Trade Associate

Other Jobs To Apply

Position: Trade Specialist

Brand/Location: Tottenham Court Road Stores – All Brands

Reports To: Store Manager

Type: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week.

Role Overview:

The Trade Specialist is a retail-based, customer-facing role, working directly from the shop floor and trade area within the store. The role utilises strategic selling and problem-solving skills to effectively establish and manage relationships with existing trade members, while proactively building new accounts and business opportunities.

Working across all four brands — West Elm, Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids — you will combine a solution-focused mindset with a “get to yes” mentality, delivering exceptional in-store service standards while driving trade sales performance and commercial excellence.

Responsibilities:

  • Utilise effective selling techniques to achieve sales goals
  • Provide sincere, personalised, and energetic customer service that exemplifies World-Class service standards
  • Efficiently and accurately process sales transactions to ensure a seamless customer experience
  • Perform other duties as assigned by management, including store maintenance, visual standards, and customer service support
  • Work with trade members, guiding them through the shopping, order placement, and fulfilment process
  • Effectively and consistently manage leads, from recording contact information at initial enquiry through ongoing relationship follow-up
  • Cultivate new member business through effective outreach and follow-up
  • Maintain strong brand and product knowledge, including seasonal launches and current offers
  • Work closely with the B2B Account Manager, attend training and weekly touchpoints with the B2B team, and report on and maintain accountability for location trade KPIs
  • Stay informed on industry news, trends, and projects, and remain alert to market opportunities
  • Actively contribute to achieving the home retail location’s monthly, quarterly, and annual sales goals
  • Attend and represent the company at design events and trade shows as required
    • Comply with all company policies and procedures.

Qualifications, Experience and Key Skills

  • High school diploma (or equivalent)
  • Interior design certification or qualification
  • 1–2 years’ experience in retail sales (speciality retail preferred)
  • 1–2 years’ experience in customer service
  • Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
  • Excellent verbal/written communication skills and the ability to influence business partners at all levels
    • Proficient computer skills, including word processing and spreadsheet software programs

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to be mobile on the sales floor for extended periods of time
  • Ability to lift and mobilise medium to large items, up to 30kg, while utilising appropriate lifting equipment and safety techniques
    • Ability to operate POS system

This position description is not inclusive of all duties and responsibilities and does not include duties that may be reasonably required to be completed as part of the role. This position description can be changed without notice.

#LI-KW1

Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...