Retail Assistant Job Description

Retail Assistant Job Profile and Description

A retail assistant is a person who works in a retail store and is responsible for selling merchandise to buyers. This job requires the person to be on his feet for long hours serving all kinds of customers, helping them, advising them, directing them, making recommendations and handling inquiries. In some retail stores, retail assistants can also double as cashiers and hence are responsible for making invoices and accepting payments for merchandise sold. In addition, in certain high-end retail stores, the retail assistant makes arrangements to deliver the merchandise to the customer’s home.

Retail Assistant Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of a retail assistant can differ depending upon how big or small the retail store is. Typically, in smaller stores, retail assistants also carry out administrative and managerial tasks; while in bigger stores they have specific responsibilities. In general, a retail assistant has the following duties and responsibilities:

• Greet customers when they enter the store

• Help customers select merchandise

• Show customers different merchandise based on their needs and requirements

• Arrange demonstration of the goods

• Explain how merchandise are used

• Explain benefits of owning a particular product

• Explain the qualities of the merchandise

• Accept payments for sales

• Hand over invoices to customers on receiving payments

• Handling exchange of merchandise

• Ensuring that the merchandise have a price tag

• Displaying the merchandise in an attractive manner

Retail Assistant Skills and Specifications

The skills and specifications that a retail assistant needs are as follows:

• Outstanding communication skills

• Ability to convince customers

• Be able to multitask

• Be knowledge about the merchandise

• Know how different products work and be able to demonstrate the same

• Be calm and have the ability to handle difficult customers

• Understand the needs of customers and show them merchandise accordingly

• Be polite

• Be courteous

• Be customer-oriented

• Be patient

Retail Assistant Education and Qualifications

To work as a retail assistant, a person needs the following education and qualifications:

• A high school diploma or equivalent

• A certification in sales and marketing or business management can be advantageous

Retail Assistant Salary

Retail assistant is generally paid by the hour. Typically the hourly wage varies from $10 to $12 an hour. However, in large stores, some retail assistants may have monthly targets and on achieving them, they may be eligible for a bonus.