0171 - Rochester NY - Store Sales Specialist

As a Store Sales Specialist at REI Co-op in Rochester, NY, your main responsibilities include assisting customers with their inquiries about products, memberships, and special ticket sales. You will maintain visual standards for the store, engage in REI Sales & Service Training, and help with store pick-up processes. Additionally, following REI's loss prevention and safety protocols is essential. Your role is pivotal in delivering our customer satisfaction guarantee and ensuring a welcoming shopping experience for all visitors.

To apply for the Store Sales Specialist position at REI Co-op, candidates ideally should have experience in retail, particularly in store sales. A friendly demeanor, strong communication skills, and the ability to build relationships are crucial for success in this role. Being open to feedback, using innovative thinking to solve problems, and engaging effectively with team members will also contribute greatly to achieving organizational goals. A genuine passion for the outdoors and REI products is a big plus!

Success as a Store Sales Specialist at REI Co-op comes from being genuinely passionate about the outdoors and eager to share that knowledge with others. Building relationships with customers and providing them with quality recommendations based on your understanding of REI products will go a long way. Staying organized, setting effective goals, and demonstrating strong problem-solving skills will help you thrive in this dynamic retail environment.

A typical day for a Store Sales Specialist at REI Co-op involves welcoming customers into the store, assisting them with inquiries about products and memberships, and ensuring that the store is visually appealing. You will also engage in training, keep the merchandise organized on the sales floor, and participate in stock management for store pick-ups. Helping deliver exceptional customer service while working collaboratively with your team will be central to your daily activities.

REI Co-op offers a comprehensive range of benefits for Store Sales Specialists in Rochester, NY, including a generous employee discount on outdoor products, health benefits, retirement savings plans, and accrued time off. The company values work-life balance and fosters a culture of inclusion and diversity, aiming to support team members both professionally and personally.

When discussing your retail sales experience, focus on specific roles where you've engaged with customers, provided recommendations, or met sales goals. Share insights about your passion for outdoor activities and how it enhanced your ability to connect with customers at sporting goods or outdoor stores.

A strong approach is to listen carefully to the customer's inquiry, ask clarifying questions, and reassure them you will find the information they need. Let them know that providing accurate information is important to you. You can also offer to check with more experienced colleagues or look up the information promptly.

Share a specific example highlighting your customer service skills. Focus on the steps you took to understand the customer's needs and how your actions led to a positive outcome that strengthened the customer’s connection to the store or brand.

Express your admiration for REI's commitment to sustainability, community, and the outdoor lifestyle. Discuss your personal experiences with REI products or how the company's values resonate with your own, emphasizing your enthusiasm for helping others explore the great outdoors.

When prioritizing tasks during a busy shift, explain your strategy for balancing customer service with operational needs. Describe how you would assess immediate customer demands while also addressing merchandise organization and store upkeep accordingly.

Define exceptional customer service as going beyond just meeting customer needs by creating memorable experiences. Discuss your belief in actively engaging with customers, providing product knowledge, and ensuring they leave the store satisfied and eager to return.

Share your strategies for staying informed, such as following industry news, exploring outdoor blogs, participating in community events, or even your own outdoor experiences. Emphasize how this knowledge translates into valuable customer interactions and recommendations.

Discuss a specific team project where you collaborated with colleagues to accomplish a task or initiative. Highlight your role and contributions, emphasizing effective communication, problem-solving, and how the team's collective efforts led to success.

Approach this question by expressing openness to feedback. Share an example where you've received constructive criticism, how you processed it, and the steps you took to improve based on that feedback, showing your willingness to grow professionally.

Talk about your approach to understanding a customer's needs by asking open-ended questions. Then, illustrate how you would match those needs with specific products based on your knowledge, along with demonstrating the features and benefits of the recommended items.