Kate Spade Temporary Retail Associate
- Location
- Employment
- Part-Time
- Seniority
- Entry-Level
- Compensation
- $15–24.25/hour
- Department
- Retail & Boutique Operations
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Apr 18, 2026
About Kate Spade
Kate Spade New York is a globally recognized lifestyle brand celebrated for its colorful, optimistic design language across handbags, ready-to-wear, jewelry, footwear and home décor. The label is part of the Tapestry portfolio, a global house of consumer brands that emphasizes creativity, inclusivity and a customer-centric retail experience.
Kate Spade New York — Temporary Retail Associate (part-time) in Costa Mesa, CA. Customer-facing styling role at South Coast Plaza.
Role & Responsibilities
- Greet guests warmly and establish rapport; demonstrate comprehensive product knowledge across categories.
- Provide personalised styling advice and create complete looks that integrate Kate Spade products into customers' wardrobes.
- Recommend add-ons and upsell through storytelling to drive conversion and average transaction value.
- Guide customers through purchase decisions and ensure a seamless checkout experience using POS systems.
- Maintain operational excellence on the sales floor and in the stockroom, including inventory organization and merchandising standards.
- Support omni-channel activity and virtual selling when required; engage customers via social channels as appropriate.
- Work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, peak retail periods and public holidays; perform light-to-moderate physical tasks (regularly lift ~25 lbs, occasionally up to 50 lbs).
Qualifications
- Demonstrated professional selling skills and exceptional interpersonal and communication abilities.
- Prior retail experience, preferably in fashion or lifestyle brands.
- Ability to multitask, prioritise in a fast-paced environment and collaborate effectively within a team.
- Social media awareness and willingness to learn omni-channel and virtual selling techniques.
- English proficiency (or local market language as required) and the ability to work a flexible schedule.
Skills
Experience
Previous retail experience is required; experience in fashion, accessories, or lifestyle retail with a demonstrable track record of customer-focused selling is preferred.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent; coursework or training in fashion, merchandising, or retail is advantageous.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in Costa Mesa, California, USA, with easy access to Los Angeles.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 15 to USD 24.25 per hour.
Benefits
Medical insurance; Dental insurance; Vision insurance; 401(k); Paid paternity and maternity leave; Commuter benefits; Disability insurance; Tuition assistance.
Culture
Kate Spade fosters an optimistic, creative and customer-focused culture that celebrates individuality and modern femininity. As part of Tapestry, the brand operates within a broader commitment to inclusion, equity and professional development across a global portfolio of lifestyle labels.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Kate Spade, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Sales Associate», «Client Advisor», «Retail Stylist», «Customer Experience Associate», «Store Sales Specialist», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.