Sales Assistant

Contract type: Part time, permanent

Working hours: 21 hours per week over 3 days. Flexibility to work 3 shifts between Monday to Sunday 9am to 5.30pm is required.

Location: Vision Ireland Retail Store Kilkenny

Candidates must be eligible to work in ROI.

Job Summary

Would you like to work with one of Ireland's leading Charity Retailers that makes a real difference in your local community? Our extensive Retail Operation of 130+ nationwide Stores provide support and critical funds to meet the essential services of the nearly 300,000 sight loss client users across the island of Ireland.

We are actively seeking a Sales Assistant with strong communication skills who can make customers feel welcome in our store by providing excellent customer service and meet in-store financial sales targets. You will help identify client needs, present and answer questions about our products and services and recommend solutions. A positive attitude and a desire to promptly resolve customer issues to ensure customers leave our store satisfied and ultimately contribute to the store's profitability.

The ideal applicant will love to work with a diverse team, have a passion for retail, selling and supporting those around you. The success of the store is based on becoming a part of the local community and its ability to build excellent relationships with the in-store team, its local surrounding area and network of stores.

If you have experience ideally in a retail sales focused role, can clearly demonstrate a strong customer orientation style and deliver excellent store standards, then this may be the perfect career path for you.

Main duties:

1. Meet, greet and direct customers, in a positive and welcoming manner with particular emphasis on excellent customer service.
2. Answer customer queries by providing accurate information in relation to product features, pricing and after sales services.
3. Deputise in the absence of the Store Manager to ensure smooth operational efficiency in relation to opening times, staff coverage, shop accounting, cash handling and inventory management.
4. Support the window displays to be attractive and changed weekly in keeping with in-store themes and promotional initiatives.
5. Ensure that the shop is kept clean, tidy and maintains a professional appearance at all times during trading.
6. Ensure that all goods offered for sale are of top quality (no broken zips, bobbled clothing etc.) ensuring proper presentation and merchandising, including security, washing, pricing, ticketing and stock rotation.
7. Monitor and restrict pilferage of merchandise from the point of arrival in store until sold or recycled.
8. Be familiar with in-store health and safety and undertake responsibilities relating to items such as fire extinguishers, first aid, emergency procedures and manual handling.
9. Assist the Shop Manager or Area Manager with any difficulties that may be experienced by volunteers and scheme workers.
10. Fully acquaint yourself with the in-store health and safety protocol, policies and procedures that relate to company operational matters.
11. Engage with all statutory in-house training and attend meetings and company events where appropriate.
12. Any other reasonable duties that may be requested by the Shop Manager and/or Area Manager.

Benefits of working with Vision Ireland :

• Ample opportunities for career progression across a large nationwide network of retail stores.
• Competitive salary and annual leave.
• Educational sponsorship assistance and support.
• Employee Assistant Programme.
• Companywide learning and development opportunities.

Essential skills & experience:

• Prior customer service experience.
• Customer focused with a passion for sales.
• Self-motivated and trustworthy.
• Creativity and innovation.
• Time management and organisational skills.
• Flexible approach to working hours to meet the needs of the business.

Desirable:

Prior fashion-based retail experience.

Vision Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.

Accessibility, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Vision Ireland is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated, and everyone is afforded equality of opportunity. It is our policy to recognise people as a key resource required for successful attainment of the organisation's mission. In support of this, it is important to remember that differences between people, whether devised from their different backgrounds and personalities, cultures and/or their different abilities, can be a source of strength to the organisation.

We welcome, encourage, and embrace people of all backgrounds, to include those with disabilities, accessibility plays a huge part of ensuring that the needs of all our employees and service users can access our systems and services, with ease and respect, in a supportive environment, enabling all to effectively engage our services and achieve our goals whether they are an applicant for employment or an employee requiring special facilitation.

Additional information:

Our website:

Retail Services:

Vision Ireland Services:

Vision Ireland Strategy 2021-23:

Skills:
stock rotation, store display, customer service, cash handling