Hotel Chocolat - Retail and Barista Associates (Oakbrook Center, Oakbrook, IL)

Hotel Chocolat is a distinctive gourmet chocolate company known for its innovative products and commitment to ethical sourcing. Founded with a passion for delivering exceptional chocolate experiences, Hotel Chocolat operates as a high-end retail and cafe brand that blends a rich heritage of cocoa growing with modern boutique retailing. Their mission is to make people happy through chocolate by offering luxury chocolates alongside a unique retail experience. The company is committed to authenticity, originality, and ethics, ensuring that all its business practices uphold sustainability and social responsibility.

This position is available at the Oakbrook Center in Oakbrook, Illinois, offering both part-time and full-time opportunities with a competitive pay rate of $18 per hour. Available roles include Retail (Sales) Associates and Barista (Cafe) Associates. The role is designed to immerse employees in the Hotel Chocolat brand by focusing on delivering excellent customer service, providing comprehensive product knowledge, ensuring store presentation meets Retail Excellence standards, and supporting operational efficiencies.

The Sales Associate role is crucial for maintaining the store's welcoming environment, ensuring every customer feels valued, and their needs are met. Associates will be responsible for actively engaging with customers, exploring their preferences, and utilizing excellent selling techniques to optimize sales while delivering a consistent and premium customer journey. Brand ambassadorship is a core part of this role, where you will share your passion and knowledge about chocolate, cocoa cultivation, product sourcing, and the company’s ethical commitments.

Your responsibilities include learning and conveying detailed information about the diverse range of products, including ingredients, allergens, and sustainability topics. You will also conduct tasting sessions and product demonstrations to enhance the customer experience at the cafe or retail locations. Managing stock is another important aspect, which involves receiving deliveries, maintaining stockroom safety, presenting products attractively, and adhering to best-before date guidelines.

Operational duties include ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, maintaining store cleanliness, and securing all aspects of store security such as cash, stock, IT systems, and physical security. In the absence of store management, you may be responsible for opening and closing procedures, highlighting the trust placed in associates to maintain business standards.

Hotel Chocolat values teamwork, communication, and a flexible approach to support colleagues and meet workload demands. They place great importance on customer service not necessarily from prior experience but from a willingness to engage positively with customers and colleagues. Passion for cocoa and a desire to learn about product origins, manufacturing, and innovation is essential. Hotel Chocolat’s core values emphasize authenticity, originality, and ethics, guiding every action within the company and its people.

With a focus on personal development and a supportive team environment, Hotel Chocolat encourages employees to use initiative, take ownership of their growth, and treat everyone with respect. They aim to create an inspiring workplace where employees are motivated to be passionate brand ambassadors and team players while exhibiting commercial awareness to enhance the customer experience.

The employer offers competitive wages starting at $18 per hour, flexible schedules to accommodate various life commitments, and additional benefits such as a 401K plan, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, mental health support including free counseling sessions, ongoing developmental programs, and discounts on store products. There are also career advancement opportunities available both within the store and through the broader Mars, Inc. corporate structure, supporting employees' professional growth and long-term career aspirations.