At a Glance
- Tasks: Inspire customers to express their style and create personal decorating plans.
- Company: Join Williams-Sonoma, a leading retailer of high-quality home furnishings.
- Benefits: Enjoy a generous employee discount, competitive pension plan, and professional growth opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible schedule required; great for those passionate about design and customer connection.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team that helps customers transform their homes into personal sanctuaries.
- Qualifications: 1-2 years in home furnishing or interior design education preferred.
The predicted salary is between 20250 - 24750 £ per year.
Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., together with its subsidiaries and the brands they represent, is the premier specialty retailer of high quality home furnishings in the United States, Canada and Australia. Known for their outstanding customer service, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, west elm and Williams-Sonoma are among the most iconic and well respected retail brands in North America. We market our products and engage our customers through three major channels — retail stores, catalogues, and the Internet. All our brands allow customers to design, furnish and decorate every room in the home — from the kitchen to the living room, bedrooms, nursery, home office, laundry room and even the hall closet. Our West Elm and Pottery Barn Kids brand is now available in the UK, through Williams-Sonoma UK Limited. We believe our Company has limitless potential, driven by our associates and their imagination, passion and commitment. We provide an exciting and creative work environment, along with a variety of opportunities for professional as well as personal growth. Our associates receive a generous discount on products as well as a variety of benefits including, but not limited to a competitive pension plan, employee assistance program and service recognition gifts.
SUMMARY: Inspire customers to express themselves and their style in their homes. Discover what the customer loves and how they live to develop personal decorating plans that exceed their expectation. Bring West Elm to life for our customers by connecting them to the product, inspiration and how that helps them tell their story at home. Drive sales by creating a reputation of West Elm as a destination for approachable decorating expertise that helps customers build truly personal spaces.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Inspire associates and customers by connecting them to design trends, inspiration and local resources that reflect the eclectic, creative and modern spirit of the brand.
- Create and host in-store events that connect customers to decorating, design and entertaining inspirations.
- Seek out and promote innovative ways to make West Elm a neighbourhood destination for inspiration.
- Develop and manage relationships with clients, designers, developers and local businesses and artisans.
- Mentor associates on how to build and maintain client relationships.
- Make the in-store customer the priority and collaborate with the management team and associates to ensure adequate selling floor coverage during in-store or in-home appointments.
- Discover customer’s story and style by sparking conversation, sharing inspiration and consulting with them in the store and/or in their home about how to bring their style and story to life.
- Listen intently during in-store and in-home consultations to discover customer’s story.
- Share decorating expertise and develop thoughtful, personal decorating/space plans that fit the customer’s style, lifestyle and tells their story at home.
- Advise on where to access design resources for products and services unavailable at West Elm (wallpaper, appliances, re-upholsterer, etc.).
- Share the stories, collaborations and craft behind our products to bring them to life for our customer.
- Present compelling decorating plans, communicating what is most meaningful and relevant to the customer utilising mood boards, space plans and inspiration.
- Manage all aspects of a customer’s expectations, clearly communicating product information, care & maintenance, timeframes/delivery.
- Continually seek out inspiration, trends and ways to elevate decorating and styling expertise.
- Collaborate with store leadership to mentor and develop creative talent and elevate selling, decorating, composition and styling skills.
- Share expertise and passion for designing and styling spaces that are truly personal.
- Model all the behaviours and skills and promote all the services that build lasting client relationships and drive sales (Selling Essentials, Product Essentials, Clienteling, Wish-list, Home Stylist consultations, Events).
- Build positive working relationships with store management team, Area Manager, Assistant Store Manager, and sister brand partners to clarify priorities, share business insight and best practices.
- Communicate openly to create an environment where all associates are treated with respect and diversity is valued, in accordance with our People First Philosophy.
- Collaborate with the store team to fulfil decorating plans and install in customer’s home.
- Drive sales and achieve sales goals by growing a personal client base and referrals.
- Create new sales opportunities by reaching out to designers, developers and businesses to promote West Elm’s products and services.
- Review all decorating plans for clients and business sales to ensure projects reflect the client and West Elm’s commitment to thoughtful, well-crafted/composed and professional decorating plans, presentations and installations.
- Perform other duties as assigned by management.
EXPERIENCE: 1-2 years home furnishing, interior decorating experience and/or interior design education. Interior design certification preferred. Must be certified by WE Corporate Director of Design Education through design project submission (see Home Stylist Overview in Decorating Essentials) or relevant portfolio/experience.
SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/COMPETENCIES:
- Selling skills and proven ability to exceed selling goals.
- Demonstrated interest and knowledge of home furnishings and decor history, techniques, materials and current trends.
- Ability to apply colour theory, design principles and composition to create decorating plans.
- Ability to accurately measure and build scaled space plans.
- Ability to engage, connect and inspire customers in the store and during in-home consultations with decorating and styling expertise.
- Passion for interior decorating, architecture, art and connecting to design trends and inspiration (magazines, blogs, etc).
- Passion for creativity, craft, artisans and the neighbourhood’s treasures.
- Ability to create complete, personalised decorating plans that fit the customer’s style and lifestyle.
- Ability to work within a set budget.
- Communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to build strong client relationships, referrals and connections within the community.
- Strong collaboration and mentoring skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects under tight timeframes while maintaining attention to detail.
- Ability to be mobile on the sales floor for extended periods of time.
- Availability to work within a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the business; this will require evenings, weekends and holidays.
- Ability to lift and mobilise medium to large items, up to 30 kg, while utilising appropriate equipment and safety techniques.
- Ability to travel to in-home consultations. If driving your personal vehicle, proof of business car insurance (or proof of financial responsibility) and driver’s license is required.
EDUCATION: GCSEs or equivalent experience preferred.
REPORTS TO: Area Manager
Williams-Sonoma UK is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and would be happy to consider reasonable adjustments to accommodate a candidate with a disability.
This position description is not inclusive of all duties and responsibilities and can be changed without notice.
Home Stylist in London employer: Williams-Sonoma
At Williams-Sonoma, Inc., we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and creative work environment that fosters personal and professional growth. Our Home Stylists enjoy a generous employee discount, competitive benefits including a pension plan, and the opportunity to inspire customers while building meaningful relationships within the community. With a commitment to diversity and respect, we empower our associates to express their passion for design and contribute to a culture that values innovation and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Home Stylist in London
✨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 Williams-Sonoma, 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 Williams-Sonoma!
We think you need these skills to ace Home Stylist in London
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 Williams-Sonoma, 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 Williams-Sonoma 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 Williams-Sonoma that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Williams-Sonoma
✨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!
