Retail Sales Associate at Wild Fork in Vernon Hills, Illinois

Job description

• Retail Sales Associate
• As a Retail Sales Associate, you create an exceptional experience for every guest by delivering Wild Fork’s service philosophy of personal chef and friendly butcher. You engage customers with expert product
• knowledge, meal inspiration, and warm hospitality while supporting replenishment, inventory accuracy, and store readiness.
• You play a vital role in maintaining a clean, well-stocked, easy-to-shop store and confidently perform essential operational routines — including working in freezer environments, handling cash, and supporting opening and closing duties — even when leadership is not present.
• You bring our values to life every day: Determination, Simplicity, Availability, Humility, Sincerity, Discipline, Ownership.
• Position Type: Full-time + Part-time
• Starting Wage: $18.50 per hour + Bonus Potential

Responsibilities

• Customer Experience & Selling
• Deliver a warm, engaging “personal chef & friendly butcher” shopping experience.
• Provide recommendations, cooking tips, recipes, and product insights based on customer needs.
• Demonstrate understanding of daily sales goals, promotions, and store priorities, and apply that knowledge through effective customer interaction and selling behaviors.
• Drive sales by engaging customers, building baskets, and suggesting product pairings.
• Support Wild Fork’s service standards to ensure customers feel welcomed, valued, and inspired to return.
• Leverage product knowledge to confidently recommend solutions, build basket size, and deliver a personalized, engaging customer experience.
• Replenishment, Merchandising & Store Readiness
• Stock, rotate, and merchandise products to ensure a full, fresh, and visually compelling store.
• Complete FIFO rotation and maintain accurate labeling and pricing.
• Keep the store clean, organized, and customer-ready at all times.
• Support planogram changes, promotional sets, and daily recovery routines.
• Inventory Support
• Assist with receiving and processing deliveries with care and accuracy.
• Maintain back-stock organization and communicate low stock or product issues promptly.
• Follow shrink-prevention practices and report concerns to leadership.
• Freezer & Cold Environment Work
• Confidently work in cold temperatures (walk-in freezer) to pull products, organize stock, and execute counts.
• Adhere to food safety, sanitation, and freezer safety guidelines.
• Cash Handling & Opening/Closing Routines
• Operate the POS with accuracy; process transactions, returns, and exchanges.
• Perform opening and closing duties when leadership is not present, including register counts, cash pulls, safe drops, store walkthroughs for readiness and safety
• Follow all cash handling SOPs with precision and integrity.
• Team Collaboration & Support
• Work closely with Team Leaders to execute daily priorities and meet store goals.
• Participate in training, product knowledge sessions, and new processes.
• Actively participate in ongoing training and development to strengthen product expertise, selling capability and consistency in execution.
• Support a positive, inclusive team culture where everyone feels valued.

Requirements

• 1 year of retail, grocery, hospitality, or food experience required.
• Strong customer service skills with enthusiasm for food and culinary exploration.
• Ability to work in fast-paced environments and manage multiple tasks.
• Comfortable working in extremely cold temperatures.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand/walk 8–10 hours.
• Flexible scheduling (mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays).
• Basic math skills for cash handling; POS experience a plus.

Skills

Required

• Strong customer service skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
• Ability to stand/walk 8-10 hours
• Basic math skills for cash handling

Preferred

• POS experience

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Health Reimbursement Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, Behavioral Health Matters Program, Live Health Online (Virtual Care)
• Monthly Bonus Plan
• 401(k) and Company Match
• PTO: Vacation, Sick, Birthday PTO
• Culinary Perks: Culinary Training, Chew on This – Monthly Product Giveaway, Wild Chef – Monthly Allowance to Shop in Store
• Ongoing Development: Mentorship Program, Better Futures Program (free community college)
• Optional Perks: Fin Fit – Financial Resources, Discounts (cars, cell phones, services & more), Employee Referral Bonus Program