Gear Expert (Retail Associate)

About Peak Design

Okay, the premise for this role is pretty simple: we have a very spiffy store in NYC. There are tons of people worldwide who are fanatically in love with our award-winning products and want to come to check it all out in-person. We need you to give them a big ol' Peak Design welcome. Honestly, this isn't your typical retail job because this isn't your typical retail store. It's way doper.
About the job

Our store is a physical incarnation of the Peak Design brand, and you'll need to be a dedicated steward of that space. That means you've got an attention to detail and an eye for aesthetics. You're good at arranging furniture in a room, art on a wall, and bric-a-brac on a shelf. You're one of those people who needs all the stuff on their desk to be at right angles, and your toothpaste tube is probably free of gunk in the cap.

Our retail space is one where our community can explore our gear, mingle with our team, and learn what makes Peak Design tick. It's also a PD people hub - a warm, welcoming place for folks with shared passion to meet, seek help, get inspiration, collaborate, learn, share, and (more often than not) party. Our store staff are friendly hosts, product experts, educators, and instructors.

• As host, you'll welcome visitors into the space and help them explore our gear and brand. You'll share stories, ask questions, and make them feel at home.
• As a product expert, you'll learn their specific needs, advise them on the best solution, and steer them to the correct gear for the job.
• As an educator and instructor, you'll seek out moments to teach and inspire. You'll have the opportunity to share photography tricks, travel tips and, most importantly, your life experiences with our customers.

About the role

Retail and Front-End Things:

• Greet and determine the needs of every customer that walks through the door.
• Know every product inside and out and be able to explain its multiple uses as well as how it fits into our ecosystem of products.
• Handle product returns, warranty claims, and concerns impressively. We stand behind every product for the life of it and take pride in friendly, no-hassle returns and lifetime warranties.
• Handle product support issues, both in-person and on the phone. Our store is a place where existing customers are encouraged to seek product help.
• You will learn how to operate our simple point-of-sale (POS) system.
• Be the ears on the ground. Internalize customer feedback and provide that feedback to the store manager.
• Be an individual. Be creative. Be proactive. We welcome your input and will support your role in your greater community. If you have ideas about how to make our store more inviting, inclusive, and dynamic, we welcome them.

Merchandising and Back-End Stuff:

• Maintain an immaculate environment within the store and outside the store. Leave no strap dangling, no hang tag askew, no bag off-kilter, and no leaf unswept on the sidewalk. Make sure what is on the floor is neatly assembled and hung correctly. Maintain a clean and well-organized stock area.

Community & Events Fun:

• We host monthly community events, both in-store and outside the store. Supporting hands are always needed. Help brainstorm, design, execute and run new events if you wish!

Role requirements

• You must be available to work Saturday and Sunday, with opportunity for additional shifts.
• Expert users of Peak Design gear. Or, at the very least, individuals with a genuine interest in quickly developing that knowledge base.
• Employees who will take pride in making our store a clean, friendly, inviting place.
• Creatives and adventurers - whether hobbyists or professionals - who can talk shop with similarly-passionate folks and understand their needs.
• You love to host, educate, and enthrall others. You also love to listen.
• You've been known to put yourself out there in the community - e.g. attend Meetups, join clubs, and make connections. And perhaps you've already got some inspired ideas for how we can make our store a better community resource. We're all ears.
• Experience in a customer-facing role, such as retail or hospitality.
• Personal or professional interest in or experience with products in our industry.
• Physical requirements: Constantly in a stationary position for prolonged periods (8+ hours); frequently moving objects up to 30 pounds in all directions; frequently ascending or descending ladders, stairs, ramps and the like

Nice-to-haves

• You're could be a gregarious person, with some outdoorsy or artistic hobbies, as well as an eye for details. But it could mean a lot of things, and we look forward to hearing how you see yourself in this role!

Salary Range

Peak Design's purpose is to create happy, meaningful lives for the people that work here. This includes our Retail team. We bring this purpose to life by:

• Offering a competitive hourly wage ($20.40/hour) that honors your talents and professional experience.
• Offering non-traditional and generous perks for part-time employees such as holidays off, accrued paid time off, and Peak Design products and discounts.
• Offering flexible scheduling that accommodates individual commitments and interests.

We want you to feel motivated, empowered, and stoked each day that you come to work. And we also want you to live your best life. We believe these can be not only compatible, but complementary.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Peak Design we believe a diverse team is an innovative team and something worth celebrating. A range of perspectives and backgrounds creates a stronger and more creative work environment (not to mention more fun). We're committed to equality and inclusivity across race, gender, age, religion, identity, and experience.

Some candidates may see a long list of job requirements and feel discouraged because they don't match every single bullet point - we strongly encourage you to apply anyway! If what we do resonates with you, and you feel excited and able to contribute, we're equally stoked for the opportunity to engage with you.

Applicants may review Peak Design's Equal Employment Opportunity Commitment as well as our Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Prevention Policy, here. Additional resources, including how to file a discrimination complaint, can be found on the State of California's Civil Rights Department website, along with publications CRD-E07P-ENG, CRD-185P-ENG, and CRD-185-ENG.