Part-time Pro Shop Associate

The Pro Shop Associate

Summary

The Pro Shop Associate is a team member with a passion for and experience in fishing and/or hunting who works in a Canadian Tire Associate Store Pro Shop. Their mission is to create an exceptional shopping experience for our fishing and hunting customers through professional and courteous customer service. The Pro Shop Associate interacts with customers while identifying their needs, assisting with finding products, explaining technical details of merchandise and making professional recommendations to assist customers in making informed buying decisions. This role also involves making suggestions for new products, ordering, communicating with vendors and maintaining the store such as stocking shelves, merchandising and general housekeeping.

Responsibilities and Tasks

Customer Service

• Provides excellent customer service to all customers entering the Pro Shop by smiling, greeting customers and selling products.

• Connects with customers by sharing knowledge and experience of fishing/hunting.

• Builds and maintains trust and relationships with customers and the community.

• Identifies and evaluates customers’ needs, guides customers to the location of requested items and explains technical details of merchandise.

• Answers fishing/hunting and product related questions and provides professional advice related to product information, technical features and methods of operation by using their experience and knowledge in fishing/hunting.

• Suggests value-added and related products to customers to ensure they go home with what they need.

• Is conscious of customer safety and provides information on the laws, regulations and safety guidelines of fishing/hunting in the area.

• Ends the discussion with the customer using a closing statement (e.g., “Is there anything else I can do for you today?” “Did you find everything you were looking for?” “Thank you for shopping at the Pro Shop”).

• Responds to and handles customer inquiries, requests and concerns in a timely manner, over the phone and in person.

• Handles multiple customers in an effective, efficient and safe manner (e.g., never brings out more than one gun at a time).

• Deals with challenging situations in a professional manner.

• Remains a product “expert” through continuously learning about new products, stays current with new trends, emerging technologies and keeps up to date on in-store deals and promotions in order to provide accurate information to customers.

Operations

• Stocks shelves and merchandises display areas using planograms as guidelines to ensure the Pro Shop is organized and fully stocked.

• Understands micro seasons and assists in seasonal floor merchandise moves.

• Assesses fishing/hunting market trends and the demand from the local community and suggests new products and ideas to attract and maintain customers (e.g., suggesting products specific for the species in the area).

• Maintains inventory accuracy and identifies/reports low stock levels (e.g., hole check and bin cap analysis).

• Reports stolen and damaged goods to Management and locates products in the warehouse.

• Operates computer and RF gun and enters all relevant coding in Canadian Tire systems.

• Networks and maintains relationships with vendors and local community fishing/hunting organizations in a courteous and professional manner.

• Plays an active role in the Pro Shop by openly sharing opinions and ideas on how to improve Pro Shop success.

• Engages in learning activities, listens to feedback to improve their own abilities and knowledge and participates in all training as required.

• Complies with company, store and department policies. Processes warranty returns/repairs on firearms.

• Abides by all health and safety programs and regulations in the store and in the Pro Shop. Reports any observed or potential hazards immediately.

• Uses professional language and maintains a professional appearance (uniform, hygiene, grooming and name tag) when interacting with others.

• Completes other tasks, as required.

Requirements

• Active fisher/hunter with a passion for outdoor activities and sports. Experience as a fishing/hunting guide is an asset.

• Strong knowledge and expertise in fishing/hunting (e.g. product knowledge, technical features, method of operations). ⁻ Fishing: knowledge of various makes and models of fishing products, including rods, reels and equipment. ⁻ Hunting: knowledge of various archery products, hunting equipment, hunting apparel, ammunition, firearms and related accessories. P.A.L. (Possession and Acquisition License) is required.

• Solid understanding of safety regulations and fishing/hunting laws and regulations.

• Must be 18 years of age to sell ammunition.

• Basic math and typing skills.

• Ability to work under minimal supervision with computerized systems.

• Experience in a customer service role and/or experience with a Canadian Tire Store is considered an asset.

Required Skills and Abilities

Successful candidates will demonstrate the following competencies :

• Highly approachable, customer-oriented individual who thrives on offering exceptional service and professional advice to customers.

• Strong passion for fishing/hunting with a motivation for learning to stay current with market trends and to remain a product “expert”.

• Passion for growing the business in the Pro Shop.

• Positive attitude, punctuality and solid work ethic.

• Ability to respond and handle retail/customer issues by using good judgment and logic in solving problems and making decisions.

• Strong belief in the Canadian Tire Values of honesty, integrity and respect.

• Effective communication skills (e.g., probing, listening, etc.) and the ability to maintain professional communication.

• Ability to adapt and cope with challenging and changing situations.

• Ability to work in a team environment that provides assistance and support to co-workers to achieve common goals.

• Ability to complete retail tasks according to instructions and demonstrate responsibility for outcomes.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

In compliance with the store’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures:

• Standing/walking for extended periods.

• Lifting and/or carrying of merchandise items, as required, on a regular, frequent and unassisted basis. Merchandise items may vary in weight from “light” to “heavy”.

• Lifting and turning repeatedly throughout the shift.

• Lifting above the shoulder, from floor to shoulder and floor to waist.

• Ability to go up and down a ladder while carrying merchandise.

• Walking and carrying things at the same time and pushing/pulling, as required.

• Ability to work a flexible schedule which may include holiday, night and weekend hours.

Potential Career Opportunities

• Next levels: Buyer, Merchandiser, Supervisor, Department Manager, Store Manager and General Manager.

• Other retail, customer service and management opportunities in a large network of more than 485 Canadian Tire Stores and more than 100 Canadian Tire Pro Shops across the country.

• Career opportunities across the larger Canadian Tire family (Canadian Tire Petroleum, PartSource, Mark’s, FGL Sports Ltd, Canadian Tire Corporation Limited and Canadian Tire Financial Services).