Kitchen & Bath Design & Sales Consultant
Career Description
Designers that work in the retail environment work with customers or builders to choose the right products and design. They must have extensive knowledge of the products they represent and the ability to access their clients' needs. Valuable tools that retail designers must possess are salesmanship, good verbal communication skills, and design presentation skills. These designers can be found at large multi-branch retail stores, specialty kitchen/bathroom showrooms, supply chain companies and lumberyards.
Job Description
- Greet clients
- Assess clients needs
- Select products
- Pre-construction site inspections and measurements
- Generate preliminary computer and/or hand designs
- Perform job-costing duties
- Present design solutions to the client
- Prepare contracts
- Close the sale with signatures and deposit
- Prepare detailed designs that accurately communicate to installers
- Order the materials
- Set up project schedules, sub-contractor schedules and material deliveries
- Liaison between customer, material vendors and subcontractors
- Maintain long term communication with client to generate future sales
Skills Needed
- Effective communication skills/people skills
- Creativity and esthetic abilities
- Advanced knowledge of kitchen and bathroom design
- Advanced knowledge in all aspects of design and construction
- Salesmanship
- Advanced computer-aided drafting skills
- Kitchen/bathroom computer software skills
- Excellent drawing skills
Required Education
Employers seek individuals that have completed a degree in Interior Design with a specialty in kitchen and bath design. Attending an NKBA Accredited Program assures employers that you have the knowledge in the specialty area of kitchen and bath. Obtaining certification from the NKBA demonstrates that you have passed a rigorous exam, have knowledge of building codes, construction, mechanical, electrical systems and safety/environmental regulations, and that you can communicate this knowledge correctly through drawings to construction experts. Many colleges across the U.S. and Canada offer degrees in the kitchen/bath specialty area.
Click here for a list of NKBA Accredited Programs.
The NKBA offers professional development courses to provide students with the knowledge to work within the kitchen and bath specialty area.
The Association offers several levels of certification for designers. Click here to learn more about NKBA certification.
Earnings
According to research conducted by Alexandria Technical College in 2002, the average designers in the kitchen and bath retail area earn between $25,000-$49,999 annually, with the highest earnings reported at $150,000.
Learn More About An NKBA Student Member's Experience- Becky Fischer
Education
A 2002 Graduate of the NKBA Accredited Program at Lakeland College, Alberta, Canada, Becky received a diploma in Interior Design with a specialty in kitchen and bath design.
Past Work Experience
- Customer Service Representative
- Restaurant Server
- Internship with current employer, Kitchen Craft
Current Employment
Design and Sales Consultant for NKBA member firm Kitchen Craft in Ottawa, Ontario.
Becky Answers Your Questions
Q: How did you choose your college?
A: "The NKBA Accredited Program at Lakeland College was an easy choice for me. I had researched other Interior Design schools and found Lakeland College to be one of the best, with its highly educated staff and endorsement from both the NKBA and FIDER."
Q: What were the advantages of attending an NKBA Accredited Program?
A: "The NKBA Accredited Program offered computer training in both AutoCAD and kitchen/bathroom software, giving me the edge that I needed to enter the high tech design field. The specific kitchen and bath training I received introduced and prepared me for the job, but I feel with the additional design training I obtained, I am able to excel and meet all of my clients needs."
Q: What do you like best about your job as the Design and Sales Consultant?
A: "I am presently working with two home builders here in Ottawa as a project manager. I meet with their clients, help them make their selections, and order the kitchen for their new home. My job also requires regular visits to sites where jobs are being installed to assist the installer with any questions that arise. Having a combination of retail and contractor business allows for a great business mix. I've been working here for Kitchen Craft Cabinetry for over a year now and really love it."