Sales Associate - PT

About the role

The Sales Associate supports Eastern State’s Sales operations by providing excellent customer service, facilitating smooth transactions, and ensuring the store is clean, organized, and well-stocked. This role helps deliver a high-quality visitor experience by connecting guests with merchandise that reflects Eastern State’s history, mission, and brand. The ideal candidate possesses strong interpersonal skills and a genuine enthusiasm for Eastern State’s mission and educational offerings. This is a public-facing role that requires reliability, attention to detail, and a strong sense of teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the store throughout each shift.
• Restock shelves and displays; alert manager of low stock or needed supplies.
• Assist with opening and closing duties, including setting up registers and securing merchandise.
• Monitor and handle inventory with care and accuracy.
• Operate point-of-sale system to process purchases, returns, and exchanges, including handling various payment methods such as cash, credit/debit cards, gift cards, and staff and member discounts. This includes scanning items, ensuring correct pricing, and correctly applying sales, coupons, and refunds/exchanges according to store policy.
• Upsell or suggest relevant items to enhance the guest experience.
• Collaborate with fellow staff to ensure a supportive work environment and smooth daily operations.
• Follow safety procedures for guests and staff, including emergency protocols.
• Maintain awareness of loss prevention procedures and report concerns promptly.
• Maintain awareness of the product connection to Eastern State’s mission.
• Sell tickets, scan tickets, and resolve ticketing issues in a fast-paced environment while maintaining quality customer service. This may include handling and resolving issues for tickets sold through online travel agencies and other third-party ticket resellers, as well as tickets with complex tiered pricing structures.
• Manage the sale of admission tickets, which may involve using a separate ticketing software, understanding tiered pricing (general admission, student, senior, etc.), and promoting membership upgrades or add-ons.
• Maintain a balanced cash drawer, accurately provide change, and report any discrepancies.
• Address all customer inquiries related to transactions, tickets, returns, and exchanges professionally and courteously, ensuring a seamless and positive experience that reflects positively on Eastern State.

Requirements

• At least 1 year of customer service or Sales experience preferred.
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong verbal communication is necessary for clearly explaining merchandise features, membership benefits, ticket options, and store policies to a diverse audience.
• Strong customer service skills mandatory. The ability to greet visitors warmly, engage in positive interactions, and resolve complaints or issues professionally and patiently.
• Comfortable using POS systems and basic technology. Familiarity with Counterpoint, Ticketure, and BigCommerce are a plus.
• Demonstrated accuracy and accountability when handling cash, processing credit/debit transactions, managing receipts, and operating an inventory management system and a specialized ticketing system.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulousness in counting inventory, performing cash reconciliation, and ensuring that all sales and ticketing records are accurate.
• Reliability and Teamwork: Dependability in adhering to schedules (especially for weekend/holiday hours) and a willingness to collaborate with other staff.
• Availability on weekends and holidays is required.
• Interest in history, museums, criminal justice, justice reform, education, or Eastern State’s mission is a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to traverse from post to post within the 10-acre site.
• Frequent bending, stooping, and reaching overhead or below the waist to retrieve, organize, and restock merchandise on shelves, racks, and display fixtures.
• Sufficient manual dexterity to accurately handle cash, process credit cards, operate the POS system, and neatly wrap merchandise or gift-wrap purchases.
• Ability to work in outdoor environments, including in the elements and in indoor or covered spaces where temperatures may vary.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.