Sales Assistant at ERDEN in Chicago, IL

Title: Sales Assistant

Reports to: Director of Sales and Marketing

About ERDEN

ERDEN is an innovative design house and producer of luxury hand-woven rugs, known for our signature use of embedded bronze, brass, and steel details. Founded in 2016 and represented in design markets throughout the U.S. and internationally, we place the highest importance on craft, quality, innovation, and service.

Our rugs combine traditional hand-weaving with unexpected materials and techniques. Many of the decorative metal elements incorporated into our rugs are fabricated by hand in our Chicago studio.

The Position

We are hiring a Sales Assistant to be the day-to-day partner to ERDEN’s showroom representation in the U.S. and abroad. Our showroom salespeople work with some of the most respected interior designers in the world, and they count on us for answers that are fast, thorough, and right. You will be the person they call.

You sit between the studio and the professionals who sell our work. Our metal, production, and design teams speak in technical terms. A showroom salesperson needs the part that matters to their designer client, stated clearly. You will learn both languages and translate between them, deciding what matters most and making sure it reaches the right person. You enjoy seeing the same names come through your inbox and building lasting working relationships with them.

ERDEN is intricate. The person who excels here wants to understand how our rugs are made, from fiber to how metal is woven into the textile. That knowledge is what makes great service possible. For the right person, this role is a starting point, with room to grow within the company.

What You'll Do

Showroom Support

• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for ERDEN’s represented showrooms, domestic and international, by phone and email

• Answer questions on quoting, custom projects, materials, lead times, and order status

• Gather what is needed from internal teams and deliver complete answers so showrooms can respond confidently to their designer clients

• Anticipate what a showroom will need next and provide it before they ask

Order Management

• Manage orders from quote to delivery, including order processing, invoicing, and tracking

• Keep showrooms and clients informed of timelines and flag risks early

• Troubleshoot issues with production, shipping, and bookkeeping and see them through to resolution

• Maintain accurate records across internal systems

Translating Between Teams

• Work with our metal, production, and design teams to understand technical details, then translate them for showrooms and designers

• Bring showroom and client feedback back to the studio in terms each team can act on

Studio Visits and Events

• Prepare the studio for visits from showroom salespeople, interior designers, and clients: set out samples and displays, arrange refreshments, and reset the space afterward

• Pull samples and merchandise for visits, presentations, and requests

• Take notes during visits and follow up on action items

• Support trade events, meeting preparation, and travel arrangements

Special Projects

• Assist other departments on special projects as needs arise

Who We're Looking For

• Service-minded at a luxury standard: quick, thorough, and polished in every reply

• A natural relationship builder who remembers names, projects, and preferences

• A clear translator who makes technical information useful to a non-technical professional without losing accuracy

• Organized and calm when priorities shift throughout the day

• Curious about craft, and eager to learn how fiber, weave structure, and metal affect the final piece

• A thorough writer whose emails close loops instead of creating follow-up questions

Requirements & Qualifications

• 2 to 3 years in client services, sales support, wholesale, or showroom operations, ideally in luxury fashion, interiors, hospitality, or design

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

• Excellent written and verbal communication

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

• Able to lift up to 50 lbs

• Valid driver’s license

Experience & Preferred Skills

• Experience working with the interior design trade or with showrooms

• Prior experience with Smartsheet

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $50,000–$55,000 annually, with compensation within the range based on relevant experience, demonstrated skills, and qualifications
• Bonus opportunities
• Medical insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
• Dental and vision coverage
• Paid time off
• Paid company holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Structured opportunities for advancement based on performance, reliability, and continued development

Work Environment

·This is an on-site role at ERDEN Studio in Chicago’s West Town, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Early or after-hours communication is occasionally needed for international showrooms and events. You will join a small team that values craft, precision, and service.

ERDEN is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person