Retail Assistants (all duties) have a wide-ranging role, supporting the Store Manager in ensuring quality customer service on the shop floor, carrying out transactions at point of sale, maintaining the general appearance of the store area and assist customers to bring in donations as well as sorting and pricing items for sale. Together, Retail Assistants play a key role in fostering a culture of inclusiveness and community spirit amongst the team, which in turn enhances the customer experience in the store.

Key responsibilities

Customer Service:

With your friendly and engaging personality, ensure all customers are warmly greeted and are provided guidance to the store’s areas and inform of any specials. Also provide assistance to those who are donating items and to community members referred to the store for material aid support.

Point of sale:

Bring your attentive and patient service to assist with sales transactions, answering customer enquiries in store and over the phone. Displays and merchandising: With the guidance of the store manager, ensure items are displayed attractively and safely with clear thoroughfares, and floors and displays are clean and fresh.

Quality control:

After careful selection of items for sale, apply detailed inspection of items, ensuring their appropriateness for sale, functionality and good presentation. Preparing items for sale includes steaming and hanging clothes, cleaning homewares, shoes and bags, packaging up craft, bedding and electrical items, and sorting jewellery, books and videos. Unsuitable items are sorted into recyclable or waste disposal areas.

Pricing:

Following agreed pricing standards, apply diligence and care to ensuring all items are priced before they are displayed.

Safety:

Apply your care and concern to ensure customers, visitors, you and your team are kept safe by always adhering to safe work practices. Keep children safe by always abiding by Salvation Army’s child safe policies and code of conduct. Help ensure safety equipment and the staff areas and amenities are kept clear of hazards and are tidy and clean.

Qualifications and skills (desired/required)

Experience in retail, point of sale systems and customer service preferred but not mandatory as volunteers are always supported with on the job training

Capabilities and personal attributes

Manage self:

Shows personal motivation and commitment to completing work activities effectively.

Act ethically and with integrity:

Is reliable and trustworthy and acts consistent with TSA vision, mission and values.

Show respect:

Seeks input from others to better understand diverse perspectives and needs.

Display resilience:

Remains open to new ideas and approaches. Work collaboratively: Works as a supportive and cooperative team member, shares information and acknowledges the contribution and support of others.

Innovate and continuously improve:

Shares ideas about ways to improve work tasks and solve problems; adopts improvements and innovations.

Background check requirements

Background checks play an important part in our commitment to being a safe organisation. Where an applicant has disclosable history, the selection process includes a fair assessment and a risk management approach. Collection of personal information is handled per our privacy and confidentiality policies. Below is what is required for this role:

As this role involves handling money, it requires a Police Check

Development opportunities with this role

This role will give volunteers an opportunity to develop skills and build experience in retail practices, point of sale systems, valuations of donations, sorting and stocking of shelves, as well as experience in working as a part of a team. Volunteers will receive on the job training and support, working alongside experienced retail professionals in a caring and supportive environment. As an extra bonus, volunteers have access to professional development training.

Time Required & Commitment

As agreed with manager