Design Consultant

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Consultant

Company: Studio McGee

Location: Retail - Trolley Square, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Retail Operations / Interior Design Consulting

Date Posted: 2026-05-14T22:08:00

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Deliver a high-touch, personalized styling experience for clients purchasing McGee & Co. furniture and décor, blending passion for retail with design expertise.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, guiding them from initial design concepts through order fulfillment and post-purchase engagement to ensure a seamless and elevated shopping experience.

• Apply strong knowledge of design principles, including scale, proportion, and color theory, to create custom room plans and moodboards that align with the Studio McGee aesthetic while meeting individual client needs.

• Maintain up-to-date expertise on the McGee & Co. product assortment, confidently discussing materials, finishes, and specifications to guide clients toward informed purchasing decisions and identify upselling opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is firmly rooted in a retail environment with a significant focus on client-facing sales and design consultation. The "operations" aspect is tied to the efficient management of client projects, sales processes, and ensuring client satisfaction within the retail framework, rather than traditional back-office operations management. The core function is to drive revenue through design expertise and exceptional customer service.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary client liaison, managing all communication (virtual and in-person) from initial inquiry through order fulfillment and post-purchase support.

• Develop personalized room plans, moodboards, and quotes based on client needs, style preferences, and functional living space requirements, ensuring alignment with the Studio McGee aesthetic.

• Confidently articulate and recommend McGee & Co. products, detailing aspects such as wood tones, color variations, fabrics, finishes, and comfort to inform client decisions.

• Proactively identify opportunities for upselling and cross-selling complementary pieces to help clients achieve complete, cohesive spaces.

• Achieve and consistently exceed established sales and productivity goals through authentic brand advocacy and a client-centric approach.

• Manage multiple client projects concurrently, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail and effective tracking of proposals, selections, and order progress through to fulfillment.

• Collaborate seamlessly with internal design, sales, and operations teams to guarantee timely delivery and uphold a high standard of client satisfaction.

• Support general retail operations on the sales floor as needed, maintaining mobility for extended periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of client management, sales execution, and design application within a retail context. The collaboration with "operations teams" likely refers to store operations, inventory management, and logistics, rather than a dedicated revenue or sales operations function. The sales and productivity goals are central to this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong understanding of design principles is essential, often gained through formal education or extensive practical experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years in customer service or retail sales.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for clear and professional client interaction.

• Proven ability to manage multiple client projects simultaneously with a high degree of organization and attention to detail.

• Strong understanding of design principles, including scale, proportion, color theory, and space planning.

• Proficiency in discussing and recommending furniture and décor products, considering various material, finish, and comfort details.

• Ability to guide clients from inspiration through to purchase with authenticity and enthusiasm for the brand.

• Demonstrated ability to identify upselling and cross-selling opportunities.

Preferred Skills:

• Proficiency in design presentation software (e.g., SketchUp, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar visualization tools).

• Experience in luxury retail environments.

• Ability to complete and coordinate complex, large-scale orders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "preferred skills" lean heavily into design visualization tools, which are critical for presenting concepts to clients. The emphasis on managing complex orders suggests a need for strong organizational and project management capabilities beyond basic retail sales.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Curated examples of client projects showcasing your ability to translate client needs into cohesive and aesthetically pleasing designs within the Studio McGee style.

• Visual representations of room plans, moodboards, and space planning exercises that demonstrate your understanding of scale, proportion, and layout.

• Case studies or examples of how you've guided clients through a design and purchasing process, highlighting problem-solving and client satisfaction.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate your approach to client consultation, from initial inquiry to design concept development.

• Outline your process for product selection, specification, and quoting, including how you manage client preferences and functional requirements.

• Explain your method for tracking project progress, managing orders, and ensuring successful fulfillment and client follow-up.

• Showcase how you integrate client feedback and adapt designs to meet evolving needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not a traditional "operations" portfolio, this role requires a portfolio that demonstrates design capability, client management process, and sales acumen. For this role, the portfolio should visually represent design projects and conceptually explain the client journey and sales process managed by the consultant.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the experience level (2-5 years) and the location (Salt Lake City, UT), a competitive annual salary for a Design Consultant in a retail environment typically ranges from $50,000 to $75,000. This can vary based on commission structures and performance.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation, likely including a base salary and commission structure.

• Comprehensive health benefits for full-time Team Members:

  • Medical Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Hospital Indemnity Insurance
  • Accident Insurance
  • Pet Insurance

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• 401k Employer match: 100% of deferrals up to 4% of compensation.

• Exclusive Team Member discount at mcgeeandco.com.

• Access to Team Member warehouse sales.

Working Hours: Full-time position, with scheduling flexibility required to meet business needs. This typically implies a standard 40-hour work week, potentially including weekends and evenings, common in retail environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for retail design consultants with 2-5 years of experience in a mid-sized metropolitan area like Salt Lake City. The inclusion of commission is a strong possibility given the sales-driven nature of the role. The benefits package is comprehensive and aligns with full-time employment offerings.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Home Design, Retail, E-commerce, Interior Design Services. Studio McGee operates at the intersection of aspirational home design and accessible retail, leveraging digital platforms and a strong brand identity.

Company Size: Studio McGee has grown significantly since its founding, indicating a medium to large-sized organization with established departments for design, retail, e-commerce, marketing, and operations. The presence of a Senior Store Manager and collaboration with design/sales/operations teams suggests a structured retail hierarchy.

Founded: Founded in 2014, Studio McGee has a relatively young but rapidly growing history, emphasizing a forward-thinking, digital-first approach that has expanded into a successful brick-and-mortar retail presence.

Team Structure:

• The Design Consultant reports to a Senior Store Manager, indicating a clear line of management within the retail store hierarchy.

• Collaboration is expected with other design consultants, sales associates, and potentially back-end operations or logistics teams responsible for order fulfillment and inventory.

Methodology:

• Client-centric design approach, prioritizing personalized styling and a high-touch customer experience.

• Data-informed sales strategies, aiming to achieve and exceed sales and productivity goals.

• Brand-aligned execution, ensuring all client interactions and design solutions reflect the Studio McGee aesthetic and values.

• Emphasis on continuous learning and staying current with product assortments and design trends.

Company Website: https://www.studio-mcgee.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is built around aspirational yet approachable design, driven by digital influence and a strong brand narrative. This translates into a client-focused retail environment where consultants act as brand ambassadors and design experts. The growth of the company suggests a dynamic and evolving workplace.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-level position within the retail sales and design consulting track. It requires a foundational understanding of design principles and proven sales experience, moving beyond entry-level customer service to managing client relationships and driving revenue.

Reporting Structure: The Design Consultant reports directly to the Senior Store Manager, indicating a direct path for performance feedback, career development discussions, and operational oversight. Collaboration with other departments suggests exposure to broader business functions.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is on direct revenue generation for the McGee & Co. retail store. Successful design consultants contribute significantly to store sales targets, customer satisfaction scores, and brand loyalty. Their ability to translate design vision into sales directly influences the financial success of the retail location.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific design areas, product categories, or client segments.

• Sales Leadership: Potential to advance into roles with greater sales responsibility, such as Lead Design Consultant, Sales Manager, or Store Manager.

• Cross-Functional Development: Exposure to other areas of the business, such as e-commerce, marketing, or product development, could lead to varied career paths within Studio McGee.

• Skill Enhancement: Continuous learning opportunities related to product knowledge, design trends, and advanced sales techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not a traditional "operations" role in the sense of process optimization or system management, growth here is tied to enhancing design consultation skills, sales performance, and potentially moving into retail management or broader business roles within the Studio McGee ecosystem. The impact is directly tied to revenue and client satisfaction within the retail arm.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a retail store environment, specifically the McGee & Co. store located at Trolley Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. It's a public-facing space designed to showcase the brand's aesthetic and products.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is the McGee & Co. Retail Store at Trolley Square, a well-known shopping center in Salt Lake City. This location offers accessibility within a popular retail hub.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is a retail showroom designed to be visually appealing and inspiring for customers. Consultants will operate on the sales floor, interacting directly with clients.

• Access to product samples, design resources, and potentially a dedicated design consultation area within the store.

• Collaboration with colleagues on the sales floor, fostering a team-oriented retail atmosphere.

• The environment requires professionalism, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to maintain an organized and aesthetically pleasing presentation of products and the store itself.

Work Schedule: Full-time position requiring scheduling availability and flexibility to meet the needs of the business. This typically means working standard retail hours, which often include weekends, evenings, and holidays, to ensure adequate floor coverage and client service.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is dynamic and customer-focused, typical of a high-end retail setting. Consultants must be comfortable in a public-facing role, adaptable to fluctuating customer traffic, and capable of maintaining brand standards in their daily interactions and workspace presentation.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and application to assess alignment with experience and skill requirements.

• Phone/Video Interview: An introductory conversation to discuss your background, interest in Studio McGee, and initial understanding of the Design Consultant role.

This may include behavioral questions.

• In-Person Interview & Design Exercise: A more in-depth interview at the retail store. This stage will likely involve:

  • A discussion about your design philosophy and experience.
  • A presentation of your portfolio, focusing on relevant client projects, room plans, and moodboards.
  • Potentially a practical design challenge or scenario to assess your problem-solving and design skills in real-time.
  • Assessment of your communication style, customer service aptitude, and brand fit.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with higher-level management or the Senior Store Manager for a final evaluation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select projects that best showcase your interior design, space planning, and client consultation skills, emphasizing the Studio McGee aesthetic where possible.

• Visual Appeal: Ensure your portfolio is professionally presented, highly visual, and easy to navigate. High-quality images and clear layouts are crucial.

• Process Storytelling: For each project, briefly explain the client's initial needs, your design process, how you selected products, and the final outcome. Highlight your role in guiding the client.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or client testimonials that demonstrate your success in achieving client satisfaction or sales goals.

• Demonstrate Brand Alignment: Show how your design sensibility aligns with the Studio McGee brand ethos – approachable, aspirational, and beautiful.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Scenario: Be prepared for a hypothetical client scenario where you'll need to propose design solutions, select products, and explain your choices based on client needs and the Studio McGee aesthetic.

• Product Knowledge: Familiarize yourself with the McGee & Co. product catalog, understanding key features, materials, and styling options.

• Sales Approach: Think about how you would approach a client, build rapport, identify needs, and guide them towards a purchase, including upselling strategies.

• Communication: Practice articulating your design ideas clearly and concisely, focusing on benefits to the client.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate both design talent and sales acumen. A strong, visually compelling portfolio that highlights client management and sales success within a design context will be critical. The in-person component emphasizes cultural fit and practical application of skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Presentation Software: Proficiency in tools like SketchUp, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), or similar for creating room plans, moodboards, and visualizations.

• CRM/Sales Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, expect to use a system for managing client interactions, tracking sales opportunities, and processing orders. This could be integrated within the ADP platform or a separate sales CRM.

• Productivity Suite: Standard office software for communication, documentation, and organization (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Sales Performance Dashboards: Likely access to reports within the POS or CRM system to track personal sales figures, productivity metrics, and goal attainment.

• Inventory Management Systems: Understanding how to access and utilize information regarding product availability and lead times.

CRM & Automation:

• Point of Sale (POS) System: Essential for processing transactions, managing customer data, and tracking sales.

• Order Management System: Used to track the status of client orders from placement through fulfillment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is geared towards customer interaction, sales management, and design visualization. While not a "revenue operations" role, understanding how to use retail sales and CRM systems effectively is crucial for client management and sales performance tracking.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Make Life Beautiful: This core value permeates all aspects of the company, from design to customer experience, emphasizing aesthetic quality and creating inspiring spaces.

• Approachability: While aspirational, the brand strives to be accessible, meaning consultants should foster a welcoming and non-intimidating client experience.

• Client-Centricity: Placing the client's needs, style, and satisfaction at the forefront of all design and sales interactions.

• Excellence in Execution: A commitment to high standards in design, product knowledge, customer service, and operational efficiency to ensure seamless transactions and client delight.

• Teamwork & Collaboration: Working effectively with colleagues to support store operations and enhance the overall customer journey.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with sales associates, store management, and potentially e-commerce or logistics teams to ensure a cohesive client experience from discovery to delivery.

• Shared Knowledge: An environment where team members share insights on products, design trends, and customer preferences to collectively improve sales and service.

• Feedback Loop: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback to colleagues and management to foster continuous improvement in both individual performance and team operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is deeply rooted in the brand's aesthetic and mission. Consultants are expected to embody these values, translating them into actionable client interactions and contributing to a positive, collaborative retail environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Design Vision with Client Needs: Effectively interpreting client desires while guiding them towards designs that are cohesive, functional, and align with the Studio McGee aesthetic.

• Managing Client Expectations: Ensuring clients have realistic expectations regarding timelines, product availability, and the design process.

• High-Volume Sales Environment: Consistently meeting or exceeding sales targets in a competitive retail setting.

• Product Knowledge Depth: Staying current with a potentially extensive and evolving product catalog, including detailed specifications and variations.

• Multi-tasking: Juggling client consultations, design work, sales processing, and general retail duties simultaneously.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to refine space planning, styling, and presentation skills through hands-on experience and potentially workshops.

• Product & Trend Expertise: Continuous learning about new product launches, material science, and evolving interior design trends.

• Sales & Negotiation Skills: Developing advanced techniques for client engagement, upselling, and closing sales effectively.

• Brand Immersion: Deepening understanding of the Studio McGee brand story, aesthetic, and market positioning.

• Retail Management Track: Potential to move into leadership roles within the retail store structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for growth in design consultation and retail sales. Challenges are typical of a client-facing sales role in a design-focused industry, requiring strong interpersonal skills, design acumen, and sales drive.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your design process from initial client consultation to final project completion." (Focus on client interaction, needs assessment, concept development, product selection, and sale closure.)

• "How do you stay updated on interior design trends and product knowledge?" (Highlight resources like industry publications, trade shows, and continuous product research.)

• "Tell me about a time you successfully upsold a client or recommended complementary products to enhance a space." (Prepare a specific example demonstrating your sales acumen and understanding of product synergy.)

• "How do you handle a situation where a client's style preferences conflict with design principles or brand aesthetic?" (Focus on diplomacy, educating the client, and finding creative solutions.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What draws you to Studio McGee and the McGee & Co. brand specifically?" (Research the company's mission, aesthetic, and recent projects; articulate your genuine interest.)

• "How do you embody the 'Make Life Beautiful' philosophy in your design approach and client interactions?" (Connect your personal values and work style to the company's core mission.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your portfolio presentation to tell a story for each project, from client brief to successful outcome.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly point out how specific projects demonstrate your space planning, moodboarding, product selection, and client management abilities.

• Brand Relevance: Show how your past work, or your approach, aligns with the Studio McGee aesthetic and brand values.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your portfolio efficiently, focusing on the most impactful projects and insights.

• Client Focus: Frame your contributions in terms of client needs met and value delivered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should emphasize the dual nature of this role: design expertise and sales execution. Candidates should be ready to showcase both their creative talent and their ability to drive revenue through excellent client service.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Consultant position:

• Submit your application through the ADP recruitment portal provided.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate a digital portfolio showcasing 2-3 of your strongest interior design projects. Ensure it includes examples of room plans, moodboards, and client consultation outcomes, demonstrating your aesthetic alignment with Studio McGee and your ability to manage client projects from concept to completion.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant experience in interior design, space planning, retail sales, and customer service. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., sales targets met, client satisfaction ratings).

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Studio McGee, McGee & Co., and the brand's aesthetic. Understand their mission, values, and recent projects to articulate a genuine interest and cultural fit during interviews.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation and prepare answers to common interview questions, focusing on how your skills and experience directly address the role's responsibilities and the company's needs.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Studio McGee through their official application channels before making application decisions.