Monday, September 30, 2013

Sugar is hiring an Assistant Manager


**********
-->
Assistant Manager
Job Description

The Assistant Manager is responsible for exceling as a Sex Educator, supporting other Sex Educators in their positions and supporting the Manager in daily operations, purchasing and reporting. 
-->As a Sex Educator, the Assistant Manager is responsible for answering customers’ questions, using active listening skills to determine the customer’s concerns and needs, providing customers with the information they require to make the purchases that are best for them and/or providing customers with referrals to other community organizations, stores or healthcare providers if Sugar is not able to meet their needs.  In addition, SEs process sales in the POS system, stock the store and maintain information in the Inventory Control system, ensure that the store is clean and tidy at all times, fulfill customer orders for shipping and perform other duties as assigned.  These duties may include:  store decoration, workshop instruction and/or special events. The Assistant Manager works as part of the team to provide customers with the highest level of customer service and to ensure that the mission of Sugar is consistently at the forefront of all decisions in the store and visible in all aspects of the business

Daily functions include performing all duties of the Sex Educator position in addition to Assistant Manager functions.

Skills and Requirements:
-       A passion for Sugar’s mission
-       Experience in retail sales, customer service, reproductive health care or education
-       Expertise in retail store operations
-       Computer literacy
-       Excellent sales and customer service skills
-       Ability to think strategically and use systems based thinking
-       Able to work evenings and weekends
-       Able to lift up to 50 lbs
-       Comfort with and acceptance of diverse sexualities
-       Cultural competency with diverse communities
-       Knowledge and understanding of queer and gender issues
-       Commitment to a team environment
-       A mind that is open to new things and ways of solving problems

Preferred skills:
-       Previous supervisory experience
-       Previous experience with Point of Sale systems

Responsibilities
-       Perform all Sex Educator responsibilities
-       Merchandising
o   Work with the Manager to develop in store visual promotions plan in concert with overall store marketing plan
o   Update and change displays in store at least monthly
o   Work with manager to continually refine and improve store appearance.
-       Staff
o   Assist manager with hiring, staff support and staff training
o   Oversee staff scheduling
o   Maintain an open flow of information and education in the store between manager and sex educators
o   Support Manager in fostering a supportive, systems based environment that enables the team to achieve store goals and objectives
-       Purchasing
o   Spot check inventory levels weekly by department (each department checked at least monthly)
o   Assist manager with purchasing and receiving
-       Education
o   Assist manager with staff training
o   Coordinate private workshops
o   Assist manager with scheduling and running public workshops
-       Maintain all retail floor reporting paper work and supply to Manager
-       Support Manager in maintaining profitability in all areas, including, sales, operations, and customer service
-       Research and suggest new products to manager
-       Act as Manager On Duty when manager is unavailable.
-       Other duties as assigned


30  hours a week (approximately 25 hours working the floor, 5 hours off the floor)
Includes all benefits and responsibilities of Sex Educator position

Sugar will provide the Assistant Manager with:
$14 an hour – eligible for a $1 increase after two successful months of employment
A commitment to a systems oriented work place.
A work place that is respectful and supportive.



Mission

Sugar is a lesbian owned, multi-gender operated, for profit, mission driven sex toy store.  By providing education and toys in a shame free, sex positive, fun environment we help people of all genders and orientations experience their own unique sexuality with shameless joy and passion. 

Vision

A world in which healthy sexuality is respected and celebrated in all of its diversity.

Values

Sugar believes that sex between consenting adults is sacred, powerful and fun and should be celebrated and honored.  By providing quality education and toys in a sex positive, fun atmosphere, we will help foster healthy sexuality.  In order to provide our customers with impeccable customer service we strive to create a work environment that is healthy and supportive of each and every member of the Sugar team.  Sugar also works to exist in the environment in a way that is sustainable and responsible.

****** 


To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to jacq@sugartheshop.com. The cover letter must include both how your experience is related to this position and why you want to work at Sugar. 

Applications must be received by Noon on Monday, October 7th






Sunday, September 29, 2013

Build-A-Vibe!!

Twice a year I go to Vegas for the International Lingerie Show. The trade show features lingerie and adult toys. Distributors and manufacturers have booths and buyers (like me) roam the floor looking for products to buy for their stores and websites. It's a place where you can find the newest products, build relationships and learn about what's coming out next. Most importantly, it means that we get to hold the new products in our hands, turn them on and beg manufacturers for testers. It's also a place where the really good manufacturers solicit feedback on their products. One of these manufacturers is Crave.

You may have seen their products at Sugar. They make the Duet and Solo - two high powered, waterproof, super sleek USB charging vibes. You can pull these vibes apart and charge the bottom part in your computer and no one will know it's not a jump drive.

The Duet came out about two years ago. When it first came out, several of us retailers and reviewers had some complaints about the design. Guess what. They listened. Asked questions. Showed us options. And quickly changed the vibe. Since then, I've had a soft spot for Crave. Was their choice to listen and make changes based on feedback a good business decision? Of course it was. But doing so takes a sense of humility and openness that's hard to find. And the best toy designers have it.

Crave assembles their products in house in San Francisco. That enables them to have a high level of quality. Sometimes they bring their assembly set up with them. They had their build-a-vibe station in their booth at ILS.
Of course, I happily signed up. Accompanied by Crave's head engineer, I took all of the components of the Duet vibe and put them together with my own hands. It was fascinating. The motor had already gone through most of it's tests before it arrived in Vegas. Before assembly, each motor is run for over an hour and each battery is tested as well.

With my tested parts in my tray, it was time to start. First, I picked up the motor, put the silicone sleeve over the motor, put the mother board in the case, cranked the case shut, and then tested each part for waterproofness. One part failed. Which was cool. I got to see how the part was checked to determine where the failure was. We figured out that the silicone sleeve had a tiny leak somewhere. Once the sleeve was replaced, and passed the test I had a brand new vibrator in my hand.


One of the things that I love about this industry is how many different skill sets are needed to make it work. We need engineers (Greg who owns nJoy used to design metal bicycle parts), supply chains, entrepreneurs (Michael, the founder of Crave used to own a company that made underwater cameras), educators, chemists, marketers, authors, graphic designers, retailers. There is so much work, creativity and passion needed to bring a good product to market. And at the end, if everything works well, it makes orgasms.

Damn. What a privilege to be a part of that process.

And. New fabulous vibrator. Assembled by me.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad