Sales Associate

Position Summary:

The Sales Associate is responsible for providing an outstanding customer experience while supporting the daily operations of the store. This role assists customers with locating products, answering questions, maintaining department standards, stocking merchandise, and helping create a clean, organized, and welcoming shopping experience.

Sales Floor Associates play a key role in representing the Ruggiero's Ace Hardware brand through helpfulness, product knowledge, and teamwork. Sales Associates are expected to be helpful, approachable, and willing to assist customers with their needs throughout the store. This position requires flexibility, strong communication skills, and a willingness to assist wherever needed.

While primary responsibilities are focused on customer service and department maintenance, associates may also support other operational tasks based on business needs and store priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Greet and assist customers throughout the store in a friendly, professional, and helpful manner.
• Help customers locate merchandise, answer product questions, and recommend solutions based on customer needs.
• Maintain clean, organized and well-stocked departments, displays, and aisles.
• Assist with stocking shelves, front-facing merchandise, down stocking, and inventory organization.
• Support seasonal transitions, promotional displays, resets, and other merchandising projects.
• Operate equipment such as pallet jacks, ladders, and forklifts safely.
• Assist customers with loading merchandise when needed.
• Maintain awareness of current promotions, advertisements, and store initiatives.
• Communicate effectively with team members and management regarding customer needs, safety concerns, inventory issues, or operational opportunities.
• Follow company safety procedures and maintain a safe work environment for both customers and employees.
• Support front-end operations, including backup cashiering and answering phones when needed.
• Participate in ongoing training opportunities to improve product knowledge and customer service skills.
• Take on additional responsibilities as assigned by store leadership to support store operations and the customer experience.

What Success Looks Like:

• Customers receive friendly, knowledgeable, and timely assistance throughout their shopping experience.
• Departments remain clean, organized, safe, and properly stocked.
• Merchandise is accurately stocked and displayed according to company standards.
• Team members communicate effectively and support one another during busy periods.
• Safety procedures and operational expectations are consistently followed.
• Associates demonstrate reliability, initiative, and a willingness to learn new skills and responsibilities.

Qualifications:

• Previous retail, customer service, hardware, or sales experience preferred but not required.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Willingness to learn product knowledge across multiple departments.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Maintain a professional and positive demeanor with customers and coworkers.
• Ability to work assigned schedules based on business needs

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Ability to lift, move, and carry merchandise up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation
• Frequent bending, reaching, kneeling, stocking merchandise, and climbing ladders as needed
• Ability to safely operate store equipment following proper training
• Ability to work in varying indoor and outdoor conditions as business needs require
• Ability to visually inspect merchandise, displays, and store conditions to maintain company standards

Additional Notes:
Employees may be assigned responsibilities outside the immediate scope of this role to support store operations and the customer experience. Flexibility, dependability, and a helpful attitude are essential for success in this position.