Part-time – approximately 2–3 days per week
Regular days will complement our existing team to help provide cover across our six-day opening week
About the Role
We are looking for a friendly, organised and confident Emporium & Business Support Assistant to join our team.
The role is based primarily in Marie’s Emporium, where you will look after customers and help with the day-to-day running of the shop.
Marie’s Emporium sells a varied range of products including teas, hot chocolate, crystals, aromatherapy, bath and body products, jewellery and gifts. An existing interest or knowledge in areas such as loose-leaf tea, crystals, wellbeing products or similar products would be a real advantage, although training will also be provided.
Alongside the retail side of the role, you will help with customer service and routine business administration across Marie’s and Future Survival.
The Emporium can have quieter periods, and we want those periods to be used productively. This could include answering telephone calls, responding to customer enquiries, helping with bookings and carrying out routine administrative work.
Previous administration experience would be desirable, particularly if you have worked in reception, customer service, bookings or general office administration, although full training on our systems and procedures will be provided.
Emporium Responsibilities
Your first responsibility will always be customers in the Emporium.
This will include:
- Welcoming and assisting customers.
- Learning about the products we sell and giving helpful advice.
- Processing sales and payments.
- Maintaining attractive and tidy displays.
- Replenishing stock.
- Checking deliveries.
- Identifying low-stock items.
- Keeping the Emporium clean, organised and welcoming.
- Supporting seasonal displays and promotions.
- Preparing customer orders and gift items where required.
- Developing good product knowledge across our ranges.
Customer Service & Business Support
During quieter periods in the Emporium, you will support the wider businesses.
This may include:
- Answering incoming telephone calls.
- Returning missed calls.
- Monitoring agreed customer inboxes.
- Responding to straightforward customer emails and messages.
- Answering common questions about Future Survival and Marie’s.
- Sending standard booking and activity information.
- Taking party, group and general booking enquiries.
- Helping customers with straightforward booking questions.
- Updating booking and customer information.
- Carrying out routine administration within our booking system.
- Checking for missing booking information.
- Chasing straightforward deposits, balances or customer information.
- Maintaining simple spreadsheets and trackers.
- Filing and basic data entry.
- Updating calendars and event information.
- Preparing and sending information packs.
- Supporting school, community and business outreach administration.
- Recording enquiries and making sure agreed follow-ups are completed.
- Passing more complicated matters to the appropriate person.
You will receive clear guidance about which enquiries and tasks you can deal with independently and when something should be escalated.
About You
We are looking for somebody who:
- Is friendly and confident speaking to customers.
- Has good telephone and communication skills.
- Is organised and reliable.
- Is comfortable using email and computer systems.
- Can follow processes accurately.
- Is able to work independently during quieter periods.
- Uses quiet time productively without needing constant supervision.
- Has good written communication skills.
- Is willing to learn about both Marie’s and Future Survival.
- Understands when an issue needs to be escalated.
- Is comfortable working as part of a small team.
It would be particularly useful if you have:
- Previous administration, reception or office experience.
- Retail or customer-service experience.
- Experience handling telephone or email enquiries.
- Experience using booking or customer-management systems.
- An interest or knowledge in loose-leaf tea, crystals, aromatherapy, wellbeing products, gifts or similar areas.
You do not need to have all of these, but they would be beneficial.
Training
Training will be provided in:
- Marie’s Emporium products and ranges.
- Future Survival activities and services.
- Telephone and customer-enquiry handling.
- Email procedures.
- Our booking system.
- Booking and payment administration.
- What you can deal with independently.
- When and how to escalate an issue.
- Routine business-support tasks.
The aim of the role is for you to become a reliable first point of contact for customers while also helping make sure everyday administrative work is completed consistently.
Working Pattern
Marie’s Tearoom & Emporium is open Tuesday to Sunday.
This vacancy will work opposite/complementary days to an existing Emporium team member, allowing us to provide consistent Emporium and daytime customer-support cover throughout the six-day week.
The exact regular days and hours will be discussed based on the existing rota and availability.
Weekend availability will be required.
Pay: Up to £12.71 per hour
Work Location: In person
