LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

Summary


The Leadership Development Program is designed to take qualified new hires from an entry-level Home Furnishing Sales Advisor position to a General Sales Manager (GSM) in just a few years.


What We're Looking For:

• Recent College Graduates (Business, Marketing, Communications, Sales preferred)
  • Competitive & Goal-Oriented - You thrive in a performance-driven environment
  • Strong Communicators - You enjoy engaging with people and building relationships
  • Natural Leaders - You want to grow into a leadership role and develop a team
  • Resilient & Adaptable - You can handle challenges and stay motivated

Essential Functions


Level 1: Home Furnishings Advisor (HFA)

• Duration: 90 Day (Training Period)
• Compensation: $60,000 Base Salary

Level 2: Trusted Advisor (TA)

• Duration: 12 Months (Accelerated 6-month track for top performers)
• Compensation: $52,500 Base Salary + Individual Performance Bonus

Responsibilities:

The Home Furnishings Advisor/Trusted Advisor is responsible for providing a unique, personalized, and memorable guest experience. They will be ambassadors for our mission, vision, core values, and the way we play. They will be subject matter experts of products, services, and promotions. They will follow our proven processes while utilizing their sales and relationship building skills.

Selling Ashley Products Supported by Outstanding Customer Service. The Home Furnishing Advisor/Trusted Advisor sells the full suite of Ashley products and services by:

• Welcoming and professionally engaging every guest to ensure customer expectations are met and the Ashley brand image is properly represented.
• Following the Ashley Sales Approach with each guest to maximize average sales per guest and ensure above-minimum category sales goals. This includes performing product presentations, attempting to close each sales opportunity, adding additional items, and furniture protection plans to the sale.
• Contacting guests by phone, mail, or e-mail throughout the sales process and post product delivery to ensure total guest satisfaction and establish the relationship to continue to serve the guest in their home furnishing needs.

Completing post-sales Administration. The Home Furnishing Advisor completes post-sales administration by:

• Carrying out appropriate paperwork and order entry processes following each sale, to ensure accurate and thorough communications of Ashley Terms and Conditions and customer expectations.
• Providing paperwork (e.g., sales orders, delivery instructions, information journal, etc.) to the Customer Service Department for execution.
• Following the Sales System Set-up Process and ensuring data is entered correctly into the UPs System, including capturing customer email addresses in POS 9 post-sale.
• Completing customer information and sketch forms to build lead database and to track advertising.

Ensuring Professional In-Store Experience for Every Guest. The Home Furnishing Advisor assists fellow associates in ensuring professional in-store experience for every guest by:

• Completing showroom floor recovery processes throughout the day.
• Maintaining neatness and cleanliness in designated areas in compliance with Ashley's safety and health standards and policies.

Maintaining a Personal Focus on Continuous Learning and Improvement. The Home Furnishing Advisor ensures a continued focus on performance improvement and personal/professional development by:

• Working vigorously on sales performance improvement by using available learning tools and programs.
• Developing and maintaining high levels of knowledge on Ashley business products and initiatives.
• Participating actively in sales meetings and one-on-one coaching sessions with store managers and trainers.

The Home Furnishing Advisor will have the following KPIs:

• Achieve Sales Budget - (Minimum Performance Standard - $15,000 per week Level 1/$17,500 pr week Level 2)

• Bedding

• Close Rate

• Protection

• Average Sale

• Credit Applications

• Split %

• Sales Per Guest

• Net Gross Margin

• Total Piece Exception Rate

• Net Promoter Score

The Hom Furnishings Advisor/Trusted Advisor may occasionally perform non-exempt duties, such as cashiering or merchandising the sales floor, as needed for proper store operation. They may occasionally be required to travel to other locations to attend meetings or training sessions. The Home Furnishing Advisor performs other duties as assigned, such as assisting in the store inventory processes.

Level 3: Assistant Selling Manager (Please refer to the Assistant Selling Manager Job Description)

• Duration: 12 months (Accelerated 6-month track for top performers)
• Compensation: $60,000 Base Salary + Individual Performance Bonus + Store Revenus Bonus

Responsibilities:

The Assistant Selling Manager will assist the General Sales Managers and Sales Managers in developing the sales force and help in the duties as outlined below while also promoting and selling our merchandise through unique, personalized, and memorable guest experiences, a high level of professionalism, and mastery of product knowledge. Work with the General Sales Managers and Sales Managers in leading the sales team toward increased effectiveness through performance measurements. Make certain each team member is aligned with the company's mission, statement, and core values.

• Lead by example and assist in coaching new team members

• Support store leadership with sales training, scheduling, and team motivation
• Oversee store operations when sales managers are unavailable
• Promotion opportunity after 6 months for top performers

Level 4: Sales Manager → General Sales Manager (GSM) (Please refer to the Sales and General Sales Manager Job Descriptions)

• Duration: Based on performance and leadership readiness
• Compensation:
  • Sales Manager: $80,000 - $120,000+ Annual Salary (Base + Bonuses)
• GSM: $100,000 - $150,000+ Annual Salary (Base + Bonuses)

Responsibilities:

The Sales Manager (SM) and/or General Sales Manager (GSM) will be responsible for overseeing the entire sales operation within their assigned location/region. This role includes developing and implementing sales strategies, managing the sales force, and ensuring the achievement of sales targets and overall profitability. SM/GSM is a key leader in the store, driving performance through effective management, strategic planning, and coordination with other departments.


The SM/GSM will be responsible for hiring, developing and performance managing a sales force that is focused on guest experience, driving sales to deliver their budget and increasing repeat business. By focusing on their team members "Why", fostering positive belief systems, and coaching on process behaviors, the leader will achieve their store's KPI's and help each team member do the same. The General Sales Manager must maintain laser focus by being in Position to Impact (P2I) on the sales floor.

• Fully lead/manage a sales team and drive showroom performance

• Develop future leaders and oversee team KPIs
• Work closely with General Sales Managers on high-level operations

Beyond General Sales Manager - Multi-Unit Leadership Opportunities


After achieving General Sales Manager , high performers can continue growing into multi-unit leadership roles , including:

• Area Manager - Oversee multiple stores, leading and developing multiple sales teams.
• Regional Sales Director - Manage performance, training, and strategy across multiple markets.

We invest in developing future executives from within , offering long-term career paths in leadership, strategy, and business operations.


Schedule Expectations

• Scheduled to work at least 40 hours per week including Saturdays and/or Sundays; the number of hours worked will increase during holidays or blackout periods, for vacation coverage, or for other business needs.
• Scheduled for two days off each week, except during holidays or blackout periods.
• Regular attendance at the assigned store in accordance with these schedule expectations is an essential function of the job and all job functions are performed at designated job location.
• Schedule requirements for Assistant Selling Manager, Sales Manager, and General Sales Manager may require the need for working an Iron (open to close) shift one day a week.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Candidates must have a High School Diploma or GED AND either a college graduate or in their final year of college education. A degree in business administration, marketing, merchandising, public relations or retail preferred.
• Three to six months' sales experience is preferred. Furniture retail experience is a plus!
• Must demonstrate the ability to work in a fast-paced environment that reflects the business needs of the company.
• Strong ability to get results through others by effective goal setting and performance measurement.
• Strong leadership, coaching, interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to empower and develop a team and hold them accountable
• Ability to build solid work relationships and teamwork throughout an organization
• Highly organized and ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities

• Strong MS Office skills (Word, Excel, Power Point), and the ability to easily learn Ashley's internal computer systems