Creative Design Associate Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Comfort starts with our 10,000+ team members across the globe, who are transforming the power of comfort every day. Our employees have the power to change lives, in our homes, work and communities. We foster an inclusive environment while honoring a legacy built on family, where everyone can be themselves.
 
If you are ready to join an industry leading organization where our people are the most important asset, and innovation propels us into the future, you’re ready to take your seat at La-Z-Boy Incorporated. 
 
WE BELIEVE IN THE TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER OF COMFORT!

Love Home Décor, Furniture, and Helping People Create Beautiful Spaces? Join Our Team!
We’re looking for a creative and enthusiastic Entry-Level Interior Design Associate to help customers bring their design ideas to life. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who has an eye for style, enjoys working with people, and wants to grow in the furniture and home furnishings industry.
What You’ll Do:
✨ Assist customers in selecting furniture, décor, and accessories for their homes
✨ Create room layouts and design suggestions based on customer needs and lifestyles
✨ Stay up to date on furniture trends, fabrics, colors, and design styles
✨ Work closely with the sales team to provide exceptional customer experiences
✨ Support special design projects and in-store events
What We’re Looking For:
✨ Passion for furniture, home décor, and interior design
✨ Strong communication and customer service skills
✨ Creative eye for color, scale, and space planning
✨ Ability to learn product features and design principles
✨ Experience with design software is a plus but not required
✨ Design, retail, or customer service experience is helpful but not necessary
Why You’ll Love It Here:
✨ Paid training
✨ Opportunity to build your design skills and portfolio
✨ Creative, team-oriented work environment
✨ Employee discounts on furniture and home décor
✨ Career growth opportunities within our company
Training Pay: $16 per hour for 2-6 weeks (no commissions; base rate varies by location)
Average Annual Earning Potential After Training: $45,000 - $65,000+ (inclusive of base, bonus, and commission)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (other duties as assigned):

Drives Sales

• Contribute to store sales goals by selling furniture, accessories and services offered by La‐Z‐Boy
• Promote the Design program & assist the Designer to achieve established Design program sales goals
• Consistently execute the La‐Z‐Boy selling process and strive to provide a favorable experience to all customers.
• Develop and utilize sales skills and principals including approach, rapport building, needs discovery, customized portfolio presentations, answering objections, closing, follow‐up, after sale service and continuing contact with all previous and potential customers
• Maximize store promotions, marketing initiatives, and grassroots programs
• Maintain strong knowledge of the features and benefits of existing and new product lines

Design Program

• Schedule professional home consultations to present customized room designs, including sample fabrics, furniture, tables and accessory recommendations as well as the benefits of a professional installation service.
• Execute and champion the Design process following the established company guidelines
• Responsible for supporting design related functions in the store

Customer Focus

• Provide the highest level of customer service to all current and future customers
• Ensure that each La‐Z‐Boy customer has an informative and positive experience by using good customer service skills and knowledge of products, while following the company selling process
• Effectively use Podium to ensure customer satisfaction and future follow‐up
• Make sound business decisions to deliver customer satisfaction and promote team environment
• Provide support by being responsive to incoming phone calls and emails
• Assist in handling customer issues and/or complaints. Provide appropriate solutions and alternatives to the customer to achieve a satisfied experience

People

• Maintain a positive working relationship with all store employees
• Assist to train, coach and develop new peers on La‐Z‐Boy product knowledge and selling process/skills to achieve store sales goals
• Help promote and champion a culture of sales and service

Operational Excellence

• Assist with maintenance of the overall visual appearance of store, this includes but is not limited to maintaining floor and/or showroom displays, tagging products and accessories, maintaining accessory catalogs and design center fabrics, supporting floor moves, and maintaining general store cleanliness
• Accurately complete order information, collect deposits and fees, keep orderly customer records, and research customer payments and deliveries
• Responsible for accurately completing daily On‐Point system logs
• Show a sense of urgency, enthusiasm and excitement with the store team and customers
• Maintain adequate knowledge of company standards, product knowledge and internal processes and systems
• Consistently schedule deliveries with customers
• Responsible for opening and closing of the store

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Previous selling experience and ability to close a sale strongly preferred
• Excellent communication, customer service skills, and organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively communicate, build rapport, and positively influence
• Demonstrated persuasion and negotiation skills
• Ability to effectively manage time and conflicting priorities
• Ability to effectively and productively with others as a team
• Ability to work the schedule and hours dictated by business needs
• Ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays as required
• Initiative to meet assigned goals, missions and objectives and motivated to achieve more
• Strong attention to detail
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Ability to lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Nearly continuous use of repetitive hand motions, hearing and listening.
• Often required to sit, walk, bend and stoop
• Subject to inside environmental conditions
• Ability to pass background and drug screen.

OTHER DUTIES:  Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the incumbent for this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

At La-Z-Boy, we prioritize clear communication and reward outstanding talent! We invite you to explore the exciting opportunities available. To help you make an informed decision, we’re sharing key information about our pay practices.

What You Can Expect:

• Training Pay: $16 per hour for 2-6 weeks (no commission)
• Average Annual Earning Potential After Training: $45,000 - $65,000+ (inclusive of base, bonus, and commission
• The company will not pay less than state/local minimum wage requirements

Post-Training Pay:

• Base Pay: $13 per hour (varies by store location)
• Commission & Bonus: Earn more with UNCAPPED commission on written sales - 3% on La-Z-Boy Design Sales and 2% on other sales, other than La-Z-Boy Design Sales. Quarterly bonus opportunity of $1,500, based on your ability to meet defined individual sales goals.

Individual pay is based on various factors, including geographic location, personal performance and relevant qualifications, experience, and skills. By providing our salary ranges and compensation range details, we aim to foster understanding and confidence in our pay practices. Should the base rate plus the commissions earned during a performance period not be at or greater than location minimum wage requirements for the period, the company will make a minimum wage adjustment for the employee to be compliant with minimum wage for the location.

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Benefit offerings to employees and their families include: Medical, Vision, Dental and Basic Life Insurance, available 401k retirement plan with company match of up to 6%. Paid time off includes: 9-11 paid holidays each year, two weeks’ prorated vacation as a new hire and either personal time (non-exempt only) or state mandated sick time.

More information can be found via: https://learn.bswift.com/la-z-boy

If this role requires travel / driving in order to perform the key responsibilities outlined above, candidates must be able to meet the qualifications noted in the company’s Driver Management Program to be considered for the role.

At La-Z-Boy Incorporated, we're an equal opportunity employer. We understand that our employees’ diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and viewpoints add value to our ability to create and deliver the best possible service, quality products, and is of utmost importance as we work together to build comfort. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

We are committed to fostering an environment in which all employees feel valued, included, and empowered to do their best work and bring great ideas to the table. If you are a qualified individual that may need a change or adjustment to the application/interviewing/hiring process as a result of your disability, you may request a reasonable accommodations by emailing our recruiting team at recruiting@la-z-boy.com or by calling 734-242-1444.