Custom Framer PT

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Custom Framer PT

Company: Michaels Stores

Location: Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Job Type: Part-Time

Category: Retail Operations & Customer Service

Date Posted: June 06, 2026

Experience Level: Entry Level / Junior (0-2 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on building strong customer relationships through personalized custom framing solutions, directly contributing to sales and customer satisfaction within a retail environment.

• Responsibilities include executing sales and production targets for custom framing orders, ensuring high-quality and timely delivery of products.

• Maintaining store presentation, including merchandising, inventory replenishment, and ensuring a safe, clean, and clutter-free shopping experience for customers.

• Operating the cash register, handling transactions accurately, and supporting omni-channel fulfillment processes to enhance the overall customer journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title and description are heavily focused on retail customer service and custom framing, the "Revenue Operations" and "Sales Operations" lens is applied by emphasizing the direct impact of customer relationship building and sales execution on revenue generation and operational efficiency within the retail context. The role requires adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and company programs, a hallmark of operational roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Cultivate and deepen customer relationships by delivering an elevated design experience, utilizing sales techniques to understand needs and offer tailored custom framing solutions.

• Achieve and exceed sales and production targets for custom framing orders, ensuring all projects are completed with exceptional quality and within established timelines.

• Maintain the visual standards of the ready-made frame department, including visual merchandising, stock levels, and executing directed replenishment strategies.

• Provide friendly and proactive customer service, assisting shoppers in locating products, offering solutions, and ensuring a well-merchandised and consistently stocked store.

• Accurately operate the cash register, manage cash handling procedures with integrity, and process various payment types according to company standards.

• Support and execute omni-channel processes, including online order fulfillment, customer pickup, and any other integrated retail operations.

• Adhere strictly to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and company programs to ensure operational compliance, safety, and efficiency.

• Actively participate in truck unloading and stocking processes, ensuring adherence to truck standards and efficient inventory management.

• Maintain a safe, clean, and clutter-free store environment, including the framing area, to promote customer safety and a positive shopping experience.

• Interact positively and respectfully with colleagues and customers, embodying company values and contributing to a collaborative and productive work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are framed to highlight the operational aspects of a retail sales role. Emphasis is placed on "executing sales and production targets," "maintaining visual standards," "inventory replenishment," "omni-channel processes," and "adhering to SOPs," all of which are critical components of operational efficiency and effectiveness in a customer-facing environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific educational degree is explicitly required, but a strong foundation in basic math and measurement is essential.

Experience: 0-2 years of experience is generally preferred, with a focus on customer interaction and basic operational tasks.

Required Skills:

• Basic computer proficiency for point-of-sale (POS) systems and order management.

• Fundamental measuring skills to ensure accurate framing dimensions and material usage.

• Ability to operate specialized framing equipment and a glass cutter safely and effectively.

• Competency in cash handling and operating a cash register accurately.

• Strong customer service orientation with proven ability to build rapport and provide solutions.

• Basic merchandising and stock-keeping skills to maintain store presentation. Preferred Skills:

• Previous retail sales experience, particularly in a commission-based or product-focused environment.

• Experience in sales, demonstrating the ability to influence customer purchasing decisions and close sales.

• Familiarity with visual merchandising principles and their application in a retail setting.

• Experience with omni-channel retail operations, such as buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS).

• Basic understanding of inventory management and replenishment processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are translated into operational competencies. "Basic computer skills" are framed as essential for POS and order management systems. "Measuring skills" and "ability to operate framing equipment" are crucial for production efficiency and quality control. The emphasis on customer service and sales is linked to revenue generation, a key metric in operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• While a formal portfolio is not explicitly requested, candidates are encouraged to be prepared to discuss past experiences demonstrating proficiency in customer service, sales, and operational tasks.

• Showcase examples of how you have successfully managed customer orders from consultation to completion, highlighting problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

• Be ready to articulate your understanding of how efficient processes contribute to customer satisfaction and sales performance in a retail setting.

• Prepare to discuss any experience with POS systems or other retail operational software. Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their understanding of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and how they apply them in daily work.

• Be ready to describe how you ensure the quality and timeliness of your work, particularly in custom order fulfillment.

• Discuss your approach to maintaining a clean, organized, and safe work environment, reflecting an understanding of operational best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Since this is an entry-level retail role, a formal portfolio is unlikely. However, the prompt requires detailing portfolio expectations. This section focuses on how candidates can demonstrate their capabilities through discussion and examples, framing their past experiences in terms of operational processes, customer service excellence, and sales effectiveness.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a part-time, entry-level retail position, the salary is likely to be at or slightly above the local minimum wage for Phoenix, Arizona. Based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Phoenix, a typical hourly rate could range from $14.00 to $17.00 per hour, depending on experience and specific store performance metrics.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision insurance are offered, providing comprehensive coverage for eligible employees.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Accrued PTO for eligible part-time team members, allowing for rest and personal time.

• Tuition Assistance: Support for employees pursuing further education, aligning with Michaels' commitment to team member development.

• Employee Discounts: Generous discounts on Michaels products, encouraging personal creativity and savings.

• Other Benefits: Potential for additional benefits as detailed by the company, such as retirement savings plans or employee assistance programs.

Working Hours: This is a part-time position. While the specific number of hours can vary, it is typically between 15-25 hours per week. Work hours will include nights, weekends, and early mornings, requiring flexibility to meet store operational needs and customer demand.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on general retail part-time roles in Phoenix, AZ, considering the cost of living and typical entry-level wages. Benefits are extracted directly from the provided text and highlighted for their relevance to part-time employees. Working hours are specified as part-time with a mention of flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Arts and Crafts Retail. Michaels operates as a leading retailer in North America for arts, crafts, and home decor, with a significant focus on custom framing through its Artistree manufacturing arm. This industry demands creativity, customer engagement, and efficient inventory management.

Company Size: Michaels operates over 1,300 stores across the US and Canada, indicating a large-scale retail operation with a significant workforce. This size suggests structured operational processes and a well-defined corporate hierarchy.

Founded: Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Irving, Texas. This long history points to a stable company with established operational practices and a deep understanding of its market.

Team Structure:

• The operations within a Michaels store typically involve a hierarchical structure, with a Store Manager, Assistant Store Managers, Team Leads, and then Sales Associates/Specialists (like the Custom Framer).

• The Custom Framer likely reports to a Framing Department Lead or an Assistant Store Manager, who oversees daily operational execution.

• Collaboration is essential with other store associates for general customer service, inventory stocking, and omni-channel tasks. Methodology:

• Michaels emphasizes adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all operational tasks, ensuring consistency and compliance across its vast retail network.

• A customer-centric approach is core, focusing on "Elevated ABC Deliver" (Acknowledge, Build relationships, Close the sale/provide solutions) to drive sales and customer loyalty.

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through sales targets, inventory management, and omni-channel fulfillment, requiring operational teams to track and report on key metrics.

Company Website: www.michaels.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is fleshed out to provide a comprehensive view relevant to operations. The industry, size, and history all inform the likely operational environment. The team structure and methodology are inferred based on typical large retail organizations and the explicit mention of SOPs and customer engagement strategies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the entry-level or junior operational specialist level within a large retail organization. It is foundational, focusing on executing specific operational tasks (framing production, customer service, sales) under direct supervision, with opportunities to learn broader retail operations.

Reporting Structure: The Custom Framer PT will report to a designated supervisor, likely a Framing Department Manager or an Assistant Store Manager. This supervisor is responsible for performance management, training, and ensuring operational standards are met.

Operations Impact: The Custom Framer's impact is primarily on direct customer satisfaction, sales conversion for custom framing, and the overall aesthetic and operational efficiency of the framing department and store. Successful execution contributes directly to store revenue and customer retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Opportunity to become a highly skilled custom framer, mastering various techniques, materials, and design principles. Potential to become a subject matter expert in custom framing.

• Retail Operations Progression: Potential to move into roles such as Lead Framer, Assistant Store Manager, or other specialized retail operations positions within Michaels, leveraging experience in customer service, sales, and operational execution.

• Cross-Functional Training: Exposure to other areas of store operations, such as merchandising, inventory management, and omni-channel fulfillment, which can broaden operational skill sets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career analysis is tailored to the operational aspects of the role. It defines the "operations career level" based on responsibility scope, outlines the reporting structure in operational terms, and details the "operations impact" on revenue and efficiency. Growth opportunities are framed around developing operational expertise and progressing within the retail operations hierarchy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a customer-facing retail store environment. The work is primarily performed on the sales floor and within a dedicated custom framing workshop area within the store.

Office Location(s): The specific store is located at 1925 E Camelback Rd Ste 132, Phoenix, Arizona. This is a retail mall or shopping center location, implying a climate-controlled indoor environment for customer-facing areas, with potential for varying conditions in stockrooms or during deliveries.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace includes a customer interaction area (sales floor) and a specialized production area (framing shop) equipped with tools like glass cutters and heat presses.

• It is a dynamic environment requiring constant interaction with customers and colleagues, necessitating good communication and teamwork.

• Access to POS systems and operational tools is integral to daily tasks.

Work Schedule: The schedule is part-time, with variable hours that include nights, weekends, and early mornings. This requires flexibility to accommodate peak customer traffic and operational needs, which is common in retail operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is described with an operations focus, highlighting the dual nature of the workspace (customer-facing vs. production) and the tools involved. The schedule's flexibility is noted as a key operational consideration for staff planning and workload management.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application and resume to assess basic qualifications, experience, and fit with the role's requirements.

• In-Person Interview: This will likely involve a conversation with the hiring manager (e.g., Store Manager or Framing Manager) to discuss your experience, customer service philosophy, and problem-solving abilities. Be prepared to provide specific examples from past roles.

• Skills Demonstration: You may be asked to demonstrate basic measuring skills or discuss your approach to operating framing equipment. A practical assessment of your ability to handle a customer consultation for custom framing might also occur.

• Store Walkthrough: Part of the interview may involve a guided tour of the store, with opportunities to discuss merchandising, operational flow, and your understanding of the retail environment.

• Cultural Fit Assessment: The interviewer will assess how well your values and work style align with Michaels' culture, focusing on teamwork, customer focus, and adherence to procedures.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• While a formal portfolio isn't required, prepare to discuss tangible examples of your work.

• For custom framing, have a mental (or physical, if possible) "portfolio" of projects you've worked on, highlighting your design choices, problem-solving for challenging pieces, and the final outcome.

• Be ready to describe a situation where you successfully resolved a customer issue or exceeded customer expectations in a sales or service context.

• Showcase instances where you followed instructions or SOPs meticulously to achieve a quality result. Challenge Preparation:

• Customer Scenario: Be ready to role-play a customer interaction, from initial greeting to closing a sale for a custom framing order.

• Problem-Solving: Prepare to discuss how you would handle a situation where a customer is unhappy with a framing order, or if there's a delay in production.

• Operational Awareness: Discuss your understanding of maintaining a clean and organized workspace, and the importance of accurate measurements and cash handling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio section is tailored to the specific role. It focuses on practical demonstrations of skills, customer interaction scenarios, and adherence to operational procedures, which are key for an entry-level retail operations role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Custom Framing Equipment: Proficiency with a variety of framing tools, including mat cutters, saws, jointers, and heat presses, is essential for producing quality custom frames.

• Glass Cutter: A fundamental tool for precise glass cutting to fit custom frames.

• Point-of-Sale (POS) System: Experience with retail POS systems for processing transactions, managing sales, and potentially tracking customer orders.

• Measuring Tools: Use of tape measures, rulers, and other precision instruments for accurate order specifications.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for this role, understanding basic sales data presented on store reports or POS summaries can be beneficial.

• The ability to track personal sales performance against targets is implicitly required. CRM & Automation:

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): While a formal CRM system might not be directly accessed by this role, the "Elevated ABC Deliver" methodology emphasizes relationship building, which is a core CRM principle.

• Omni Channel Systems: Familiarity with systems that support buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) and other e-commerce fulfillment processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the specific tools and technologies relevant to a Custom Framer role. It goes beyond generic terms by listing specific framing equipment and linking POS systems to sales and order management, which are critical operational components.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: Prioritizing customer needs and satisfaction through excellent service and high-quality custom framing solutions. This is central to driving sales and repeat business.

• Creativity & Passion: Embracing the joy of creativity and celebrating projects, reflecting Michaels' core purpose and encouraging a positive, inspiring work environment.

• Integrity & Accountability: Adhering to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), maintaining accurate cash handling, and taking ownership of framing orders from start to finish.

• Teamwork & Respect: Collaborating effectively with colleagues to ensure smooth store operations, providing support, and fostering a positive and inclusive atmosphere.

• Efficiency & Quality: Balancing the need for quick turnaround times with the requirement for precise, high-quality craftsmanship in custom framing.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working seamlessly with other store associates to assist customers across departments and support omni-channel initiatives.

• Process Adherence & Feedback: Following established framing and sales processes diligently, while also being open to feedback for continuous improvement in quality and efficiency.

• Knowledge Sharing: Sharing best practices in framing techniques, customer service, and operational efficiency with team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are interpreted through the lens of operational excellence and customer-centricity. The company's stated purpose ("fuel the joy of creativity") is linked to operational values like creativity, passion, and customer focus. Teamwork and adherence to SOPs are highlighted as critical for operational success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality: The primary challenge is delivering high-quality custom framing orders accurately and on time, often under pressure during busy periods.

• Managing Customer Expectations: Effectively communicating timelines, costs, and design options to customers to ensure satisfaction with the final product.

• Physical Demands: The role requires significant standing, lifting, and manual dexterity, which can be physically demanding over long shifts.

• Adapting to Evolving Retail: Staying current with new framing materials, techniques, and omni-channel retail processes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Framing Expertise: Deepen knowledge in advanced framing techniques, material selection (mats, glass, frames), and design principles.

• Sales & Customer Service Skills: Enhance consultative selling abilities, conflict resolution, and customer relationship management.

• Retail Operations Knowledge: Gain broader understanding of inventory management, visual merchandising, and omni-channel logistics within a large retail chain.

• Potential for Leadership: With consistent performance and demonstrated initiative, opportunities may arise for roles such as Framing Department Lead or advancement into store management tracks.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed to highlight operational difficulties and growth opportunities within the context of retail operations. This includes managing production workflows, customer interactions impacting revenue, and physical demands inherent in the role. Learning opportunities are tied to skill enhancement relevant to both the specific craft and broader retail operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Framing Process & Customer Service: "Describe your process for consulting with a customer on a custom framing order, from initial inquiry to final sale. How do you ensure you meet their needs and budget?" (Focus on consultative selling and process adherence.)

• Problem-Solving & Quality Control: "Imagine a customer is unhappy with their finished framing order. How would you handle this situation to ensure customer satisfaction while upholding company standards?" (Prepare to discuss conflict resolution and adherence to SOPs.)

• Operational Efficiency: "How do you prioritize tasks when you have multiple custom framing orders to complete, alongside customer service duties and general store tasks?" (Highlight time management and prioritization skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Michaels and specifically this Custom Framer role?" (Connect your passion for creativity and customer service to Michaels' mission.)

• "How do you approach teamwork and collaboration in a retail environment?" (Provide examples of supporting colleagues and contributing to a positive team dynamic.)

• "What do you understand about Michaels' commitment to quality and customer experience?" (Demonstrate research into the company's values and operational focus.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Verbal Case Studies: Instead of a visual portfolio, prepare 2-3 specific, concise stories about times you've:

  • Successfully helped a customer find the perfect framing solution.
  • Handled a difficult customer situation effectively.
  • Contributed to improving a process or maintaining store standards.

• Quantify Achievements: If possible, mention any sales goals you met or exceeded, or how your attention to detail prevented errors.

• Enthusiasm for Craft: Clearly articulate your passion for custom framing and your eagerness to learn and grow within the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation focuses on operational aspects like process adherence, problem-solving, customer service impact on revenue, and teamwork. The "portfolio presentation" is adapted to a verbal discussion of past experiences, emphasizing storytelling and quantifiable results relevant to an operations role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Michaels Careers portal via the provided link.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight customer service, sales experience, attention to detail, and any experience with tools or operational tasks, using keywords from the job description like "customer service," "sales," "measuring skills," and "cash handling."

• Portfolio Preparation: Mentally prepare to discuss specific examples of your customer interactions, problem-solving abilities, and any experience with custom work or operational processes. Be ready to articulate your understanding of quality control and workflow management.

• Interview Practice: Practice answering common retail interview questions, focusing on demonstrating your customer-centric approach, ability to follow procedures, and enthusiasm for the role. Consider role-playing customer scenarios.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Michaels' mission, values, and commitment to customer experience and creativity. Understand the importance of the custom framing department and its contribution to the overall business.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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