A sales attendant provides customer service, and performs clerical and administrative activities in support of a sales team. Attendants allow the operations to run smoothly for existing customers and help bring in new customers. Sales attendants work in small- to large-sized establishments. They work directly under department and branch managers and are part of a cohesive sales team.

Function

Sales attendants provide customer service to existing or potential customers when they answer questions, provide information and act as cashiers to customers. They retrieve supplies and merchandise from the stockroom and set up displays. Tickets and prices are marked by the sales attendant. They take inventory and order supplies, materials and merchandise for restock. In retail shops, the sales attendant escorts and directs customers to fitting or dressing rooms. In this position, the individual receives and handles customer complaints.

Education

Attendants usually have a high school diploma, although some employers prefer them to have an associate or bachelor’s degree. Coursework for these degrees includes sales, management and college level English and math classes.

Personal Attributes

A sales attendant is a cooperative individual since she works as part of a team. She understands customer needs and wants after a brief discussion with the customer. People in this profession are convincing and have a positive influence on the customer or client.

Skills

In this position, the candidate is well-informed about particular materials and resources used in serving clients. Workers also possess data entry skills to enter merchandise, inventory and client orders into a database system. This calls for sales attendants to be computer literate in relation to database management and word processing. They have excellent telephone skills when talking to clients, vendors or prospective customers. Persons in this profession are well-organized and detailed-oriented.

Salary

Sales attendants working in the United States earn an average annual salary of $22,000, as of June 2010, according to Indeed.com. Salary is based on experience and type of sales industry.

Retail Salespersons Employment and Labor Information 2023

Retail Salespersons Employment Brief:

Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

Retail Salespersons Job Description

Here is a Job Description an employer might post for potential Retail Salespersons.

Retail Salespersons Responsibilities and Duties:

• Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
• Maintain records related to sales.
• Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits.
• Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
• Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
• Clean shelves, counters, and tables.
• Estimate quantity and cost of merchandise required, such as paint or floor covering.
• Rent merchandise to customers.
• Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
• Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.

Typical Daily Tasks of Retail Salespersons:

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Answer customer questions about goods or services.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Demonstrate products to consumers. Sell products or services.
• Getting Information: Gather customer or product information to determine customer needs.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Calculate costs of goods or services. Estimate costs or terms of sales.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Review laws or regulations to maintain professional knowledge.
• Working with Computers.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others.

Retail Salespersons Skills and Requirements:

• Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Management of Material Resources Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
• Installation Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
• Learning Strategies Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• PresentationsUsing a computer application to create, manipulate, edit, and show virtual slide presentations.
• Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Quality Control Analysis Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Management of Personnel Resources Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Retail Salespersons Salary and Wages:

Average Salary: 58,450. Education: typical education requirements include High school diploma or equivalent.

Data from May 2023 courtesy of U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.