London, UK
Home stylist
at West Elm
West Elm is looking for a home stylist/salesperson to join its London Westfield and Kingston teams.
West Elm – home stylist, in-house design specialist
Our story:
Since it launched in Brooklyn, NY in 2002, West Elm has been helping customers express their personal style at home. Our mission is three-fold:
1. we offer choice in our products and services, helping customers create a home that tells their story
2. we build community with customers, collaborators and associates, connecting like-minded strangers through inspiration, conversation, events and activities
3. we focus on consciousness and honest business practices in everything we do, from handcrafted products to supply chain transparency and sustainability
Our stores and community:
Our home base is nestled down under the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO, Brooklyn, and our 65+ retail stores can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK. We’re a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. portfolio of brands. Our UK business was launched in 2013 with the opening of our flagship store on Tottenham Court Road and enhanced by a successful online business. November 2017 saw the opening of our second UK store located in the historic Bentalls building in Kingston and Westfield, White City, London.
A little about the role
Primary function:
Provide customers with excellent customer service and a unique shopping experience by offering advice on space planning, furniture placement, colour palettes and product recommendations. Provide in-store and in-home consultations to both personal clients and trade. Meet or exceed personal sales goals, bringing incremental sales to the store’s business.
Essential duties and responsibilities:
- utilise design expertise to assist clients during consultations in-store and in-home regarding the design of their spaces
- measure and assess the client’s living spaces when performing in-home consultations
- create space plans by hand sketching and using the 2D space planner tool
- get to know your clients and the scope and needs of their decorating projects by asking open-ended questions and listening carefully
- make product, colour and design recommendations to suit their style and needs. Anticipate the client’s needs for every room in their home and make suggestions
- provide clear, reliable details about the quality, versatile uses and care of our products
- follow through with each customer to ensure their experience is seamless from the initial shopping experience to the delivery and set up of their purchases
- build lasting client relationships. Contact clients regarding new product arrivals, sales and decorating classes
- build the store’s business by providing world-class service, suggesting a complete design solution & securing the sale
- maintain a professional appearance that represents the West Elm brand
- maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions
- assist customers with special services including: gift wrap, gift registry, locating merchandise, catalogue/internet orders, special orders, back orders, charge sends, courier deliveries, and furniture orders
- efficiently and accurately perform register transactions i.e., sales, returns, and exchanges
- assist in implementation and maintenance of visual merchandise presentation, signage and lighting
- perform other duties as assigned by management
Skills/knowledge:
- the ability to communicate effectively with customers, management and the store team
- the ability to focus on the customer through clienteling, customer service, selling skills and follow-up skills
- drive innovation and change by thinking proactively – anticipating client’s needs and problem-solving
- model personal accountability by acting with the highest level of honesty and integrity
- drive execution by prioritising and demonstrating the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously while meeting deadlines
Qualifications and requirements:
- one-two year’s retail sales and customer service experience – home furnishings retail preferred, but not required
- one-two years’ design experience, design/creative degree interior design certification is helpful – preferred, but not required
- experienced in retail and service-oriented environment
- availability to work a minimum of three shifts per week, weekend work also included
- proficient in the following programs: Powerpoint, Photoshop, Excel and and 2D space planner tool, “Icovia”