Part-Time

Retail Gearhead / Sales Associate

Backcountry

Sur La Table

Sur La Table

1,001-5,000 employees

Premium kitchenware retailer with classes

Compensation Overview

$17.50 - $18/hr

Washington, DC, USA

In Person

On-site in Washington, District of Columbia; part-time role; evenings and weekends required.

Category
Retail (1)
Required Skills
Sales
Inventory Management
Marketing

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Requirements
  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Some college coursework preferred
  • Previous retail sales experience preferred
  • Excellent communication and customer service skills
  • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
  • Basic computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office and point-of-sale systems
  • Flexibility to work weekends, holidays, and evenings
  • Passion for outdoor activities and knowledge of outdoor gear and apparel
Responsibilities
  • Greet and assist customers with their purchases
  • Provide product information, advice, and recommendations to customers
  • Process sales transactions accurately and efficiently
  • Maintain a clean and organized store environment
  • Manage inventory levels and restock merchandise
  • Participate in company-wide promotions and marketing campaigns
  • Collaborate with the marketing and buying teams to ensure product offerings align with customer needs
  • Continuously strive to improve customer satisfaction and exceed sales targets
  • Develop and maintain knowledge of products, industry trends, and competitors
  • Specialized knowledge in skiing, snowboarding, biking, climbing, fly fishing, or other outdoor sport preferred
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Store Manager and Assistant Store Manager
Desired Qualifications
  • Specialized knowledge in skiing, snowboarding, biking, climbing, fly fishing, or other outdoor sport preferred
  • Outdoor industry and retail experience, nice to have

Sur La Table sells premium cookware, dinnerware, cutlery, kitchen electrics, and bakeware through brick-and-mortar stores and an online platform, and it also runs one of the largest cooking-class programs in the United States. Customers browse and purchase products online or in stores, while hands-on cooking classes teach techniques from basic to specialized cuisines; SLT Perks rewards purchases with points, and affiliate partners earn commissions. The business combines a wide range of premium kitchen goods with a large, active education program and a loyalty scheme accessible in-store and online, setting it apart from retailers that sell gear or offer classes alone. Its goal is to be the go-to destination for premium kitchen products and culinary learning, building a community of home cooks and professionals through products, classes, loyalty, and partnerships.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Hopkins, Minnesota

Founded

1972

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • South Coast Plaza reopens March 6, 2026 with larger retail and kitchen space.
  • Coffee Foundry launched October 1, 2025, expanding Sur La Table into specialty coffee.
  • Good Housekeeping named two Sur La Table products 2026 Kitchen Award winners.

What critics are saying

  • Troy, Michigan closes February 22, 2026, showing continued store contraction after bankruptcy.
  • Dallas and SouthPark closures keep shrinking the experiential-store footprint.
  • If classes and mall traffic erode, Sur La Table's premium retail model becomes replaceable.

What makes Sur La Table unique

  • Sur La Table pairs premium cookware with in-store cooking classes, unlike mass retailers.
  • Chef-led experiences create customer attachment and higher-margin engagement beyond product sales.
  • The 2025 Seattle Coffee Gear acquisition broadens specialty coffee into a complementary category.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Pet Insurance

Employee Discounts

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

5%

1 year growth

5%

2 year growth

5%
Greater Long Island
Apr 9th, 2025
Sur La Table set to re-open at Smith Haven Mall in June

Sur La Table shut down its Smith Haven store in 2020 when its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

CoffeeTalk
Mar 5th, 2025
Sur La Table Acquires Seattle Coffee Gear

Sur La Table has acquired Seattle Coffee Gear, a Washington-based coffee equipment retailer founded in 2005. This acquisition will enable Sur La Table to expand its offerings and engage with the coffee community more effectively, enhancing the shopping experience and providing Seattle Coffee Gear's customers with a broader national retail presence.

Citybiz
Mar 4th, 2025
Sur La Table, Announces Asset Purchase of Seattle Coffee Gear

SEATTLE, March 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Sur La Table, a nationwide specialty retailer of cookware, kitchen electrics, and bakeware, today announced the acquisition of Seattle Coffee Gear, a Washington state-based coffee equipment retailer, in an asset purchase.

WFAA
Jan 13th, 2025
This prominent cookware retailer, known for its popular cooking classes, is closing one of its longstanding Dallas locations this month

DALLAS - Sur La Table, a Seattle-based retailer that specializes in cookware and kitchen tool sales and also offers popular cooking classes, is closing its Dallas location on Cole Avenue near Knox Street later this month.

Charlotte Ledger
Jan 4th, 2025
Sur La Table to close at SouthPark Mall

Sur La Table to close at SouthPark Mall.