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Assistant Store Leader, Customer Experience & Outreach at Crate & Barrel

Crate & Barrel Richmond, VA

Job Description

Strategic and service-driven, the Assistant Store Leader - Customer Experience & Outreach drives sales and engagement through hands-on leadership and a passion for delivering results. In this role, you lead sales and service programs, train and coach associates, and implement engagement initiatives that boost customer acquisition, retention, and loyalty. You oversee the performance of key programs such as Design Services, Trade, Registry, and in-store events-driving traffic, conversion, and long-term relationships. By analyzing KPIs, managing customer feedback, and maintaining brand standards, you ensure operational excellence and a consistent, elevated store experience. You also manage scheduling, expenses, and safety awareness while driving kitchen and Registry business through proactive outreach and events that bring the brand to life.

A day in the life as an Assistant Store Leader

  • In collaboration with the Store Leader, manage and delegate workload and ensure execution of plans and strategies across the store and in assigned area.
  • Partner with the Store Leader to establish and communicate all critical metrics and expectations within the store, including but not limited to sales, visual, operations, safety, loss prevention, human resources, payroll/scheduling and training.
  • Coach, teach, train, recognize and manage all aspects of performance and development for all store associates to encourage professional growth and build a bench of talent.
  • Focus on promoting and driving sales as they pertain to, or are driven by, position and acting as the Leader on Duty (LOD).
  • Collaborate with Store Leader and other functional Assistant Store Leaders during new season planning and execution
  • Analyze results through reporting, translating numbers into actionable behaviors and goals in order to improve KPI results.
  • Ensure all customers are provided gracious, quick and efficient service. Set expectations and model excellent service by exhibiting a positive attitude and enthusiasm toward the job and the company to both internal and external customers in all forms of communication.
  • Communicate regularly with the management team concerning all aspects of sales, customer feedback/traffic and associate training/performance. Participate in weekly store walk-throughs with the management team and follow-up as required.
  • Stay up to date on all store initiatives and communications that are received, sharing with associates when appropriate.

What you'll bring to the table

  • Your sense of personal style with a discerning eye and passion for design and home furnishings
  • Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem solving skills
  • Strong delegation skills in support of execution and driving results
  • Proven ability to build a culture focused on success and teamwork

We'd love to hear from you if you have

  • 2+ years customer service or retail leadership experience
  • Experience with Microsoft Office, Google applications, computer systems and tablet devices
  • Full-Time roles: Open availability to work flexible hours on weekdays, evenings and weekends

Typical entry-level pay: $28k for Cashiers nationally

National salary averages
Expected entry-level
$28k
Entry
Mid
Senior
Expected
$23k Market range (10th-90th percentile) $38k

Pay increases slowly with experience in this field.

Raises may be modest; negotiate well upfront.

Hot hiring, constrained wages

Employers are hiring actively, but pay hasn't caught up with demand. Focus on competing offers and non-salary benefits.

Hiring leverage
Candidate-favored
Wage leverage âš  Disconnect
Constrained
Mobility
High mobility
Durability
High fragility

Why this market feels harder than it looks

This market is hiring aggressively, but compensation hasn't caught up and most openings are backfilling churn, not expansion. Employers are filling roles, but not bidding wages up.

Who this leverage applies to

Stronger for: Senior candidates with options
Weaker for: Entry-level candidates, Career switchers

Where to negotiate

Base salary
Sign-on bonus
Title / level
Remote flexibility
Scope & responsibility
Start date / PTO

Likely Possible Unlikely

Watch out for

Wage disconnect: Hiring is active but pay hasn't responded—negotiate on other terms.

Don't let hiring headlines mislead you—focus on concrete offers. Your leverage may be less durable than it appears—move decisively.

Does this path compound?

Job Growth →
High churn
Growth, flat pay
🚀 Compound
Growth + pay upside
⚠️ Plateau
Limited growth
Specialize
Experts earn more
Pay Upside →
Stable but flat

Steady work, but limited growth in both jobs and pay.

-10%
10yr growth
Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new positions.
542,600 openings projected annually—mostly replacing retirees and turnover.
Typical: No formal educational credential

Consider building adjacent skills to stay marketable.

Labor data: BLS 2024