Retail Sales Associate

Benefits:

Employee discounts

Free uniforms

Flexible schedule

Retail Sales Associate – Full Time

The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Gatlinburg Starting at $14.75/hour (higher starting pay may be considered based on relevant sales or retail experience) Approximately 36–38 hours per week

Benefits & Perks

Free employee parking pass, if needed

One free 1 oz. product each week

Employee discount

Flexible scheduling

Schedule posted approximately four weeks in advance

Occasional performance bonuses

Some daily cash tips

Attention Foodies!

Do you love experimenting with flavors, cooking, tea, or trying new recipes? Do you enjoy helping people and learning about unique products?

The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Gatlinburg is looking for an enthusiastic, dependable Retail Sales Associate to join our team.

This isn't your typical retail shop. Our shelves are filled with gourmet spice blends, loose-leaf teas, salts, sugars, herbs, and other specialty ingredients. Our team helps guests smell, taste, explore, and discover new ways to make food and drinks more flavorful.

You don't need to be a chef or already know everything about spices and tea—we'll teach you! We're looking for someone who is friendly, dependable, comfortable talking with customers, and willing to learn.

What You'll Do

As a Retail Sales Associate, you'll help keep the store running smoothly while creating a welcoming experience for our guests. Responsibilities include:

Greeting customers and providing friendly, knowledgeable service

Helping guests select spices, teas, salts, sugars, and other products

Learning our products and making recommendations based on customer needs

Operating a cash register and accurately handling cash and card transactions

Packaging spices, seasonings, salts, sugars, and loose-leaf teas

Restocking shelves and maintaining inventory

Checking product labels, pricing, and displays

Keeping the sales floor, work areas, and equipment clean and organized

Opening and/or closing the store

Performing keyholder responsibilities after training

Completing other normal retail duties as needed

Schedule

We are primarily looking for a full-time employee working approximately 36–38 hours per week.

Our ideal candidate is available to open the store, with opening shifts beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m. Some mid-shifts may also be required.

We commonly schedule four approximately 9-hour shifts per week, but a five-day schedule may also be available. We try to be flexible and can often work with employees who have a second job or other regular commitments.

Our schedule is normally posted four weeks in advance, making it easier to plan ahead.

Weekend and holiday availability is important, as Gatlinburg is a tourism-driven destination and these are often some of our busiest days.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must:

Be dependable and arrive to scheduled shifts on time

Have reliable transportation to and from work

Be able to communicate clearly in English with customers and coworkers

Be comfortable interacting with customers throughout the workday

Be able to accurately count money and make change

Be comfortable using a point-of-sale/register system and performing basic math

Be able to follow written recipes, measurements, procedures, and instructions

Be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds

Be able to stand and walk for extended periods during a shift

Be able to bend, reach, squat, and perform normal stocking and retail tasks

Be comfortable working around and smelling strong aromas from spices, herbs, teas, and other food products

Be willing to learn about our products and make recommendations to customers

Be willing and able to perform opening and closing responsibilities, including working independently when scheduled

Maintain a clean, professional appearance appropriate for a customer-facing retail environment

Be willing to come to the Gatlinburg store for an in-person interview as part of the hiring process

Previous retail, sales, food-service, or customer-service experience is preferred, but not required. We are happy to train the right person.

J-1 Students Welcome

J-1 students are welcome to apply provided they are legally authorized to work for us and already have a Social Security Number (SSN) required for payroll.

Applicants must also be able to meet the position's scheduling requirements for the period they are available to work.

About The Spice & Tea Exchange®

We create and share the experience every day! Life is better lived with a little spice.

The Spice & Tea Exchange® was founded in 2008 by people with a passion for food, flavor, and creating memorable experiences. What began as a small shop in St. Augustine, Florida, has grown into a nationwide franchise of independently owned shops.

Our mission—“Creating & sharing the experience of a more flavorful life”—is at the heart of what we do.

Our shops offer a diverse assortment of high-quality spices, handcrafted seasonings, loose-leaf teas, salts, sugars, and other flavorful ingredients in a unique sensory shopping environment. Guests are encouraged to open jars, experience the aromas, discover recipes, and talk with knowledgeable team members about food and flavor.

At The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Gatlinburg, we're committed to creating that experience every day. If you enjoy helping people, learning new things, and working in a unique retail environment, we'd love to meet you.

Ready to join our team? Apply today!

The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Gatlinburg is independently owned and operated. All hiring and employment decisions are made by the local franchisee.

This franchise is independently owned and operated by a franchisee. Your application will go directly to the franchisee, and all hiring decisions will be made by the management of this franchisee. All inquiries about employment at this franchisee should be made directly to the franchise location, and not to The Spice & Tea Exchange Corporate.