Williams-Sonoma brings seasonal jobs to town

Williams-Sonoma is bringing about 100 part-time jobs to Boulder City for the holiday season.

The retailer, which specializes in high-end cookware and gourmet foods, is establishing a “call center in a box” and needs customer service associates. The flexible positions will allow people to work from home, said Joshua Layton, recruiting manager for the San Francisco-based company.

He said bringing the program to Boulder City was his idea because he wanted to tap into the community’s retiree population.

“The town has a lot of former business owners and retirees who are very business-savvy, intelligent people,” Layton said.

This is the first time Williams-Sonoma has created this type of seasonal call center. In addition to Boulder City, it has centers in Columbus, Ohio, Texas and Oklahoma.

Layton worked closely with Jill Rowland-Lagan, CEO of the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce, to help set up the call center in a box.

Rowland-Lagan said she is excited about bringing a number of part-time jobs to town. She said she sees this as an ideal opportunity for retirees, stay-at-home parents and students, as well as a “strong infusion of capital going into Boulder City.”

“It doesn’t happen very often, especially with a company with the name recognition of Williams-Sonoma. It’s great for residents,” she said.

According to Layton, the positions will be for 20-25 hours per week and pay $10.50 an hour, plus “really good perks” including 40 percent off merchandise of all the company’s brands.

The call center will operate from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., with inbound calls coming from across the nation, Layton said. He expects associates to work four- or five-hour shifts.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, access to high-speed internet, a reliable computer and have good communication skills and a professional phone manner.

“A good 95 percent of the population has everything we need,” he said.

Training will begin Oct. 24 at the Elaine K. Smith Center, 700 Wyoming St. The two-week session will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A second session will begin Nov. 7.

Layton said the first week will focus on learning the company’s system and products, while the second week is a “nesting” period of on-the-job training by taking customer service calls.

“That’s the only kicker,” he said about the positions, adding that he hopes to establish an online training program for the future.

The positions will last through mid- to late January, and could possibly become permanent, depending on the person’s desire and qualifications.

“We hate to lose good people,” Layton said.

Those interested should apply online at https://wsgc.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a2qgk7jxgv56.

Hali Bernstein Saylor is editor of the Boulder City Review. She can be reached at hsaylor@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9523. Follow @HalisComment on Twitter.