Anime Convention Sales & Booth Lead Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Employee discounts
• Flexible schedule
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off

Anime Convention Sales & Booth Lead Specialist
Important Details: We depart from Minnesota. You must be able to commute yourself to our facility where we disembark. This is a full time position. Knowledge of the following anime are crucial for success in this position:

• Sailor Moon
  • Can identify the main characters, their symbols, their weapons, their colors
• Cardcaptor Sakura
  • And associated CLAMP properties
• Madoka Magica
  • Can identify the main characters and their symbols
• Digimon (the first 3 seasons)
  • Can identify the main characters, their partners, their symbols, their colors.
• Pokemon
  • Can identify at least 400 Pokemon

On and off the clock research and studying may be necessary to cultivate the ideal level of understanding we require.
This information can be learned quickly but you must be willing to do that learning in order to succeed and thrive in this role, before your first convention.
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Are you passionate about anime and pop culture? Do you thrive in the high-energy, vibrant atmosphere of a convention? This isn't your typical retail job, and a rare chance to work in the Anime Industry. We are a traveling vendor of boutique, high-quality anime merchandise, and we're looking for dedicated team members to become the face of our brand.
We're not just selling products; we're building a community and creating an exceptional experience for everyone who visits our booth, from the casual fan to the most discerning collector. We are seeking passionate peers to join our convention road team for 1-2 weeks a month. As this is a full time position, the other days are spent in the warehouse and mall store helping to prep for the weekends. 
The Mission: A Weekend in the Life
This role is a unique blend of physical endurance, salesmanship, and product knowledge of the fandoms we focus on. You will be part of a tight-knit team averaging 3-6 people responsible for the entire convention operation from start to finish. Here’s a transparent look at what that means:

• The Road Trip: It starts with a road trip. You must have a valid driver's license and be comfortable and confident driving a large van for extended periods. We vend from Seattle, to New York, to Orlando, and everywhere in between.
• The Build: Once we arrive, the real work begins. We transform an empty space into a must-see destination. This involves unpacking the van, moving merchandise, and physically building our entire booth setup. It’s a fast-paced, coordinated effort.
• The Main Event: For 8-12 hours a day, you are "on." You'll be engaging with customers and sharing your knowledge of our product lines to generate sales. This requires sustained energy, a positive attitude, and the ability to connect with a diverse range of personalities, including those who may be socially awkward.
• The Teardown: When the convention ends, we do it all in reverse. The booth is carefully packed up, loaded back into the van, and then we hit the road the next day.
• Team Autonomy: During the convention weekend, the team operates as a self-sufficient unit. You are responsible for managing your own time, energy, and personal needs to ensure you can perform at your best.
  
  

Who We're Looking For: The Ideal Candidate
We need more than just a salesperson. We need a dedicated, communicative, and driven team member who sees the long-term potential in this role. We want this to be a career, not just a job. 
Core Requirements (What Defines Success Here):

• A Strong Sales Drive: You must have a goal-oriented mindset and a desire to generate sales. Your motivation will come from achieving sales targets by becoming a master of our product lines, not through aggressive tactics.
• Commitment to Understanding: You must have a powerful desire to learn. You do not need to be an anime expert on day one , but a fervent willingness to dedicate efforts to studying and becoming proficient in our product lines is mandatory.
• Road Warrior: You possess a valid driver’s license and are comfortable driving large vehicles.
• Physical Stamina: This is a physically demanding job. You must be able to lift, bend, squat, climb ladders, be on your feet for 10+ hours, and maintain high energy levels throughout the weekend.
• Unwavering Composure: You can remain calm, positive, and professional during periods of stress and tension. Team harmony is essential. You will be working in a close team environment, from the moment you leave the warehouse until the moment you get back.
• Radical Self-Reliance: You are self-motivated, can plan ahead, and take responsibility for your tasks and well-being without constant supervision. Managing your responsibilities in a time-sensitive manner is critical.

Bonus Points if you:

• Are already a fan: You have a genuine passion for and deep knowledge of anime and pop culture. You can speak authentically about our merchandise because you understand its value to a collector. We focus heavily on Pokemon, Digimon, Sailor Moon, Madoka Magica and CLAMP/Cardcaptor Sakura. We also highlight and feature other series as our product lines evolve, such as Utena, Mermaid Melody, Rozen Maiden, and Shugo Chara.
• Have experience in social media: You have created and designed engaging content that collectors are interested in interacting with.

Key Traits That Will Make You Shine:

• Effortless Charisma: You find it easy to talk to anyone and everyone. Your upbeat attitude is infectious and can be sustained for long periods.
• Critical Thinker: You don't just identify problems; you proactively find solutions. You're adaptable and can think on your feet in a chaotic environment.
• Forward-Thinking: You see the bigger picture and are always thinking about how to make our process safer, faster, and more efficient.
• Responsible: Utilizing your intuition, experience and thinking skills in conjunction with your communication skills to ensure solutions meet expectations.
• Existing knowledge of anime, manga, and pop culture is immensely helpful and will give you a significant head start.

Beyond the Booth: The Opportunity for Growth
This is more than a weekend gig. We are looking for individuals who want to grow with us. Your role is a critical feedback loop to ownership, and proactive communication is essential. We rely on your on-the-ground insights to make strategic decisions. You will be expected to report on:

• How to improve the team's efficiency.
• What merchandise attendees are asking for.
• Potential gaps in the market you observe in the vendor hall.
• Actionable ideas for improving our processes and presentation.

Your voice directly contributes to our evolution and success, and you will work directly with ownership to help streamline the entire operation.
Compensation & Perks

• Starting pay is $22/hour , or $45,760/yearly salary. 
• Significant room for growth in pay and responsibility based on your performance, skillset refinement, and ability to contribute to the company's evolution.
• Our experienced Animaestros take home an average of $52,000/year, and some upwards of $62,400/year. 
• Travel to exciting conventions and be at the heart of the anime and pop-culture community.
• Work with a passionate team that shares your interests.

Ready to join the adventure?
If you read this and thought, "This is the challenge I've been looking for," we want to hear from you.

To apply, please send us your resume and a cover letter. In your cover letter, tell us about how your skill sets, experience, and desires align with the needs of this position. Tell us about the time you had to quickly learn a new, complex subject to succeed in a role, and describe how you can help make a convention booth truly stand out. Failure to send in a cover letter will severely impact our desire to reach out. Also, we’ve reached out to folks who had AI send in their resume and had no idea what kind of business we were, so we really want to know when YOU want to be here. And it helps us to know who’s read this far. XP