At a Glance
- Tasks: Assist customers, manage stock, and help create a welcoming store environment.
- Company: Community Furniture Stores, a local charity making a difference in York.
- Benefits: Sociable hours, 28 days holiday, staff discounts, and training opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible roles available, perfect for students looking to make an impact.
- Why this job: Join a friendly team and support your community while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Friendly attitude, teamwork skills, and ability to lift heavy items.
The predicted salary is between 18900 - 23100 £ per year.
Help us provide essential household items and opportunities to help people create a home and thrive.
Are you practical, friendly and happy to get stuck into a varied and active role?
Community Furniture Stores is looking for a Sales and Warehouse Assistant to join our hardworking and welcoming team at our York store.
This is much more than a traditional sales and warehouse role.
You will help receive, prepare and display donated furniture, serve customers on the shop floor and support our collection and delivery service.
You will also work alongside colleagues and volunteers to ensure that our store is safe, organised and welcoming.
The role involves regular lifting and moving of furniture, so you will need to be comfortable undertaking a physically active job. Full manual-handling training will be provided.
About us
Community Furniture Stores is a local charity operating in York, Scarborough and Selby.
We provide essential household items and opportunities to help people create a home and thrive.
We collect and sell pre-loved furniture at affordable prices, with an additional 30% discount for students and people receiving means-tested benefits.
We also run several community projects, including our Community Bike Project, IT Re Use and a volunteering programme that helps local people grow in confidence, learn new skills and become part of a team.
What you will be doing
Your work will include
- Welcoming customers and helping them find and purchase the items they need.
- Operating the till, processing sales and taking payments.
- Answering telephone enquiries and responding helpfully to customers and donors.
- Arranging furniture collections and customer deliveries.
- Helping to create attractive displays and ensuring items are clearly priced.
- Receiving, cleaning and preparing donated furniture for sale.
- Loading and unloading furniture at the store and at customers’ homes or businesses.
- Helping customers load or unload furniture from their vehicles.
- Dismantling and assembling furniture, including flat-pack furniture and beds.
- Supporting the day-to-day management and organisation of stock.
- Keeping the warehouse and shop floor clean, tidy, safe and well presented.
- PAT testing electrical items offered for sale once training has been completed.
- Working positively with colleagues and volunteers.
- Following health and safety procedures, using the correct PPE and reporting hazards or incidents promptly.
About you
We are looking for someone who
- Is friendly, helpful and committed to providing excellent customer service.
- Has a positive, practical and flexible approach.
- Is comfortable lifting and moving heavy and bulky furniture with appropriate training and equipment.
- Is reliable, organised and able to work effectively as part of a team.
- Takes pride in keeping the shop floor and warehouse clean, safe and attractive.
- Can communicate confidently with customers, donors, volunteers and colleagues.
- Is willing to support different areas of the store when required.
- Will help create a positive and inclusive environment for our volunteers.
- Shares our commitment to supporting people in the local community and our values of being inclusive, local, collaborative and innovative.
The ability to drive a 3.5-tonne van would be helpful but is not essential.
What we offer
- Sociable working hours between 8.30am and 4.30pm.
- No Sunday working.
- 28 days’ paid holiday per year, including bank holidays, pro rata for part-time staff and increasing with length of service.
- A friendly and supportive working environment where your contribution matters.
- All necessary uniform and PPE provided.
- Staff discount on donated goods.
- Training and regular opportunities to develop your skills.
- The opportunity to work for a local charity making a tangible difference to people in York.
How to apply
- The closing date for applications is
- Wednesday 26 th
August 2026 .
- Interviews will take place on
- Friday 4 September
We welcome informal enquiries.
Candidates are also encouraged to visit the store to find out more about our work, meet the team and see the working environment.
For a chat about the role, please contact hr@cfstores. org. uk
Community Furniture Stores welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment.
Sales and Warehouse Assistant (Full or part-time) in York employer: Community Furniture Store
CFS Community Furniture Stores is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a positive impact in North Yorkshire by alleviating furniture and digital poverty. With a strong focus on community engagement, we offer meaningful volunteering opportunities that empower individuals to learn new skills and build confidence while being part of a supportive team. Our commitment to employee growth, coupled with the chance to lead innovative projects like IT ReUse, makes this a rewarding place to work for those passionate about social change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sales and Warehouse Assistant (Full or part-time) in York
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Community Furniture Store, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Community Furniture Store!
We think you need these skills to ace Sales and Warehouse Assistant (Full or part-time) in York
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Community Furniture Store, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Community Furniture Store and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Community Furniture Store that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Community Furniture Store
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
