Sales Associate (Seasonal)

Job Summary 

As a Sales Associate, you will be essential in providing exceptional customer service and ensuring a positive shopping experience. You will assist customers by understanding their needs, offering expert product recommendations, and facilitating transactions. Responsibilities also include maintaining inventory, managing pricing and product displays, and ensuring a clean and organized store environment. Your dedication to service will drive sales and build customer loyalty. 

At West Marine, our mission is to serve Boaters with a focus on "Know More, Get More, Boat More." Our customers rely on us to fulfill their needs, complete boat projects, or prepare for a great day on the water. Every interaction is an opportunity to exceed customer expectations and foster loyalty. West Marine is a Drug-Free Workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

 Duties/Responsibilities 

• Greet and welcome customers as they enter the store. 
• Engage with customers to understand their needs using open-ended questions and active listening. 
• Provide detailed product knowledge and suggestive selling to enhance the customer’s boating experience.
• Assist customers in selecting products and direct them to the appropriate aisle or location.
• Inform customers about available services and assist with special orders or drop ship purchases.
• Handle cash, credit, and on-account transactions accurately, including processing returns and managing the register.
• Maintain accurate pricing by auditing and tagging merchandise, ensuring proper display and signage.
• Assist with inventory management, including receiving, stocking, and replenishing merchandise.
• Ensure the sales floor and aisles are neat, clean, and organized, removing any hazards or obstacles.
• Support the buy online pick up in store (BOPIS) process and assist with buy online ship from the store as needed.
• Alert management to potential security or loss prevention issues and assist in maintaining asset protection standards.
• Complete all required training and review standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the position.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

 Required Skills/Abilities 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to listen actively and respond to customer needs.
• Proven sales and customer service abilities.
• Familiarity with merchandise.
• Point-of-sale systems; ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Strong attention to detail and effective time management.

 Education and Experience 

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous boating and/or retail experience preferred. 

 Physical Requirements 

• Continuous standing and walking throughout the retail space. 
• Ability to wear and communicate through a headset continuously. 
• Frequent climbing, bending, stooping, and twisting. 
• Occasionally operate equipment, including forklifts. 
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds to shoulder height unassisted frequently. 

Minors under the age of 18 are subject to federal child labor laws that prohibit hazardous work, equipment operation, and exposure to dangerous conditions.  

Minors under 18 may not:  

• Operate, assist with, or be assigned to hazardous power‑driven machinery, including:
• • Forklifts / powered industrial trucks
  • Motorized pallet jacks
  • Motorized conveyors
  • Trash compactors and balers
  • Power‑driven cutting, slicing, grinding, or processing machines
  • Any other power‑driven equipment deemed hazardous

• Operate, assist with, or be assigned to conduct work involving
  • Hot Knife
  • Chain cutter,
  • Other cutting instruments
• Transportation/Delivery
  • Drive any motor vehicle as part of their job
  • Act as a helper on delivery or transport vehicles
• Hazardous Materials & Chemical Exposure
  • Handle, mix, or directly work with:
    • Hazardous materials (HAZMAT)
    • Toxic, corrosive, or reactive chemicals
    • Battery systems or chemicals posing burn/fire/explosion risk

• • Clean up, respond to, or manage chemical spills
  • Perform tasks involving significant exposure to hazardous substances
• HAZMAT Shipping & Logistics Activities
  • Participate in hazardous materials shipping activities, including:
    • Classifying hazardous materials
    • Preparing hazardous shipments
    • Signing or certifying shipping documents
    • Independently handling regulated HAZMAT processes
• Hazardous Work Environments
  • Work in areas where hazardous chemicals or materials are actively handled, processed, packaged, or shipped
  • Work unsupervised in any area involving hazardous conditions

Minors under 16 are subject to significantly stricter limitations and in addition to the limitation above may not:  

• Work in shipping, receiving, or warehouse operations
• Operate a manual pallet jack
• Perform backroom or logistics functions involving equipment or hazards
• Use a box cutter or any form of cutting instrument to open boxes or perform work.
• Operate any power‑driven machinery  

Minors under 16 years old are limited to non‑hazardous, light‑duty retail tasks, such as:  

• Customer service
• Light manual stocking (nonhazardous materials only)
• Basic cleaning (non‑hazardous materials only)

West Marine offers a wide range of benefits, which include medical/dental/vision, various voluntary benefits, 401k, and paid time off. To view eligibility and additional information on these benefits, along with starting pay ranges for select states, please visit our benefits page at www.embbenefits.com/wm-home/.

Join us at West Marine and help us provide the best boating experience for our customers!