Work With Us

Paper & Pencil is hiring!

We are looking for a full-time Sales Associate to join our team.

Please read below to learn more about the role of Sales Associate at Paper & Pencil and use the links at the end of the job posting to apply!

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 PM CT on Sunday, September 20.

Applicants will be notified of their application status by Friday, October 16.

Please no emails, calls, messages, or visits regarding the role - only applications submitted through the form linked below will be considered!

Paper & Pencil Mission, Vision, & Values…

MISSION

To help our community deepen their connections with themselves and the people they love through thoughtful, unique, and creative stationery and accessories.

VISION

We're building a community of people who cherish old-school journaling, letter-writing, note-taking, and birthday card-sending.

VALUES

Welcome Everyone Our customers are welcomed, seen, heard, and valued when shopping at Paper & Pencil.

Do It On Purpose We believe in doing everything on purpose and are intentional with our time and efforts.

Consider The Impact We are conscious of where our products come from, who makes them, how they get to us, and how we present them to our customers. We always consider the impact of our words, choices, and actions.

Figure It Out Problems will always exist; but, we’re here to figure them out! We value ingenuity, initiative, and ownership.

Always Inclusive Everyone is welcomed and invited to be part of our community.

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Paper & Pencil Sales Associate

Location: 5208 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640
Job Type: Full-Time, Hourly/Non-Exempt

About the Sales Associate Role…
Sales Associates at Paper & Pencil provide 5-star customer service, aiming to create a welcoming environment where every customer feels valued and supported. They are attentive and welcoming, helpful and knowledgeable, warm and friendly, and respectful and understanding. They take initiative and ownership of the space where they work – always willing to seek out answers for customers and themselves and ensuring shop visual standards are met. They are smart, quick to problem solve, and eager to help. When customers shop at Paper & Pencil the service they receive from our team should be just as good as the quality of the stationery goods and supplies we stock.

Sales Associate Responsibilities…

Greet every customer warmly.
Assist customers in finding products to meet their needs.
Confidently offer product recommendations including upselling and cross-selling.
Maintain extensive product knowledge about specialty stationery supplies including papers and notebooks, journaling tools, writing tools such as pens and pencils, fine-writing items such as fountain pens, inks, art supplies, and more.
Provide knowledgeable answers to questions about products.
Maintain the presentation and organization of merchandise on the sales floor.
Uphold a clean and tidy store environment, including restocking shelves, tidying displays, dusting, sweeping, and mopping.
Assist in receiving and stocking merchandise, ensuring products are correctly priced and labeled and quantities are input correctly.
Operate the point of sale system and handle transactions accurately.
Handle customer inquiries and resolve issues promptly and courteously.
Monitor products and customers to ensure items are not stolen or damaged.
Contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment.
Promote store promotions, sales, and special events to customers.
Continuously learn about new products and promotions to assist customers.

Sales Associate Requirements…

Previous retail, sales, or customer service experience required.
Experience in high-touch customer service preferred.
Passion for stationery, art supplies, and creative products is a must.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with an outgoing demeanor.
A good team player who is a good listener, adaptable, and aware of others.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment in close proximity to customers and co-workers.
Reliable and punctual with a strong work ethic.
Flexibility to work a variety of shifts – weekends and holidays required.
High school diploma or equivalent, college degree preferred.
Legally authorized to work in the United States.

Sales Associate Physical Requirements…

Standing, Walking, and Navigating Stairs: Sales Associates are required to stand for extended periods, freely move around the store to assist customers, and perform tasks such as restocking shelves and carrying inventory.
Lifting and Carrying: Sales Associates need to lift and carry boxes of merchandise up to 50 pounds.
Manual Dexterity: Handling products, organizing displays, and operating a POS system require good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
Reaching and Bending: Stocking shelves, arranging displays, and retrieving products for customers may involve reaching, bending, stretching, and using ladders or stepstools.
Physical Endurance: The role may involve repetitive tasks and interactions with customers throughout the shift, requiring physical stamina.
Multi-Tasking: Sales Associates may have to work on several projects or tasks at the same time requiring multi-tasking and quickly shifting your focus.
Visual Acuity: Reading product labels, assisting customers in selecting items, and operating a POS system necessitate good vision.
Speech and Listening: You should be able to understand the speech of another person and speak clearly so listeners can understand.

Full-Time Sales Associate Scheduling Requirements…

Full-time Sales Associates are required to work 36-38 hours per week to be considered full-time and receive full-time benefits.
Sales Associates are required to work weekends and certain bank holidays.
Full-time Sales Associates typically work 4 full shifts and one half shift each week.
Schedules are published on a monthly basis, two weeks before the first of the month. Time off requests must be communicated on the first of the month for the following month.

Things That Make Candidates Stand Out…

Previous experience in high-touch, specialty retail at stores that sell stationery, fountain pens, art supplies, jewelry, luxury clothing, handbags, shoes, fragrances, furniture, or home decor.
Having a regular journaling or creative practice.
Being involved in the Chicago stationery, journaling, art, or crafty community.
Knowledge of the specialty brands that we carry (such as TRAVELER’S COMPANY and Hobonichi).
Knowledge of fine writing items such as fountain pens and inks.
Bilingual or multilingual candidates who have a working proficiency of Spanish and/or Japanese.

Sales Associate Benefits…

Pay starts at $20/hour.
40% discount on all merchandise purchased for personal use.
Paid time off.
Paid sick leave.
Paid meal breaks.
Year end cash bonus.
Health insurance reimbursement.
First access to new stationery goods and supplies.
Friendly and supportive work environment in a locally-owned business.

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