Salary: Home Surplus is a retail warehouse superstore for cabinets, doors, and more, featuring in-stock products, expert design, and reliable service at value prices. Home Surplus aspires to be the first choice of contractors and consumers in cabinets, countertops, doors, and windows. After operating as a single location for over 60 years, Home Surplus has expanded to 5 stores in NJ and MD in recent years as it grows into a national footprint.

The Kitchen Designer is a customer-facing team member who will deliver outstanding customer experiences while increasing sales. The new hire may start at the Design Associate or Senior Designer level, depending on experience and demonstrated skill set.

Primary Responsibility Manage the design process from first in-store interaction through ordering, while ensuring: Accurate layouts, measurements, and quotes. Design options that meet customer requirements regarding budget, quality, and aesthetics. Proactive follow-up communication with the customer in order to close sales. Complete and accurate sales orders. Straightforward communication and realistic fulfillment timelines in order to manage customer expectations.

Additional Responsibilities Meet or exceed customer expectations via an encouraging, well-informed, consultative approach in order to drive repeat and referral business. Master the Home Surplus product screen, while also learning how our products and service capabilities compare to major competitors. Use company systems to communicate with precision and drive process efficiency. Gather competitive intelligence and customer feedback, and communicate that information to managers to foster a culture of continuous improvement. Work collaboratively with team members across functions in order to deliver outstanding customer service and make Home Surplus a great place to work.

Requirements Must have design experience with 2020 or similarspace planning, design, and visualization software. Brings familiarity with kitchen fixtures and the basics of residential construction. Outstanding listening skills. Warm. Enjoys interacting with people.

Detail-oriented, with outstanding follow-through.

Consistent, reliable, punctual. Organized. Professional presentation. Strong verbal communication and above average written communication skills. Balance of courage and humility. Owns mistakes, asks for help, and addresses problems before they escalate. Balance of moderate creativity and a willingness to follow basic sales funnel processes.

Willing to ask relevant questions in order to deliver designs that sell. Ability to work a flexible schedule based on department and store needs. Moderate flexibility, including the ability to work some Saturdays, in keeping with a traditional retail environment. Speaks and understands English clearly. Fluency in other languages like Spanish preferred.

Physical/Environmental Requirements: Work is performed in a showroom/warehouse retail environment during traditional retail business hours. Physical requirements include: Extended periods of time working at a desktop computer. Extended periods of time standing. Speaking in person, on the phone, and by video. Limited travel to properties to measure, etc.

Compensation

Competitive salary. Design Associates, Senior Designers, and Master Designers are also eligible for bonuses based on: Individual attainment of monthly sales goals Store attainment of monthly sales goals.

Benefits: Health, Vision, Dental, EAP, Disability, Life. PTO. 401k. Advancement opportunities related to the continued rapid growth of the company.

Program Tiers:

Design Associate Design Associates have the proficiency to handle about 50% of the design needs of walk-in customers without assistance. In order to a be a Design Associate, one must pass a test that demonstrates basic proficiency in 2020 Design software.

Senior Designer Senior Designers have the proficiency to handle all design needs of every customer, without assistance. In order to be a Senior Designer, one must: Pass a test that demonstrates complete mastery in 2020 Design software. Demonstrate the ability to conduct any on-site measurement and also work from architectural plans. Demonstrate a proven and consistent track record of meeting or exceeding defined sales targets. External candidates will bring a book of business with them. Earn the endorsement of both the Showroom Manager and the General Manager.

Master Designer Master Designers are the top designers in the industry. They demonstrate most of the qualities required to be a Showroom Manager, but would prefer to remain in a sole contributor role rather than a leadership role. They not only demonstrate all of the skills and qualities of Senior Designers, but also bring the following: Unmatched sales skills, as demonstrated by consistently exceeding every sales target, having full appointment books, and closing sales on nearly every customer for whom they have designed. Creativity that establishes new trends in the marketplace. Not only sought out by customers but by peers as their go-to resource for anything related to design.