Retail Associate

General Summary

Demonstrates the ability to learn and develop skills to effectively perform a specialized role or to cross-train in multiple areas. Relies on ability to work well in a team environment, prioritize customer needs and adhere to operating procedures. Performs work under direct supervision.


Essential Job Functions

This position may include essential job functions similar to: cashier, merchandising and sales, warehouse, plant nursery, and/or delivery driver. Job descriptions for these roles are available through the Human Resources Division. Complexity of essential job functions increases with grade level.

Essential Job Functions vary by location and may include:

• Greet customers in a welcoming and professional manner. Utilize customer-focused interpersonal skills including smiling, making eye contact, meeting them in aisle when possible, helping lift products as necessary, providing appropriate attention including when assisting more than one customer at time, acknowledging they will be assisted soon if waiting, and thanking each one for their business.
• Assist customers with quickly locating merchandise in the showroom. Introduce customer to a senior team member when specialized assistance is needed.
• Replenish, face and organize merchandise on shelving. Move inventory utilizing proper lifting techniques and equipment in accordance with facility procedures.
• Assist with signage, pricing and shelf labeling. Ensure a neat and professional presentation according to facility procedures.
• Process checkout transactions utilizing point of sale equipment, including: cash registers, hand held scanners and credit/debit card terminals. Accurately handle cash and make change. May perform more complex transactions with assistance, including exchanges, returns, discounts and markdowns.
• Fill customer orders accurately with merchandise from showroom floor and/or warehouse. Effectively utilize proper equipment and tools. Load customer vehicles as needed.
• Receive merchandise into the warehouse. Inspect shipments and paperwork to verify order accuracy and ensure product quality. Escalate order errors or damage to appropriate team member. Effectively utilize forklifts, pallet jacks and other equipment to unload and store merchandise in proper warehouse location. Stage merchandise for showroom restocking, upcoming deliveries and loading customer vehicles.
• Assist with physical inventory counts in the showroom and/or warehouse.
• Deliver merchandise to customer locations. Operate SSC delivery vehicles according to procedures and in keeping with government regulations.
• Answer incoming telephone calls in a professional and courteous manner. Communicate information regarding order status, product availability, current sales, promotions and store events.
• Maintain the health and overall appearance plant material in the garden center. Perform deadheading, pruning, regular watering, movement and rotation of plants in optimum sun/shade locations.

The essential functions below are required for all locations:

• Demonstrate initiative to learn and effectively apply knowledge of standard operating procedures. Develop skills for successful customer sales, merchandising, inventory support and/or facility maintenance.
• Learn and effectively operate assigned tools and equipment, including point of sale terminals, hand held scanners, forklifts, pallet jacks and other related equipment.
• Communicate regularly with co-workers and supervisor about current assignments. Contribute to department efforts as an active team member. Provide assistance to co-workers and request support as needed.
• Actively participate in on-the-job training, on-line courses, formal and informal classes and/or coaching opportunities offered by SSC and as required by supervisor.
• Monitor entrances and exits in an effort to promote store safety, security and to minimize merchandise loss. Escalate potential security concerns to store leadership.
• Perform daily housekeeping duties according to facility procedures to ensure a neat, clean and welcoming environment.
• Perform work safely as to not cause harm to yourself, co-workers, equipment, or inventory. Utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required. Operate all equipment according to SSC policy and government regulations. Comply with OSHA regulations, Southern States Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) standards, work rules and policies.
• Perform all other job functions as assigned.

Education: Requires a High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED)

Experience: Requires effective communication skills. Prefer familiarity with agriculture, plant science, equine, livestock, pet care, or retail and inventory management.

Requirements - complexity of requirements increases with grade level

• Able to learn and consistently demonstrate knowledge of and compliance with facility guidelines and standard operating procedures
• Able to learn and effectively apply knowledge of a variety of merchandise
• Able to learn and effectively utilize equipment and tools including forklift and/or point of sale terminal
• Able to add, subtract, multiply, divide and calculate percentages using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals
• Attention to detail when handling inventory, equipment and tools, or cash transactions
• Able to consistently demonstrate customer-focused interpersonal skills
• Able to demonstrate team work and flexibility to meet customer and business needs
• Able to speak, read, write the English language in a proficient manner
• Able to work extended hours and/or alternate schedules
• This position may require the safe operation of a SSC motor vehicle to perform essential job functions and mandatory compliance with the SSC motor vehicle safety policy

Work Environment

Performs essential job functions in multiple environments, including: climate controlled, warehouse subject to seasonal humidity and temperature changes, and outdoors not protected from weather conditions when accessing merchandise, equipment or tools.


May be exposed to hazards including:

• Drafts, temperature changes and wet floors due to facility doors opening during adverse weather and due to merchandising and care of plant material
• Merchandise, supplies and tools with sharp edges or containing hazardous materials
• Dust, odors, fumes and hazardous chemicals associated with sales and storage of dry and liquid fertilizers, crop protectants and other agricultural, residential, animal care and home care products
• Moving mechanical parts and vehicles, vibrations and electric current
• Noise levels where hearing protection is optional per PPE Plan

Schedule requirements will vary based on location. Extended hours and/or alternate work schedules may be required. Ability to report to work on time and in adverse weather conditions is required.


Physical Activities & Requirements

Physical activities and requirements will vary with essential job functions.

• Continuously bend and stoop; manual dexterity (fingers and hands), handle and utilize repetitive hand motion with merchandise and tools; reach with arms and hands for extended periods; stand and walk for extended periods, at times may be on concrete or uneven surfaces; utilize eye/hand coordination; twist back and neck. Pull, push, lift, carry up to 50 pounds.
• Frequently climb, crouch, stack, and sweep. Driving may be required and can vary from continuous to occasionally. Pull, push, lift, carry 50-80 pounds, may be assisted.
• Occasionally balance, kneel and shovel. Pull, push, lift, carry 80-100 pounds, may be assisted.

Must be able to speak to co-workers and customers regarding operations and safety. Must be able to hear customer service phone calls, hand held radio, equipment and vehicle sounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Southern States Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against individuals based on their race, color, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, family medical history or genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws or regulations.