Retail Associate

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; Bentonville (AR); On-site; USD 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, AR seeks a friendly Retail Associate to join our guest-focused store team. You will deliver exceptional service, manage product knowledge, assist in transactions, restock, and keep the shop organized to reflect current exhibitions.

The role requires at least one year in customer service, strong verbal and writing skills, and a love of art and fashion. Flexible availability for weekends and special events is preferred.

Qualifications

• High School graduate or equivalent.
• Professional verbal communication skills.
• Minimum of 1-year related experience and/or training in a customer service-oriented field.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills.
• Previous experience in a retail environment.
• Familiar experience with POS systems.
• A love of and experience with art, fashion, or consumer brands.
• The ability to think creatively and be a thoughtful problem solver.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a positive, friendly guest experience with conversation and service.
• Contribute to store culture by being positive, respectful, and helpful to others.
• Ability to adapt to changing environment and priorities.
• Work productively within the team and help achieve common goals.
• Assist in training and development of peers.
• Participate in daily and department meetings.
• Maintain product and visual standards and back stock areas.
• Uphold store merchandising and cleanliness standards.
• Support personalized and framed art print orders from start to finish.

Skills

Professional verbal communication

Analytical skills

Creative thinking

Art/fashion/brand interest

Education

High School diploma

Tools

POS systems

Job description

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.

Job Description

Position Title: Retail Associate

Reports to: Retail Operations Manager

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Location: Bentonville, Arkansas (On-site)

Date Reviewed: 6/11/2026

About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary

Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.

The Momentary is a new contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A satellite to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary presents visual, performing, and culinary arts. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art’s role in everyday life and explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action.

Position Summary

The Retail Associate supports the store leadership team through the cultivation of a store environment that surprises and delights our guests/customers each time they walk through our doors. We envision someone with a vibrant personality, an efficient nature, and natural warmth. Our ideal candidate will provide exceptional service in all aspects of the sales floor – guest engagement, selling, product knowledge, styling, cash wrap, restock and overall shopkeeping. They are a team player through supporting daily processes, maintaining product and visual standards, and adapting in the Crystal Bridges and Momentary daily pace.

Principal Responsibilities

• Deliver a positive, friendly experience by engaging the guest through conversation and service. Enhance the guest experience by focusing on customers and not on projects during prime hours.
• Contribute to the overall store culture by being positive, respectful, and helpful to others and act as a positive role model to peers
• Ability to adapt to a changing environment and multiple priorities
• Work productively within the team and take initiative to work with others toward a common, collaborative goal
• Assist in the training and development of peers
• Actively participate in daily and department meetings
• Demonstrate proficiency in job knowledge, participate in the processing of new shipment, help the team to keep receiving and back stock areas clean and organized
• Exhibit awareness of loss prevention guidelines
• Always adhere to company health & safety regulations
• Uphold store merchandising and cleanliness standards
• Support personalized and framed art print orders from start to finish, communicating with customers and internal teams to ensure timely completion
• Support sales by assisting in merchandising and display projects
• Exhibit a familiarity with current product, trend awareness and how they reflect with the exhibitions
• Balance individual (own) cash drawer at the end of each shift and always follow cash handling procedures to ensure accurate accounting of all revenue.
• Support departments during performances, special events and festivals

Additional Responsibilities

• Support other departments as needed, to ensure that a high level of guest engagement is always maintained
• Proactively seek and obtain information regarding museum policies/promotions, activities, and events to provide a high level of guest engagement
• Become familiar with museum buildings, grounds, and community to provide appropriate information and direction to guests
• other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Skills

• High School graduate or equivalent
• Professional verbal communication skills
• Minimum of 1-year related experience and/or training in a customer service-oriented field
• Excellent writing and analytical skills
• Previous experience in a retail environment
• Familiar experience with POS systems
• A love of and experience with art, fashion, or consumer brands
• The ability to think creatively and be a thoughtful problem solver

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: Bending, lifting, carrying, and reaching stock shelves at least 5’ in height and up to 40 lbs.; pushing or pulling more than 40 lbs. and opening multiple doors while pushing loaded carts. Standing 4+ hours at a time. Ability to use step ladder to reach merchandise on 6’ high shelves. Ability to sit for long periods of time.
• Work Environment: Work will be performed in the stores, spaces and grounds. Additionally, strong communication skills and ability to interact politely and effectively with a wide range of members, guests, volunteers and staff. Must have flexibility and an open availability work schedule - Sunday through Saturday, daytime, evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call for emergencies. Required: Two Saturday’s and Sunday’s a month

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.