Jobs › Tapestry

Sales Associate III

Tapestry · Rosemont, IL · $15.00–$19.50 an hour · Part time

Posted Aug 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you built a relationship with a customer that brought them back again.

What they are checking: Real clienteling instinct, since repeat clients are how associates meet personal sales goals at Coach.

Tell me about a time you missed a sales goal. What did you do next?

What they are checking: How they respond to performance pressure and whether they adjust their approach rather than make excuses.

What does luxury service mean to you, and how is it different from regular retail?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the elevated standard Coach sets in its Guide to Style and Service.

Tell me about a time you helped a coworker close a sale or handle a tough customer.

What they are checking: Team selling mindset, since store goals matter as much as personal goals here.

What would you do

A client walks in and says she's just browsing. How do you start a conversation that feels natural, not pushy?

What they are checking: Whether they can open a luxury service interaction warmly without pressure, which drives the Coach experience.

A client is buying a bag. How would you suggest something more without it feeling like a sales pitch?

What they are checking: Ability to cross-sell by solving the client's needs, not by pushing add-ons.

The store is packed, you have a client in the middle of a purchase, and someone else is waiting. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Ability to acknowledge waiting clients and juggle service without making anyone feel ignored.

A client wants to return a bag that's clearly been used. How do you handle the conversation?

What they are checking: Whether they follow policy while keeping the client's dignity and the relationship intact.

Stores also need help with stock, visuals and operations. How do you feel about those tasks between clients?

What they are checking: Willingness to support daily store operations, not just selling on the floor.

About the work

How would you use a clienteling tool or social selling, like a short-form video, to bring a client back into the store?

What they are checking: Comfort with the digital tools Coach expects associates to use to stay connected with clients.

Pick a Coach bag you know and sell it to me.

What they are checking: Whether they have learned the product and can talk about craftsmanship and style in a way that connects.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Tapestry from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Tapestry.

Since its launch in 1993 with a collection of six essential handbags, Kate Spade New York has always been colorful, bold, and optimistic. Today, it is a global lifestyle brand that designs extraordinary things for the everyday, delivering seasonal collections of handbags, ready-to-wear, jewelry, footwear, home décor, and more. Known for its rich heritage and unique brand DNA, Kate Spade New York offers a distinctive point of view and celebrates communities of women around the globe who live their perfectly imperfect lifestyles. Kate Spade New York is part of the Tapestry portfolio – a global house of brands committed to stretching what’s possible. A member of the Tapestry family, we are part of a global house of brands that has unwavering optimism and is committed to being innovative and wholly inclusive. Visit Our People page to learn more about Tapestry's commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity. The Stylist will serve as a trusted and knowledgeable advisor who assists customers in selecting products that suit their aesthetic and lifestyle. They will work with the customer to discover and express their own personal style while showing the customer how to incorporate Kate Spade products into their existing wardroom. Key Responsibilities Customer Engagement & Styling • Greet guests warmly and confidently, demonstrating strong product knowledge. • Actively listen and ask insightful follow-up questions to understand customer needs. • Provide styling advice, suggest add-ons, and create complete looks. • Use creativity to showcase multiple ways to wear products and encourage customers to explore new styles. • Guide customers through purchase decisions and ensure a seamless checkout experience. • Reinforce and celebrate customer choices, inviting them to return. Sales & Business Acumen • Drive results through strong customer connections and storytelling. • Demonstrate deep knowledge of the brand and product attributes across all categories. • Maintain operational excellence, including stockroom organization and POS transactions. • Give and receive feedback in an honest, constructive manner. Requirements Skills & Experience • Professional selling skills with exceptional interpersonal and communication abilities. • Prior experience in a retail environment. • Ability to multitask, prioritize, and work collaboratively in a team setting. • Social media awareness and willingness to learn omni/virtual selling techniques. • English proficiency (or local language proficiency per market). Schedule:  Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the business—including nights, weekends, busy season, and high-traffic retail days (including but not limited to public holidays). Note: This document serves only as a sample of job duties and responsibilities and does not include an exhaustive list of all performance requirements. Ability to lift at least 25 lbs. regularly (up to 50 lbs, occasionally), to climb, bend, kneel, and maneuver sales floor and stockroom. Our Competencies for All Employees Courage : Doesn’t hold back anything that needs to be said; provides current, direct, complete, and “actionable” positive and corrective feedback to others; lets people know where they stand; faces up to people problems on any person or situation (not including direct reports) quickly and directly; is not afraid to take negative action when necessary. Creativity : Comes up with a lot of new and unique ideas; easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions; tends to be seen as original and value-added in brainstorming settings. Customer Focus : Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect. Dealing with Ambiguity : Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; doesn’t have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty. Drive for Results : Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results. Interpersonal Savvy : Relates well to all kinds of people, up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization; builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably. Learning on the Fly : Learns quickly when facing new problems; a relentless and versatile learner; open to change; analyzes both successes and failures for clues to improvement; experiments and will try anything to find solutions; enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar tasks; quickly grasps the essence and the underlying structure of anything. Our Competencies for All People Managers Strategic Agility : Sees ahead clearly; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented; can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans. Developing Direct Reports and Others : Provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments; holds frequent development discussions; is aware of each person's career goals; constructs compelling development plans and executes them; pushes people to accept developmental moves; will take on those who need help and further development; cooperates with the developmental system in the organization; is a people builder. Building Effective Teams : Blends people into teams when needed; creates strong morale and spirit in their team; shares wins and successes; fosters open dialogue; lets people finish and be responsible for their work; defines success in terms of the whole team; creates a feeling of belonging in the team. Kate Spade. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and we pride ourselves on hiring and developing the best people. All employment decisions (including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, transfer, training, discipline and termination) are based on the applicant’s or employee’s qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration. These decisions are made without regard to age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic characteristics, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship, disability, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or any other legally-recognized protected basis prohibited by applicable law. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Tapestry, Inc. will provide applicants and employees with reasonable accommodation for disabilities or religious beliefs. If you require reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact Tapestry People Services at 1-855-566-9264 or employeerelations@tapestry.com Visit Tapestry, Inc . Base Pay Range $15.00-$19.50 Tapestry will comply with minimum wage requirements and any other applicable pay laws based on city, county, and state regulations. Here are some of the benefits that we offer: Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, 401 (K), Paid Paternity and Maternity leave, Commuter Benefits, Disability insurance and Tuition assistance. Please click here for a complete list of U.S Corporate Compensation & Benefits.

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