Sales Associate I

Ace Hardware Corporation; Hastings (MN); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discounts

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Ace Hardware Corporation in Hastings, MN seeks a friendly Sales Associate to deliver an outstanding customer experience across the store, supporting merchandising, cashiering, stocking and general customer assistance.

This role requires strong product knowledge, teamwork, and the ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays with flexible hours. You will help customers find solutions, participate in promotions, and uphold safety and cleanliness standards.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service and interpersonal communication
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced retail environment
• Team-oriented mindset with willingness to assist in all areas of the store
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
• Forklift certified a plus

Responsibilities

• Greet and assist customers promptly throughout the store
• Provide product recommendations and solutions to customer needs
• Support merchandising, stocking, and cashier duties
• Assist with loading and unloading merchandise as needed
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of assigned departments
• Help customers locate non-stock merchandise and process special orders
• Participate in store communications and daily huddles
• Follow loss prevention and safety procedures

Skills

Customer service

Retail experience

Bilingual Spanish

Communication

Organization

Flexibility

Cashier experience

Job description

Position Summary

The Sales Associate is responsible for delivering an outstanding customer experience by providing friendly, knowledgeable, and proactive service throughout the store. This role supports daily store operations including merchandising, cashier, stocking, customer assistance, and maintaining clean, organized departments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Customer Service & Sales

• Greet and assist customers promptly throughout the store using the Five Foot Rule
• Provide product recommendations, project guidance, and solutions to customer needs
• Promote the Ace Rewards program, Ace Helpful Promise, and current store promotions
• Maintain awareness of advertisements, seasonal merchandise, and sales events
• Assist customers with loading large or heavy merchandise as needed
• Handle customer concerns professionally and involve management when appropriate
• Demonstrate strong product knowledge and continue learning across all store departments
• Support a positive shopping experience by maintaining a helpful and approachable attitude at all times

Store Operations & Merchandising

• Assist with unloading trucks, stocking merchandise, and organizing inventory
• Maintain assigned departments to company standards including cleanliness, signage, pricing, and recovery
• Restock displays, endcaps, and promotional merchandise as needed
• Remove outdated promotional signage and price tags following sales events
• Support special orders and assist customers in locating non-stock merchandise
• Maintain awareness of store conditions and communicate operational issues to management
• Follow all company policies and procedures related to safety, loss prevention, and operational standards
• Assist with the front registers and fill in for Cashier

Teamwork & Communication

• Participate in daily huddles, store initiatives, and team communication
• Work collaboratively with all store associates and departments
• Assist with training and mentoring new team members as needed
• Wear radio/headset and communicate effectively with management and coworkers
• Maintain professionalism and avoid non-work-related conversations on the sales floor

Operational Excellence

• Execute assigned tasks with urgency, accuracy, and attention to detail
• Help maintain a clean, safe, and organized sales floor and backroom environment
• Monitor for potential theft concerns and follow company loss prevention procedures
• Support overall store goals and provide flexibility to assist where business needs require
• Demonstrate dependability through consistent attendance and schedule flexibility

Qualifications and Skills

• Strong customer service and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced retail environment
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Team-oriented mindset with willingness to assist in all areas of the store
• Ability to learn product knowledge across multiple departments
• Previous retail, hardware, or customer service experience preferred
• Bilingual (Spanish) communication skills are a plus
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
• Forklift certified a plus

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Ability to bend, reach, stoop, and lift throughout the workday
• Ability to lift and move merchandise up to 40 pounds
• Ability to work both indoors and occasionally outdoors in varying weather conditions

Work Environment

This position works in a retail hardware environment with frequent customer interaction and moderate noise levels. Team members may occasionally work near moving mechanical equipment and outdoor conditions.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Core Values

• Helpful expertise- know the product, solve the problem
• Ownership mentality- act like its your store
• Community first- service the neighborhood, not just the transaction
• Continuous improvement- always a better way
• Accountability without excuses

Compensation

• Status: Hourly
• Schedule: Flexibility based on business needs
• Reports To: Department Manager or Store Manager
• Pay Range: Competitive, based on experience

Why Join Hometown Ace Hardware?

• Join a growing, locally owned company that values its employees and community
• Be part of a supportive team focused on delivering outstanding customer service
• Help create a positive experience for every customer
• Gain hands‑on experience with opportunities for growth and advancement
• Enjoy competitive pay and employee discounts