Retail Sales Associate at EarthWise Pet in Belfast, ME

Description

Job Title: Store Associate

Job Type: Full-Time or Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Reports To: Store Manager

Revised: July 2026

Job Summary

We are seeking a genuine, positive, helpful and motivated Store Associate to deliver an exceptional experience for pet parents and their pets. This role combines thoughtful customer engagement and product knowledge with the daily operational work that keeps a store running well.

The ideal candidate loves pets, loves to learn, and loves helping people. They connect easily with customers, make recommendations that genuinely fit the pet in front of them, and take pride in a clean, well-stocked, well-merchandised store. They are a team player who celebrates their own and other’s success and are eager to learn.

Key Responsibilities

• Welcome, connect and engage with customers through the full shopping experience with thoughtful conversations and recommendations that meet their needs and the needs of their pet(s), from greeting to checkout to follow-up.
• Champion a customer-first culture across every customer interaction, ensuring grooming and retail customers receive a consistently excellent experience through our GOTHEART and WECARE grooming and retail service philosophies, driving personalized product and service recommendations, strong product and grooming knowledge, and lasting customer relationships that keeps pet parents coming back.
• Address customer questions and concerns promptly and professionally, escalating when appropriate.
• Perform customer transactions at the point of sale accurately and completely including handling of cash and application of basic math.
• Follow all company procedures for deposits, cash handling, and end-of-shift reconciliation.
• Learn and maintain inventory, including receiving, stocking, rotating, cycle counting and facing of product on established cadence.
• Ensure the sales floor is adequately stocked and product is presented and merchandised to company standard including contributions made to creative product displays.
• Execute promotional strategies, merchandising directives, and signage updates as directed.
• Maintain store cleanliness throughout the shift.
• Eager to learn and complete assigned training on time and apply it on the floor including product and service knowledge.
• Attend store and company meetings, some of which may be scheduled before or after store hours.
• Support and celebrate the success of teammates.
• Aid in the training and provide support to the Store Manager in the onboarding of new associates.
• Support the execution and adoption of company policies and procedures as they are developed and updated, ensuring teams understand and follow the most current versions.
• Support all operational needs and learn all systems related to all departments in your assigned store including services and self-wash in select stores.

Schedule and Travel

Full-time 30-40 hours per week, part-time up to 29 hours per week; days and hours vary within normal store operating hours, including before/after hours and weekends. The Store Associate works varied shifts on a rotational basis to interact with all team members regularly. Occasional travel to other locations, meetings, and events is expected.

Compensation and Benefits

• Pay range: [TBD per role]
• Opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive benefits package available for Full-Time team members, including health, dental, vision, and 401(k) with matching.
• Generous employee discount.
• Paid Time Off for Full-Time team members.

Equal Employment Opportunity

EarthWise Pet provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old
• No minimum education or formal training required
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly accountable, ethical, with strong integrity.
• Ability to thrive in an active retail and service environment with shifting focus and priorities
• Comfortable with computers and learning new systems; basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook) and Google Workspace (docs and Gmail).
• Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs independently, items exceeding 50lbs or that are awkward or oversized are handled as a team lift.
• This is an active role requiring standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping for extended periods of time.
• Able to climb a step stool or ladder to reach, stock, and retrieve product from upper shelving and stockroom racking.
• Reliable transportation
• Availability to work weekends, evenings, and holidays as business requires.
• Motivating, positive, helpful attitude with a desire to learn.
• Ability to stand and stay active for full shifts.