Question 1

What does a shoe store assistant do?

Accepted Answer

A shoe store assistant helps customers find footwear that fits properly and suits their needs, measures feet accurately, provides product knowledge about different shoe styles and maintains footwear inventory. They need strong fitting skills and understanding of foot comfort under the General Retail Industry Award.

Question 2

What award classification applies to shoe store assistants?

Accepted Answer

Shoe store assistants typically fall under Level 1-3 of the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (MA000004). Level 1 covers new employees, Level 2 covers those with product knowledge who can fit shoes and advise customers, and Level 3 covers those with specialist fitting skills or additional responsibilities. See our Retail Award pay rates guide.

Question 3

What is the difference between a shoe store assistant and a shoe fitter?

Accepted Answer

A shoe store assistant provides general customer service and sales assistance in footwear retail. A shoe fitter has specialized training in foot measurement, biomechanics and fitting techniques, often working with orthotics or specialist footwear. Many shoe store assistants develop fitting skills on the job.

Question 4

Do shoe store assistants need formal qualifications?

Accepted Answer

Formal qualifications aren't mandatory but retail experience and customer service skills are essential. Knowledge of shoe sizing systems, foot anatomy and fitting techniques can be learned on the job. Strong physical capability for retrieving stock and patience with fitting consultations are important.

Question 5

What qualifications do shoe store assistants need?

Accepted Answer

Shoe store assistants need customer service skills, physical fitness and retail aptitude. While formal qualifications aren't required, Certificate II or III in Retail can be beneficial. Key requirements include measuring and fitting skills, product knowledge, patience during consultations and comfort with physical stock handling tasks.

Question 6

What experience should I look for in a shoe store assistant?

Accepted Answer

Look for customer-facing experience (retail, hospitality or service industries), physical capability for stock handling, attention to detail for sizing and fitting, and good communication skills. Previous footwear retail experience is ideal but transferable skills from other retail or service roles are equally valuable.

Question 7

Do shoe store assistants need to understand foot anatomy?

Accepted Answer

Basic understanding of foot anatomy helps shoe store assistants provide better fitting advice and recognise when customers may need orthotic support or specialist footwear. Most stores provide training on common foot issues, sizing variations and how different shoe styles affect comfort and support.

Question 8

What ongoing training do shoe store assistants need?

Accepted Answer

Shoe store assistants need training on new footwear ranges, sizing systems across different brands, fitting techniques and product features. Training typically covers customer service, stock management and identifying when to refer customers for specialist fitting. Knowledge of sports footwear technology or orthotic options may be relevant depending on the store. Track training completion using HR software.

Question 9

Are shoe store assistants usually permanent or casual?

Accepted Answer

Footwear retail uses a mix of permanent and casual staff. Core team members are often permanent part-time or full-time to maintain product knowledge and fitting expertise. Casual staff provide flexibility for peak trading periods including back-to-school season, Christmas and weekend coverage.

Question 10

What hours do shoe store assistants work?

Accepted Answer

Shoe store assistants work across standard retail trading hours including weekdays, evenings, weekends and public holidays. Part-time and casual roles are common given customer traffic patterns. Busy periods include weekends, back-to-school season, before major holidays and during sales events.

Question 11

What should I include in a shoe store assistant employment contract?

Accepted Answer

Key elements include: position title and award classification, hourly rate or salary, expected working hours and availability requirements, physical requirements disclosure, staff discount entitlements if applicable, and leave provisions. Use digital employment contracts for efficiency.

Question 12

What are the physical demands of shoe store assistant roles?

Accepted Answer

The role involves considerable physical activity including crouching, kneeling and bending while fitting shoes, lifting and carrying boxed stock from stockrooms, climbing ladders, and standing for extended periods. Candidates should be comfortable with these physical requirements and able to work safely.

Question 13

How should I roster shoe store assistants?

Accepted Answer

Roster based on customer traffic patterns, with stronger coverage during peak times including weekends, lunch breaks and after-school hours. Ensure experienced fitters are available during busy periods. Use rostering software to balance coverage, staff preferences and award compliance efficiently.

Question 14

What rostering compliance applies to shoe store assistants?

Accepted Answer

Shoe store assistants are covered by the General Retail Industry Award which sets minimum shift lengths, break entitlements, notice periods for roster changes and penalty rates. Ensure rosters provide at least 7 days notice and minimum 3-hour shifts for casuals. Part-timers need guaranteed minimum hours.

Question 15

How do I manage rostering during back-to-school season?

Accepted Answer

Plan ahead for back-to-school periods by gathering staff availability early, engaging additional casual staff, and communicating roster needs clearly. This is typically the busiest period for footwear retail. Availability management tools help coordinate increased staffing needs.

Question 16

How do shoe store assistants request time off?

Accepted Answer

Staff should submit leave requests through your leave management system or directly to management with reasonable notice. Consider business needs including peak periods when assessing requests. Using rostering software helps track requests, manage approvals and adjust rosters accordingly.

Shoe store assistant job description