The Store Associate is responsible for fulling the needs of J. Lorber Company customers to include (once trained) providing strong customer service in the counter/inside sales responsibilities. He or she is responsible to work cooperatively with the Store manager and other members of the team to reach the store operations and profit goals. This position participates in receiving, warehousing, picking and shipping activities and will assist customers in the loading of their truck and making deliveries to customers as authorized and assigned.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Core duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Responsible for actively servicing all needs of customers including sales order processing, returns/ defective material processing, product/transfer procurement and providing technical informational and printed material. Reviews/updates applicable reports and queues and completes as well as follows up on assigned tasks accurately and timely. Handles all customers in a friendly professional manner and with diplomacy and tact. 
• Answer phones directed to the Store to support ongoing, timely and efficient customer service 
• Determine customer requirements and expectations in order to recommend specific products and solutions 
• Recommend alternate products based on cost, availability or specifications 
• Educate customers about features and benefits of products in order to improve related sales and customer satisfaction 
• Participates (as directed by the Store Manager or Assistant Store Manager) in all activities related to the physical handling of inventory, including receiving, stocking picking and shipping. 
• Accurately processes customers’ transactions such as orders, quotes and returns. Adheres to all company policies & procedures, while achieving company sales margins and quotas. Participates in store sales growth and operational initiatives as directed by Store Manager. 
• Communicates regularly and timely with customers providing accurate information regarding availability of in-stock items and procured non-stock items. 
• When requested, coordinates the prompt transfer of inventory from one store to another and determines the transfer priority and arranges accordingly for shipping. 
• Participates in the preparation for and taking of store audits and physical inventories. 
• Helps ensure that counter, self-serve, warehouse and delivery areas are kept clean, neat and safe. 
• Gives input to the Store Manager or Assistant Store Manager in the development of improved operational functions within the requirements of company policies and procedures. 
• Accurately loads and unloads trucks, to maintain inventory accuracy and a high level of customer care. Inspects product for damage and/or defects and processes return goods per vendors’ SOP. 
• Participates in company directed training and follows all company policies and procedures. Helps to ensure the Store is operated ethically and to maintain a positive reputation in the community. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

• Education: High School or GED
• Experience: Minimum of 1+year in wholesale distribution experience preferred, selling and customer service experience in a wholesale or retail environment
• Good keyboard input and look-up skills needed. ERP or Eclipse experience preferred 
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with other employees, customers and vendors.
• Ability to multi-task, manage time effectively and adapt quickly to changing priorities

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This position is physical and requires the ability to stand for up to eight hours. Ability to bend, reach and lift up to 50 lbs and to move up to 100 lbs of product onto and off of skids at ground level. Operate a pallet jack with weights up to 300lbs. Ability to climb up into a truck cabin and on and off of a truck bed, as well as move skids with the aid of a pallet jack.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed indoors in a counter, self-service facility with a store warehouse and outside storage. Employee will be exposed to the elements when making deliveries or when handling product stored outside the building. 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee is frequently exposed to vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions (non-weather); working near moving mechanical parts; outdoor weather conditions; extreme cold (non-weather) and extreme heat (non-weather).

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to very loud.