing education.

Education/Training
High School or GED equivalent.

Experience
Formal retail experience required. Merchandising and product management experience strongly preferred. A general knowledge of computer operations (and the ability to learn new software/systems) is also required.

Physical Demands
Standing (4hr minimum), walking, lifting (up to 60lbs) and climbing.

Notice to Applicant about this Employer: You are applying for a job with an independently owned cooperative member of Ace Hardware Corporation, who operates this Ace Hardware store, not Ace Hardware Corporation.  The independent store owner alone is responsible for and independently makes all decisions concerning employment related matters, including hiring, firing, discipline, supervision, staffing and scheduling.  Ace Hardware Corporation will not receive a copy of any applications submitted for this position, and will have no control over interviews and/or hiring decisions, does not control and is not responsible for the employment policies and practices of the independent store owner. If hired, the independent store owner will be your only employer. Ace Hardware Corporation is not the employer for this position. The Ace Hardware trademarks, logos and designs are owned by Ace Hardware Corporation and used by independent store owners under a license from Ace Hardware Corporation.