Retail Store Associate Jobs in Mississippi (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Store Associate                                         Reviewed: 05/2022

Department: Retail                                                   Reports To: Assistant Manager 

Status: Non-exempt

Working for Goodwill of South Mississippi is more than just working for a non-profit. Beyond being part of an organization that offers free job training and education to the community, you'll find working for us has its benefits for you too! We offer a comprehensive health plan (medical, dental, and prescriptions), dental and life insurance, available supplemental life, accident, illness, and disability coverage, 403(b) Retirement Savings program, paid time off, employee discounts, for all retail team members. 

Position Description: 

Under the supervision of the Store Manager and/or Assistant Manager, responsible for delivering exceptional customer service, processing transactions and merchandising, and stocking the sales floor.  Interact with and assist customers with merchandise selection, suggestion selling, and cashiering in a courteous and professional manner. Responsible for the daily processing of store donations, and moving product from the backroom to the sales floor, while maintaining a hazard-free work area. They sort salable from salvage material and prepare merchandise for sale, sustaining production plant and retail operations. Must exemplify a culture of PRIDE (Passion, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence) at all times.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Customer & Community – Collaborates with customers to understand and deliver customers’ needs & expectations.

• Communicate Goodwill’s Mission and Focus. 
• Provide exceptional customer service throughout the store. Build and maintain internal and external customer satisfaction.
• Assist customers with merchandise selection, including suggestion selling.
• Proactively acknowledge, greet and help customers in any area of the store.
• Inform guests of the best deals of the day, the color of the week, etc.
• Assist driver with loading and unloading trucks of donated goods.
• Assist donors with unloading donations and loading sold goods.
• Ask the donor if they would like a receipt and provide a donation receipt when requested.
• Collect donor information and enter into the system for tracking. 
• Provide a positive experience to our donors, even when turning down donations that are not accepted. 

1. Operational Excellence – Implements strategies to maximize profit by processing donations and merchandising the sales floor.

• Utilize the donation tracking system to acknowledge each donation accurately. 
• Effectively separate incoming donations by category (i.e., glass, wares, shoes, etc.) in a safe and organized manner according to company standards when unloading trucks.
• Remove salvage material and garbage from salable goods.
• Evaluate and determine product value.
• Prepare salable goods for the retail store.
• Maintain production tallies and meet all production goals.
• Maintain adequate merchandise in the retail store.
• Identify goods for special sales and Edgewater Village store. 
• Process and remove unsold items as appropriate.
• Examine, sort, and price electrical equipment, small wares, and soft goods and prepare them for display on the sales floor.
• Places garments, housewares, etc. on proper floor racks and shelves and restocks as necessary.

1. Point of Sale – Implements strategies to maximize profit by processing transactions.

• Provide exceptional customer service.
• Ensure all merchandise is accurately priced and sold.
• Take appropriate measures to safeguard funds and merchandise.
• Participate fully in current promotions, such as sales and round-up.
• Collect and enter customer information in the POS system.   
• Handle cash, checks, and credit card transactions, closing out cash drawer and balancing all POS transactions.

1. Sales floor – Merchandize and stock the sales floor.

• Merchandize the sales floor.
• Merchandise, restock, and provide general floor maintenance where needed.
• Stock the sales floor with merchandise from the backroom.

1. Team Goodwill – Promotes a culture that embraces growth & development to meet the needs of our team.

• Must adhere to and demonstrate the core values of Passion, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence (PRIDE) at all times. 
• Support your team.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
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1. Safety and Security Compliance

• Comply with all health, safety, and fire standards and all local, state, and federal regulations.
• Follow all policies, procedures, and directives of Goodwill Industries assuring the safety of personnel or property.
• Properly wear and maintain all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Pushing or pulling containers weighing up to 30-40lbs. or up to 100lbs. utilizing a team lift. 
• Safeguard company property, including donated goods. Report any incident of theft, fraud, waste, or unauthorized possession of company property.
• Demonstrate safe work practices through awareness and observation in support of a safety culture; report any potential hazards or accidents.
• Always maintain a clean and organized work environment.
  1. Ensure a clean and empty workstation at the end of the shift.
  2. Dispose of trash and damaged merchandise.
  3. Breaks down cardboard boxes and recycles them.
  4. Keep aisles free from debris in the production and sales floor area.

1. Additional Information

• Assists customers with general information.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Specific goals and expectations will be provided by management.
• Requires punctual and regular attendance. Time away from work is approved and taken in accordance with established policies.

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Skills):

• Must be at least 18 years of age or older.
• Must be able to work flexible schedules, including weekends and holidays. 
• Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent is preferred.
• Must be able to interact cordially with a diverse group of individuals.
• Able to communicate and understand instructions, both verbal and written, in English.
• Able to market Goodwill and explain the mission to the general public.
• Able to meet production goals.
• Able to lift and carry objects weighing 50 lbs or up to 100lbs utilizing a team lift. 
• Able to engage in prolonged standing and walking.
• Able to perform frequent bending, stooping and stretching.

Other Physical Requirements: 

• Vision (Near, Distance, Depth Perception)
• Sense of Sound (Ability to hear conversations) 
• Sense of Touch