Sales Associate; Seasonal

Job Summary

As a Sales Associate, you will be essential in providing exceptional customer service and ensuring a positive shopping experience. You will assist customers by understanding their needs, offering expert product recommendations, and facilitating transactions. Responsibilities also include maintaining inventory, managing pricing and product displays, and ensuring a clean and organized store environment. Your dedication to service will drive sales and build customer loyalty.

At West Marine, our mission is to serve Boaters with a focus on "Know More, Get More, Boat More." Our customers rely on us to fulfill their needs, complete boat projects, or prepare for a great day on the water. Every interaction is an opportunity to exceed customer expectations and foster loyalty. West Marine is a Drug‑Free Workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• Greet and welcome customers as they enter the store.
• Engage with customers to understand their needs using open‑ended questions and active listening.
• Provide detailed product knowledge and suggestive selling to enhance the customer’s boating experience.
• Assist customers in selecting products and direct them to the appropriate aisle or location.
• Inform customers about available services and assist with special orders or drop‑ship purchases.
• Handle cash, credit, and on‑account transactions accurately, including processing returns and managing the register.
• Maintain accurate pricing by auditing and tagging merchandise, ensuring proper display and signage.
• Assist with inventory management, including receiving, stocking, and replenishing merchandise.
• Ensure the sales floor and aisles are neat, clean, and organized, removing any hazards or obstacles.
• Support the buy‑online‑pick‑up‑in‑store (BOPIS) process and assist with buy‑online‑ship‑from‑the‑store as needed.
• Alert management to potential security or loss‑prevention issues and assist in maintaining asset‑protection standards.
• Complete all required training and review standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the position.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Perform other job‑related duties as assigned.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to listen actively and respond to customer needs.
• Proven sales and customer service abilities.
• Familiarity with merchandise.
• Point‑of‑sale systems; ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Strong attention to detail and effective time management.

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Previous boating and/or retail experience preferred.

• Continuous standing and walking throughout the retail space.
• Ability to wear and communicate through a headset continuously.
• Frequent climbing, bending, stooping, and twisting.
• Occasionally operate equipment, including forklifts.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds to shoulder height unassisted frequently.

• Operate, assist with, or be assigned to hazardous power‑driven machinery, including:
  • Forklifts / powered industrial trucks
  • Motorized pallet jacks
  • Motorized conveyors
  • Trash compactors and balers
  • Power‑driven cutting, slicing, grinding, or processing machines
  • Any other power‑driven equipment deemed hazardous
• Operate, assist with, or be assigned to conduct work involving:
  • Hot knife
  • Chain cutter
  • Other cutting instruments
• Transportation/Delivery
• Drive any motor vehicle as part of their job
• Act as a helper on delivery or transport vehicles
• Hazardous Materials & Chemical Exposure
• Handle, mix, or directly work with:
• Hazardous materials (HAZMAT)
• Toxic, corrosive, or reactive chemicals
• Battery systems or chemicals posing burn/fire/explosion risk
• Clean up, respond to, or manage chemical spills
• Perform tasks involving significant exposure to hazardous substances
• HAZMAT Shipping & Logistics Activities
• Participate in hazardous materials shipping activities, including:
• Classifying hazardous materials
• Preparing hazardous shipments
• Signing or certifying shipping documents
• Independently handling regulated HAZMAT processes
• Hazardous Work Environments
• Work in areas where hazardous chemicals or materials are actively handled, processed, packaged, or shipped
• Work unsupervised in any area involving hazardous conditions

• Customer service
• Light manual stocking (nonhazardous materials only)
• Basic cleaning (non‑hazardous materials only)

West Marine offers a wide range of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision, various voluntary benefits, a 401(k) plan, and paid time off. For eligibility and additional information on these benefits, along with starting pay ranges for select states, please visit our benefits page at

Join us at West Marine and help us provide the best boating experience for our customers!