Sales Associate (DC) - Part Time in Washington, District of Columbia at East Fork Pottery

Sales Associate (Part-Time)

Job Description V2026.01

At East Fork, we pride ourselves on being more than just a workplace – we are a community committed to inclusivity and excellence. Our mission is woven into everything we do: to set a beautiful and abundant table. For us, craft isn't just about the products we create; it's about the meticulous care and spirit with which we create them.

Whether you're shaping clay, managing operations, or supporting our community initiatives, you'll find a place where your contributions are cherished and your growth is nurtured.

The Sales Associate staff position upholds and embodies East Fork Pottery’s high standards for person-centered, tailor-fit customer service. The ideal candidate will be able to effectively work with the Store Manager & fellow Store Associates to help meet and exceed monthly sales goals, while promoting the East Fork atmosphere. In order to help ensure all aspects of this position are performed as expected, there will be regularly scheduled performance reviews. This part-time position reports to the Store Manager.

• Implement strategies from management to reach monthly sales goals

• Be able to speak knowledgeably about every product we carry in our store

• Demonstrate selling and product knowledge strategies to determine the customer's needs and offer suggestions or alternatives

• Ensure the highest level of customer care

• Build genuine, lasting relationships with customers via quality interpersonal interactions

• Serve as an extension of the brand by aligning with East Fork Mission, Vision and Values

• Ensure a customer's positive final impression at the cash wrap by following/ensuring staff follow all company procedures

• Understand merchandising guidelines and collaborate with management to maintain displays

• Relay inventory/supply needs to Store Manager in a timely manner

• Maintain general organization and cleanliness of storefront and storage rooms

• Assist store management in receiving orders and processing shipment

• Assist Store Manager in cyclical store inventory counts

• Follow proper security procedures to protect employees, customers, and company assets

• Have a good working knowledge of the technical aspects of our operation as it applies to customer inquiries

• Make sure all customer facing interactions are value aligned

• Open and close the store according to task list

• Follow all company policies and procedures

• Other tasks as needed

Store Manager

Regional Store Staff, CX Team, Fulfillment Team

none

Your first review will be 90 days after your start date, then a six-month check-in and a development review annually for the duration of your employment. During each review, your performance and ability to achieve the following metrics will be evaluated.

• Register activities are completed accurately and drawer balances

• Knowledgeable about company product, selling strategies, and applicable technical aspects

• Storefront and storage rooms are clean and organized reported in EOD

• Daily sales goals are met

• Accurate merchandise tagging

20-24 hours per week scheduled throughout Monday-Sunday

Regular weekends and holiday schedule

This position is part-time, non-exempt.

Our Retail location located at 1313 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20007

East Fork shall pay you $23.15 hourly at Grade 1

• Ability to respect and communicate across lines of cultural differences

• Ability to address conflict by assuming positive intent and seeking to understand

• Ability to embrace a mistake without fault

• A commitment to center the active process of self awareness

• Excellent customer service skills

• Strong skill set in using technology and systems efficiently

• Ability to manage competing priorities

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing

• Ability to problem solve

• Ability to meet performance metrics

• Ability to work a flexible schedule

Extensive physical exertions which includes but are not limited to:

• Lifting of up to 50 lbs. as needed

• Transporting merchandise and equipment

• Repetitive bending and arm motions

• Ability to adhere to all safety protocols

East Fork is located in Asheville, NC, Washington DC, and Brooklyn, NY. At our heart we are makers: we produce every piece of ceramics we sell and source other objects for the home from near and far to offer a meaningful, beautiful, and personal collection of useful objects for the home.

Part-Time Benefits

• Prorated Sick Leave

• Prorated Bereavement Leave

• Prorated Court Activity Leave

• Regularly scheduled holiday pay

• Employee Assistance Network

• Employee Discount

• Employer matched 401(k)

Craft: Craft is not the things we make, it’s the way we make them. It’s the spirit in which we approach our work, to make it nice, to aspire to mastery, and it demonstrates our care about the person who will use the product of our work and how our work impacts their life.

Generosity: We work towards a model of shared prosperity, setting a bigger, more inclusive, more equitable table for everyone we meet - from our employees to the communities in which we live.

Consideration: We approach each other with focus, clarity, and kindness. We think deeply about the outcome and impacts of our actions, on our organization, the individuals within it, our customers, our environment, and our community.

Curiosity: We stay in our beginner's mind, humble, aware of how much we do not know, striving earnestly and open-heartedly towards our shared success.

At East Fork, we’re committed to building a workplace where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. We believe that a diverse team—with varied backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences—makes us a stronger, more creative, and more resilient company.

We recognize the ways systemic inequities have shaped our society and our industry. We're committed to doing the ongoing work of understanding those dynamics and creating a culture that actively fosters equity and belonging.

We strive to create an environment where all people can show up fully—as themselves—and contribute to something meaningful. We believe excellence comes not from sameness, but from the richness of our differences. This work is never finished, and we welcome every team member to join us in building a more inclusive East Fork.

Levels for Role

Level One

Sales Associate

Level two

Sales Associate 2

• Basic knowledge of merchandising

• Basic understanding of inventory management

• Be able to effectively upsell customers to increase AOV

• Knowledge of set building and be able to provide white glove service

• Ability to handle escalated customer issues and direct dissatisfied customers to senior team members or management when necessary

• Support with posting on social media channels as directed by Store Manager

• Assist with keeping store stocked with essentials

• Assist with events and launches (planning and day of execution)

• Be able to speak knowledgeably about every product we carry in our store with a high level of proper product usage

Level two

Sales Associate 3

• Expert knowledge of merchandising

• Expert understanding of inventory management

• Advanced knowledge of Shopify, POS workflow, pricing, and product vendors

• Ability to de-escalate customer frustration and direct dissatisfied customers to management when necessary

• Ability to self-motivate with upselling techniques and increasing AOV and conversion

• Support launch moments by leading Levels 1-2 on merchandising plan (provided by Visual Merchandiser)

• Support Sr Sales Associate or store manager with inventory counts and inventory receiving

• Review daily, weekly, monthly KPI’s and implement processes and techniques to improve output