Home Furnishings Consultant/Sales Associate

As an AFW consultant, you will be advising and guiding customers and assisting in the selection of home furnishings and accessories for their homes. At AFW, we offer our customers a low pressure, professional shopping experience. As a Home Furnishings Consultant, you use basic selling skills to guide the customer through our showrooms selecting furniture and home decor products helping them create something fresh and new in their homes.  

At American Furniture Warehouse, we are looking for the best candidate that wants to be part of continuing our mission of providing our customers with the greatest values in Home Furnishings and accessories. The ultimate goal at AFW is to take care of our customers and for the customers to enjoy a pleasant shopping experience with knowledgeable Home Furnishings consultants ready willing to assist them. 

Starting pay of $16/hr during training period. Once training is complete, weekly pay is $15.01/hr along with commission pay structure and high earning potential. We offer competitive compensation, excellent benefits packages, and weekly pay to all of our Team Members.

What to expect as a consultant: 

• No Pressure Sales Environment 
• Honest Selling  
• Opportunity to make good money 
• We do not sell extended warranties, snake oil, etc. 
• We make it fun! 
• We offer pleasant shopping experiences 
• Best prices and best values anywhere 
• Our visual design teams stay on top of the latest trends & support you

Job Requirements 

• Willingness to learn about the industry, the products, and the customers 
• Maintain a professional appearance and follow the dress guidelines. 
• Attend daily meetings and required training.  
• Have a flexible schedule and work all shifts, which include weekends, evenings, and holidays. 
• Follow the guidelines set forth in the AFW Code of Conduct for Home Furnishings Consultants. 
• Assist in the maintaining of the showroom including daily cleaning, vacuuming, and tagging.  
• Adhere to the AFW asset protection policies in helping to identify and prevent fraud. 
• Coordinate and work effectively with multiple departments to continuously improve processes, maximize efficiency, and exceed customer service expectations.  
• Ability to learn and apply new technologies including tablets, iPads, and basic computer knowledge.  

Job Expectations 

• Demonstrate a customer-first mindset and be accessible to ensure every customer has a great shopping experience.  
• Connect with customers by asking open-ended questions to assess needs and make relevant merchandise suggestions. 
• Educate customers on our products, policies, and events.  
• Commitment to AFW's safety policies and procedures 
• Capable of walking the show floor to ensure customers are being assisted.  
• Speak knowledgeably and confidently to customers about styles, fit, fabrics, price, and trends in Home Furnishings. 
• Experienced in meeting high customer expectations. 
• Have a Do It Right the First-Time mentality. 
• Detail oriented with strong follow up and follow through skills. 
• Possess excellent time management abilities. 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.  
• Understand website navigation and point of sales systems to proactively leverage technology to facilitate the overall customer experience. 

Personal Competencies:  

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:  

• Analytical - Ability to analyze and assist in multiple selling scenarios.
• Mathematical Skills -Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  
• Reasoning Ability - Ability to problem solve and find viable customer solutions; acquires a strong knowledge base for all products we offer.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; contributes to building positive team spirit; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.  
• Business Acumen - Understand and excels in a retail sales industry dynamic; ability to follow guidelines and directives from Management.  
• Interpersonal Skills - Customer focused with good verbal and written communication skills. Needs the ability to work in one-on-one and team environments.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; supports AFW's goals and values.  
• Judgment - Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning of company policies includes appropriate people in decision-making process.  
• Problem Solving - Understands the selling process; ability to guide customers through processes and execute viable solutions. Attention to detail is a critical part of the overall process requiring high accuracy.  
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently.       
• Safety and Security - Observes and follows safety and security procedures and initiatives.  
• Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time. Must also have full availability for scheduling including evenings and weekends.    

Computer Skills:   

Ability to navigate multiple computer systems, type 35+ wpm, and develop proficiency with STORIS. Ability to regularly use computers for ordering, communication, documentation, and scheduling.

Certificates and Licenses:   

Certifications and licenses related to business are preferred.   

Education and Experience:  

Experience in retail or a sales-focused environment is preferred.  High School Diploma preferred. Two year Business or Design degree preferred.

Physical Demands:  

Requires the ability to maneuver in confined and at times congested areas.   

Requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, stoop, & bend for 8 plus hours a day.  

Requires constant use of arms, hands, fingers, eyes, legs, and back.   

American Furniture Warehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V. Working Safely is a Condition of Employment at American Furniture Warehouse - an Affirmative Action Employer M/F/D/V.  

A pre-employment drug screen, background and fit for duty exam check must be passed upon job offer.  

Since 1975, our motto has been Under Promise and Over Deliver and this is exactly what we do on a daily basis! At AFW, we strongly believe in recognizing those who exemplify excellence, and reward them for contributing to our collective success. We strive to provide a great work environment for our employees and give them the knowledge and tools needs to provide our customers with an even greater buying experience. At American Furniture Warehouse, We Do It Right the First Time!