Sales Associate Duties

The volume of sales generated by a store is directly proportional to the level of service that is provided to the customer. Good customer service should be the corner stone for any business since the saying, 'customer is king', is indeed true.

What are the Duties of a Sales Associate?
Ideally, customers should be greeted on entering a store so that they feel welcome to shop. Although, this doesn't seem like a tall order, many a time businesses ignore this important aspect of customer service. In fact, extending a warm and sincere greeting is an important part of sales associate duties and responsibilities. A cordial and heartfelt greeting can have a lasting impression on a customer who may very well prefer shopping in a store on account of superior customer service.

A sales associate needs to be aware of the inventory that is available in the store. Unless one is aware of the available merchandise, one cannot hope to guide customers about the range of products that are available in the store. Assisting in processing and replenishing merchandise and monitoring floor-stock can be especially useful in maintaining knowledge about the available inventory. Hence, this has been included as a part of retail sales associate's job description. Associates also need to be comfortable with display maintenance and housekeeping. This is because these activities will acquaint them with the shop floor, thereby equipping them to aid the customer in locating merchandise.

Associates need to be aware of the changes in price that are bound to occur from time to time. Being aware of the current price and recent promotional offers will help them perform their job effectively. Ringing up sales at registers, bagging merchandise and participating in year-end inventory and cycle counts is also a part of their job.

Sales Associate Skills
The above discussion makes it evident that sales associates have a number of responsibilities that have to be discharged to the best of their ability. The effective discharge of duties of a retail sales associate requires the associate to have superior communication skills. Communication skills are necessary from the perspective of being able to interact with the customer and ensuring that the customer's requests are clearly relayed to the management. The associate also needs to be able to communicate well with other associates.

A sales associate needs to be skilled at operating whatever equipment is necessary from the perspective of demonstrating the working of the equipment to the customer. An associate, who is skilled at handling various tasks and preparing the necessary documentation, is a definite asset to any company. Basic idea regarding sales management, sales training and employee training is also desirable since these skills will come in handy once a sales associate advances in his/her line of work.

A vast majority of businesses seem to believe that the economic recession is over. Job prospects for sales associates and sales associate duties and responsibilities are bound to assume importance, once the number of retail stores increase and the economy is in full swing. A conscientious sales associate can eventually become a store manager provided he/she is capable and has the perseverance to endeavor.