Retail Sales Associate

Socola Chocolatier is an award-winning chocolate company that creates artisanal handcrafted chocolates and confections inspired by the diverse flavors of Vietnam.

We are led by our CEO and Chief Chocolatier Wendy Lieu, whose heritage and artistry permeates through everything we make.

Company Overview

Socola Chocolatier is an award-winning, Vietnamese-inspired artisan chocolate company handcrafted in San Francisco. We’re excited to grow our team at our SFO Terminal 3 location!

Our SFO shop features locally made, unique chocolates for travelers visiting and departing the San Francisco Bay Area. Our chocolates are both delicious treats and memorable San Francisco gifts and souvenirs.

We are looking for an outgoing, energetic, and sales-oriented Retail Sales Associate who genuinely enjoys talking to people. This is an active sales position—we want someone who is comfortable approaching travelers, offering samples, starting conversations, recommending products, and helping customers find the perfect chocolate or gift.

The ideal candidate is friendly, confident, self-motivated, and comfortable selling independently. You should enjoy meeting new people and take pride in creating a warm, memorable customer experience while helping the store achieve its sales goals.

 

Click here to apply with the employer!!

Closing Shift – 2–3 shifts per week:
Approximately 3:00 or 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM, depending on the day.

A third weekly shift is flexible and may be a mid, opening, or closing shift depending on store needs.

This position may be especially well suited for someone already working at SFO who is looking to pick up an additional 2–3 shifts per week.

When applying, please include your current work schedule and your availability.

ResponsibilitiesSales & Customer Experience

• Proactively greet and engage travelers passing by the store.
• Offer chocolate samples and use sampling as an opportunity to start conversations and introduce customers to Socola.
• Ask questions, listen to customers' needs, and make thoughtful product and gift recommendations.
• Confidently explain our chocolates, flavors, Vietnamese inspiration, San Francisco roots, and product offerings.
• Actively work to convert customer interactions and sampling into sales.
• Suggest additional products, gifts, and complementary items when appropriate.
• Build rapport quickly with customers from around the world.
• Create a warm, fun, welcoming, and memorable shopping experience.
• Work toward individual and store sales goals.
• Take initiative during slower periods to engage travelers rather than waiting for customers to enter the store.

Store Operations

• Accurately process sales and customer transactions.
• Keep the store fully stocked and merchandise displays attractive and inviting.
• Label and prepare chocolates and confections for sale as needed.
• Maintain a clean and polished retail environment, including light cleaning such as sweeping, dusting, and vacuuming.
• Receive, unpack, and organize product deliveries.
• Take inventory and monitor product levels.
• Prepare daily and weekly order reports.
• Complete opening and/or closing responsibilities independently.

Qualifications

• At least one year of retail, sales, hospitality, food service, or other customer-facing sales experience preferred.
• Outgoing personality and genuine enjoyment of talking with new people.
• Comfortable approaching customers and starting conversations.
• Strong sales instincts and enthusiasm for recommending products.
• Excellent listening, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Able to read customers and adjust your sales approach accordingly.
• Positive, enthusiastic, and professional attitude.
• Self-motivated and able to stay productive without constant supervision.
• Comfortable working independently for extended periods.
• Reliable, responsible, and punctual.
• Comfortable working toward sales goals and receiving sales coaching and feedback.
• Must be able to meet SFO airport badging and security requirements, including required background checks and security training.

This position is best suited for someone who enjoys selling and interacting with people. If you prefer to wait for customers to approach you or are uncomfortable initiating conversations with strangers, this may not be the right fit.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk between airport parking/transit areas, the store, and other areas of the airport.
• Ability to stand and walk for up to 8 hours at a time.
• Ability to regularly lift, push, pull, balance, and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to unload and unpack deliveries.
• Ability to take trash, compost, and recycling to airport receptacles.
• Occasional ascending or descending ladders, stairs, and ramps.
• Frequent reaching, turning, bending, and repetitive wrist movements.
• Ability to communicate verbally with customers throughout the shift.
• Ability to distinguish differences and similarities in flavors and aromas with reasonable accuracy.
• Ability to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as scheduled.

Compensation & Benefits

Job Type: Part-Time
Pay: Starting at $22.01/hour + tips

90-Day Performance Review: All new team members receive a performance review after approximately 90 days. Associates who demonstrate strong sales performance, proactive customer engagement, reliability, and the ability to work independently may be eligible for a pay increase based on performance.

Who We're Looking For

Our strongest team members aren't just cashiers—they are hosts, storytellers, and salespeople. They notice travelers, make eye contact, offer a sample, start a conversation, and help turn someone's walk through the airport into a memorable Socola experience.

If you are outgoing, dependable, competitive in a positive way, and get satisfaction from making a sale and giving someone a great experience, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply, please tell us:

• Your current work schedule and availability.
• Your previous sales or customer service experience.
• Why you enjoy sales and interacting with customers.
• An example of how you would approach a traveler walking past the store and encourage them to try Socola.