Stocker Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

POSITION DESCRIPTION: The stockers primary functions are checking in merchandise, and stocking the shelves, peg hooks or displays. The stocker is also responsible for assisting customers, making deliveries, carrying out merchandise for customers, providing in-store repair services and other services such as pipe cutting, glass cutting, key duplicating, etc., housekeeping of store, and other related duties as assigned. Additional duties include loading and unloading delivery trucks and keeping receiving and check-in areas neat, clean and orderly. The stocker must perform all assigned tasks with sufficient speed and accuracy to avoid adverse impact upon the level of service to customers and to avoid placing a disproportionate burden on other team members with similar tasks. The stocker reports to the Receiving Supervisor, Store Manager or Assistant Manager.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Must communicate verbally with customers, management, employees, and delivery personnel in person and by telephone.
2. Must visually verify contents of shipments.
3. Must read and comprehend written and printed materials.
4. Must use basic arithmetic skills to verify orders, invoices, shipping and packing documents.
5. Must safely and legally operate loading, unloading, and transfer equipment such as forklifts, pallet jacks, lumber carts, 2-wheel hand trucks, 4-wheel carts, etc. Must safely operate yard equipment tools, such as the radial arm saw, panel saw, banding machine, etc.
6. Must be able to safely move merchandise weighing up to 100 lbs. from receiving area to its proper place on display inside the store or other store property. Must be able to safely move merchandise weighing up to 100 lbs. to a customer's vehicle, to a delivery vehicle, or from the delivery vehicle to the customer's property.
7. If the stocker is to be authorized to make deliveries, he/she must maintain a valid drivers license, a safe driving record, and must lawfully operate all company vehicles used to make deliveries.
8. Must be alert to all indoor and yard activities to assist customers and help in loss control, yard safety and security measures.

JOB TASKS:

1. ASSISTING CUSTOMERS: Customers are the most important part of our business, for without them we would have no business! Greet all customers you see, be familiar with the location of products, and escort them to the merchandise they need. Be ready and able to suggest any additional merchandise necessary to complete their project. If the customer is looking for something you are not familiar with, radio for a knowledgeable team member to assist you.
2. UNLOADING DELIVERIES: Our store receives multiple deliveries from various suppliers during the week, along with weekly orders from the ACE Retail Support Center (RSC). These deliveries must be unloaded both quickly and carefully. The person(s) unloading must check that the merchandise is indeed for our store by checking for our store name, address, and store number on all cartons and pieces. A careful count must be taken to be sure that we receive the same amount of pieces that the freight bill says we should receive. The person signing for and accepting the delivery should never assume the correct number of pieces was delivered. This can cause costly errors. If necessary, recount the items. Also, note any damage on the freight bill or appropriate form.
3. CHECKING IN ORDERS: Occasionally the stocker may be asked to check in a new order of merchandise. The stocker will be trained in the proper procedure for completing this task. A manager must be advised of any shortages, overages, damaged goods, back orders, etc., pertaining to the order received.
4. DELIVERIES AND PICKUPS: Deliveries are usually done twice weekly. The Receiving Supervisor or manager will give you a delivery slip for each delivery you are to make that day and a suggested route to follow for your deliveries. You are responsible for accurately and carefully loading and unloading the truck. Deliveries are to be made to the front of residences only, unless requested otherwise by the manager. You may also be required to pick up items from suppliers. You will be instructed on what you are to pick up and you must verify the contents of the packing slip. You may be required by the supplier to sign the packing slip. Packing slips received from vendors must be turned over to the Receiving Supervisor for manager for processing. The stocker must maintain a valid drivers license, a safe driving record and must lawfully operate all company vehicles used to make deliveries or pick-ups.
5. USE OF SKU STICKERS: Any merchandise without a manufacturer UPC sticker may be required to be tagged with a SKU sticker. (SKU stands for "Stock Keeping Unit.") There are two types of SKU stickers: 1.) computer stickers we generate on the computer printer and 2.) stickers we print from the hand-held pricing guns. All stickers must be attached to the merchandise in a sensible spot and not cover up any important product information on the package. Keep all SKU sticker materials and pricing guns out of reach of customers.
6. STOCKING MERCHANDISE: Once an order is checked in, it will then be stocked on the shelf or pegboard hook. It will be the stocker's job to do much of the stocking. Once again, this job is very important to our business. New stock is always placed behind the older stock so the older merchandise is sold first. We refer to this as "rotating the stock." If you are not sure where merchandise you are stocking belongs, locate a bin tag with the matching mfg. #. If you cannot locate a bin tag for the item, never guess as to where to put the merchandise. Look up the SKU# in the computer to find the location of the item. Merchandise new to our store must have a bin tag printed before it is placed into stock. See the dept. manager or store managers for instructions on how to handle this merchandise. Merchandise without a bin tag should NEVER be placed into stock for sale. Take all possible safety precautions to avoid accidents, injuries, and damage when moving and stocking merchandise.
7. CARRY-OUTS FOR CUSTOMERS: It is the stockers job to do the majority of carry-outs for customers. The cashier will page over the radio for the need for a carry-out. Perform the carry-out promptly. Never assist a customer in tying down merchandise to their vehicle when you believe the situation is unsafe for making it safely home. Call a manager to assist you. Be careful when loading merchandise into the customer's car to avoid damaging their property and putting the store in a liability situation. While loading items such as paint or caustic chemicals, put the items in a heavy cardboard box to keep the container from shifting during transport and/or causing damage. Never accept monetary tips from customers after helping them with a carry-out.
8. ANSWERING PRICE CHECK CALLS: The stocker is expected to join with all other team members to assist cashiers with price and SKU checks on all merchandise. The stocker should be familiar with the general location of all merchandise and be able to assist in the locating of proper SKU's for merchandise the cashier needs assistance with. The stocker responds quickly and courteously to these calls and obtains the information for the cashier promptly.
9. CUTTING GOODS TO ORDER: A number of items at our store can be cut to size for the customer. Some items are cut free of charge and some involve a cutting charge. The correct procedure to measure and cut each of these items will be demonstrated by a manager or authorized trainer before you will be allowed to perform this service on your own. Any questions regarding these correct procedures should be asked prior to cutting the merchandise to avoid costly errors
10. ANSWERING THE TELEPHONE: The stocker is expected to answer telephone pages for assistance in all departments, whether or not they are currently working in that area. Proper telephone answering skills provide excellent customer service. Consider satisfying the caller's needs to be your responsibility until it is accomplished or until you have delegated the responsibility to someone qualified to respond on the basis of higher authority and/or appropriate expertise.
11. DUPLICATING KEYS: Instruction will be given on how to correctly copy a key. Quality and accuracy are important to insure that the key will work the first time and that the customer will not have to return to the store to have a key re-cut. Questions on which key blank to use should be directed to a manager or experienced team member. Safety glasses or eyeglasses must be worn when cutting keys. Store use safety glasses are available at the key machine.
12. WINDOW SCREEN SERVICE: As a stocker you may be instructed on how to build or repair window screens. We do not generally do these repairs while the customer waits. Complete instructions will be given regarding filling out the repair order, obtaining payment from the customer, and calling the customer when the order is ready to be picked up.
13. BEING FAMILIAR WITH SALES PROMOTIONS: All employees at ACE Hardware should be familiar with any sale event going on at a given time. The stocker should know where each item can be found and the starting and ending dates of the sale event. He/she should also be aware of sale items that are out of stock or limits on quantities of certain items. The stocker should be aware of displays of sale items that need to be restocked. This should be done soon after the new merchandise is received. This avoids empty or sparse looking displays and avoids the need to "rain check" sale merchandise to a customer when the merchandise really is in stock!
14. WATCHING FOR POTENTIAL SHOPLIFTERS: It is a duty of all employees to watch for shoplifters. The stocker should be aware of all persons in the store. The cashiers or customer coordinator may direct floor personnel to unattended customers or persons who are acting suspiciously. Employees should be familiar with our store policies regarding shoplifting.
15. ASSEMBLING MERCHANDISE: The stocker will be required to assemble merchandise for display in our store. All assembling should be done quickly and accurately. All assembled merchandise should be appropriately tagged to show description, SKU and price. Any questions should be directed to a department manager or store manager to assure that the merchandise is properly assembled and safe for customer use.
16. GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING OF STORE: Straightening and dusting merchandise on the shelves is another job for the stocker as well as all employees. There is ALWAYS straightening to do! Other areas of housekeeping are cleaning and straightening the glass/acrylic area, the pipe machine and the pipe racks. All customers appreciate a neatly kept store. Your interest in keeping the store clean and orderly is a reflection of your dedication to the continuing success of our store.
17. JANITORIAL DUTIES: The stocker will be called upon to perform a number of janitorial duties to include, but not limited to: cleaning the break room and restrooms, sweeping the store sales floor, sweeping sidewalks and porches and emptying all trash cans and cigarette urn.
18. RETRIEVAL OF CARTS: The stocker will be required, throughout the day, to check the parking lot for ACE carts and wagons. Quickly return these carts and wagons to their proper areas.
19. SIDEWALK DISPLAYS: Each morning the stocker may be required to wheel out lawn and garden equipment, etc., to be displayed in front of the store. Be sure to padlock these items once displayed. At closing, these items will be stored in the appropriate location for the night. Some locations also display plants and/or soil bagged goods on racks and pallets in front of the store. These items are also returned to their proper location for the night.

In addition to the Job Tasks described previously, the stocker will be required to perform any other duties as assigned by the receiving supervisor, assistant store manager, store manager, or owners.