Sales Associate Description

A sales associate is responsible for upholding outstanding customer service, sales knowledge and company product expertise.  They develop, implement and carry-out sales initiatives that best meet their company's objective. 

Responsibilities

Sales Associates play an important role in helping their company achieve success.  Their duties to sell and market their company's products make them an integral part of the marketing team.  Sales associates demonstrate different ways customers can use products and it is their duty to address clients questions and concerns.  Regardless of the type of product they sell, their primary duties are to interest buyers and purchasing agents in their merchandise or services and to increase revenue. 

Sales associates are responsible for the following:

• Sales of online recruiting services tailored to the sales and marketing industry
• Product knowledge in all areas that allows Sales Associate to give effective presentations
• Understanding of pricing and proposal models
• The ability to carry on a business conversation with business owners and decision makers
• Taking advantage of all opportunities to process the closing of a sale
• Making recommendations to clients about various products as an effort to promote business
• Assists in the company marketing plans as needed
• Maintains accurate records of all sales including sales calls, presentations and follow-up activities
• Participates in the development of all marketing activities in an effort to increase their knowledge about a product of service the company would like to promote to the public

Marketing

Applying directly to those who work in retail, clothing, and grocery stores, the standard sales associate description requires that they help customers with purchases, including the taking of payment to complete transactions, the bagging  and packaging of purchased products, and ensuring their registers are opened and closed in correspondence with their work shift. and separating coupons and charge slips from the money that will be used to start a new day of sales in the store.  Sales associates are responsible for all activity in their register.  If their register is over or short, they usually cannot leave the store until the problem has been resolved. 

If a problem with their register being short persists, it can lead to dismissal in many organizations.  Because sales associates are a part of the marketing team, retail companies stress the importance of providing courteous and efficient service to remain competitive. If a customer wants an item that is not on the sales floor, it is up to the salesperson to check the stockroom, call another store or make a special order of the item to satisfy the customer.

Some sales associate jobs require special knowledge or skills depending on the type of retail items the store sells.  For instance, if you are a sales associate that sells fine furniture, you must be equipped with the knowledge to explain the different types of furniture, the manufacturers' specifications, financing and warranty information.  Sales jobs, especially those involving expensive retail items, are required to undergo certain training and tests before being able to help customers. 

Sales associates are not required to have a college degree but are encouraged to have some type of sales experience before applying to a job that requires them to sell complex products like automobiles or fine furniture.  The sales associate job usually entails working and standard 5-day work week and some weekends.  Weekends are very important for retail sales in apparel stores.  As an integral part of the marketing team, sales persons must be able to recognize security risks and thefts and know how to handle and prevent certain situations before they arise.

The job of a sales associate can be a rewarding career with lots of demands.  They have the opportunity to advance to a sales manager and are usually awarded special discounts once they prove their dedication to the company.