Design Specialist-Chicago North Ave

Design Within Reach; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive hourly base with uncapped/

Performance-based bonus plan

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid vacation, holidays, and parental/

Commuter benefit

401(k) with company match

Generous employee discounts

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Design Within Reach is seeking a Design Specialist who blends design sensibility with consultative selling to deliver exceptional experiences for clients. You will represent legendary designers and brands, building lasting relationships within the local design community and reporting to the General Manager to help drive the store's success.

You will drive sales through personalized design consultations, guide product selection and space planning, and maintain high standards in visual

Qualifications

• Design-minded sales professional with a passion for modern interiors.
• Experience in retail sales, design consulting, or customer success preferred.
• Background in interior design, architecture, or related field preferred.
• Strong skills in client needs assessment, problem-solving, and relationship building.

Responsibilities

• Drive sales by delivering personalized design consultations and solutions.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, trade professionals, and the local design community.
• Meet and exceed sales performance goals and KPIs (revenue, conversion, retention).
• Guide clients through product selection, space planning, and styling.
• Manage client lifecycle using CRM tools and outreach strategies to exceed goals.
• Maintain store visual merchandising and contribute to overall aesthetics.

Skills

Design sense

Retail sales

Client needs assessment

Relationship building

Problem-solving

Education

Interior design / architecture background

Tools

SketchUp

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Job description

Why join us?

At Design Within Reach, home comes first. We believe in creating and sourcing pieces that move with you and are meant to be enjoyed over a lifetime – from home to home, generation to generation. For us, that means exceptionally crafted, built-to-last, and beautifully designed furnishings.

Why join us?

At Design Within Reach, home comes first. We believe in creating and sourcing pieces that move with you and are meant to be enjoyed over a lifetime – from home to home, generation to generation. For us, that means exceptionally crafted, built-to-last, and beautifully designed furnishings.

Our purpose is design for the good of humankind. It's the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. Being a part of Design Within Reach means being a part of something larger than your work team, or even your brand. We are redefining modern for the 21st century. And our success allows Design Within Reach to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone.

Are you a creative professional with a passion for interior design and a proven track record in sales? Do you thrive in a client-facing environment where you can bring iconic modern design to life? If so, our Design Within Reach store is looking for you.

What We Offer:

• Competitive hourly base with uncapped commission on shipped items
• Performance-based bonus plan
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, holidays, and parental leave
• Commuter benefit up to $150/month
• 401(k) with 4% company match
• Generous employee discounts
• Ongoing professional development opportunities

Store Hours: Open daily, Sunday through Saturday (weekend and holiday availability required)

About the Role:

As a Design Specialist, you'll blend your design sensibility with consultative selling skills to deliver exceptional client experiences. You'll represent legendary designers like Charles and Ray Eames and brands such as Herman Miller and Knoll, while building lasting relationships with clients and the local design community. You'll report directly to the General Manager and play a key role in driving the store's success.

What You'll Do:

• Drive sales by delivering personalized design consultations and solutions that meet client needs
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, trade professionals, and the local design community
• Meet and exceed sales performance goals, consistently achieving key performance indicators (KPIs) including revenue targets, conversion rates, and client retention metrics
• Leverage your design expertise to guide clients through product selection, space planning, and styling
• Manage the full client lifecycle using CRM tools and outreach strategies to exceed sales goals
• Maintain visual merchandising standards and contribute to the overall aesthetic of the store
• Stay current on product knowledge, design trends, and industry developments through training and self-study
• Conduct in-home consultations and attend off-site meetings with trade clients as needed

What We’re Looking for:

• A design-savvy sales professional with a passion for modern interiors
• Experienced in retail sales, design consulting, or customer success (preferred)
• Background in interior design, architecture, or related field (preferred)
• Skilled in client needs assessment, problem-solving, and relationship building
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, and design tools (e.g., SketchUp, AutoCAD, or similar)
• Able to lift 20+ lbs and work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment

Who We Hire?

Simply put, we hire qualified applicants representing a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. Design Within Reach is comprised of people of all abilities, gender identities and expressions, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, veterans from every branch of military service, and more. Here, you can bring your whole self to work. We're committed to equal opportunity employment, including veterans and people with disabilities.

Compensation range for this role is $22.00 - $23.00. Relevant salary considerations will include candidate qualifications and experience, other business/organizational needs and market factors . You may also be eligible to receive a geographic premium, annual discretionary incentive and equity awards which are subject to the rules governing these programs. The company offers a full spectrum of benefits including Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Dependent Day Care Savings Account, Life Insurance, Disability and Other Insurance Plans, Paid Time Off (including Vacation and Parental Leave), Holidays, 401(k), and Short/Long Term Disability, in addition to other special perks reserved for our associates.

This organization participates in E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification. In general, MillerKnoll positions are closed within 45 days and are open for applications for a minimum of 5 days. We encourage our prospective candidates to submit their application(s) expediently so as not to miss out on our opportunities. We frequently post new opportunities and encourage prospective candidates to check back often for new postings.

MillerKnoll complies with applicable disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact MillerKnoll Talent Acquisition at [e-mail].