RETAIL TEAM MEMBER
Simple Bakery and Market | 521 Broad Street, Lake Geneva Reports To: Retail Lead, Retail Manager, General Manager, Executive Chef
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Retail Team Member position is the frontline of our hospitality at Simple Bakery and Market. You are often the first person a guest encounters and the last person they see—which means you have tremendous power to create memorable experiences that turn first-time visitors into loyal regulars.
This isn't just a "cashier" job. You are a hospitality professional, a product ambassador, and a vital member of a production team. You'll learn about naturally leavened breads, laminated pastries, whole grain milling, and local food systems. You'll build relationships with regular customers who trust your recommendations. You'll work alongside bakers and pastry chefs who take immense pride in their craft—and your role is to honor that work by presenting it beautifully and sharing it enthusiastically with our community.
WHY THIS MATTERS: Every interaction you have represents not just Simple Bakery and Market, but the farmers who grew the grain, the millers who stone-ground the flour, the bakers who arrived at 2am to mix dough, and the entire team that believes deeply in what we're creating together. When you greet someone warmly, answer their questions knowledgeably, and handle a mistake with grace and professionalism, you're building the foundation of trust that allows our business to thrive and our team to grow.
This is a place where your contribution genuinely matters—where showing up with energy and care directly impacts your teammates' day and your own earning potential through our shared tip pool.
At Simple Food Group, we practice servant leadership. This means your most important responsibility each day is to consistently seek out ways to contribute—finding tasks that help teammates and move the business forward. Look for opportunities to support others: restock before we run low, clean a station that needs attention, help a teammate during a rush, learn something new that makes you more valuable, or solve a problem before it becomes urgent. Don't wait to be asked—anticipate needs and always ask yourself, "What can I do right now that would make the most significant positive impact for my team and our guests?"
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Guest Experience & Service Excellence
Your most important job is creating genuine, warm connections with every guest.
WHY THIS MATTERS: Our business is built on relationships, not transactions. When guests feel welcomed and cared for, they return frequently, bring their friends and family, and become advocates for what we're building. Your warmth and attentiveness directly translate to the financial health of our business—which funds everyone's wages, benefits, and growth opportunities.
What This Looks Like:
- Master and consistently execute the "3 Steps of Great Service" with every guest
- Apply the "5 Steps to Handling a Complaint" when problems arise, turning potentially negative experiences into opportunities to demonstrate our commitment to hospitality
- Greet every person who walks through the door with genuine warmth—make eye contact, smile authentically, and help them feel at home
- Learn regular customers' names, preferences, and stories. Remember the teacher who comes in every Saturday morning, the family with the toddler who loves chocolate croissants, the grandmother who drives from Williams Bay for our whole wheat bread
- Answer questions about products confidently and accurately—know what's in our recipes, how we make things, and why we make them the way we do
- Make thoughtful recommendations by listening to what guests are looking for and connecting them with products that will genuinely delight them
- Handle special requests and custom orders with enthusiasm and attention to detail
- Curate the experience by connecting our products to their purpose—help guests understand what makes naturally leavened bread different, why we mill our own flour, how to store and enjoy our products at their best
- Navigate challenging moments (sold-out products, long lines, mistakes) with grace, transparency, and solutions-oriented thinking
Product Knowledge & Presentation
You are a product ambassador—your knowledge and passion make our offerings come alive for guests.
WHY THIS MATTERS: We invest enormous time, skill, and resources into creating exceptional products. When you can explain what makes our bread special, how to enjoy it, or why it's worth the price, you give guests context that transforms their purchase from a commodity transaction into a meaningful food experience. This education builds loyalty and allows us to charge what our work is truly worth—which in turn funds better wages, benefits, and working conditions for everyone.
What This Looks Like:
- Learn the names, ingredients, and stories of every product we sell—both our production and our retail partnerships
- Understand and articulate our production methods: natural fermentation, stone-milled flour, heritage grains, seasonal ingredients
- Explain the difference between our naturally leavened breads and commercial yeast breads
- Guide guests on how to store, serve, and enjoy our products (toasting, refreshing, pairing recommendations)
- Represent our retail partnerships (local honey, jams, dairy, etc.) with the same care and knowledge you bring to our own products
- Answer questions about ingredients, allergens, and dietary considerations accurately—and know when to involve a baker or manager for technical questions
- Merchandise products thoughtfully so the case and shelves tell a story and inspire guests
- Maintain awareness of what's coming out of the oven and when, so you can offer the freshest products and build anticipation ("Our everything bagels just came out—still warm!")
Retail Operations & Systems
Our operational systems exist to protect consistency, food safety, quality, and your teammates' time.
WHY THIS MATTERS: Every system we have—from how we rotate stock to how we handle cash—was created because someone before you learned the hard way what happens when it's not done correctly. Following systems isn't about bureaucracy; it's about respecting the experience of your team, protecting guests' safety, maintaining quality standards, and ensuring fairness in how we operate. When one person takes shortcuts, others have to work harder to compensate.
What This Looks Like:
- POS & Cash Handling: Accurately ring orders, process payments, handle cash, and reconcile your drawer at shift end. Understand discounts, gift cards, and special pricing situations
- FIFO & Product Rotation: Always rotate stock—first in, first out. Fresh product goes behind older product to prevent waste and ensure guests receive the freshest items
- Food Safety: Follow all food handling protocols including gloves, handwashing, temperature monitoring, and proper storage. Understand allergen protocols and cross-contamination prevention
- Cleaning & Sanitation: Maintain spotless counters, cases, equipment, and customer areas throughout your shift. Follow cleaning checklists and deep-cleaning schedules
- Inventory & Par Levels: Monitor stock throughout your shift, communicate needs to production teams, and participate in inventory counts
- Opening & Closing Procedures: Execute detailed checklists to ensure the retail floor is properly set up or broken down
- Prep Work: During slower periods, support the team by preparing items for service, restocking supplies, or completing projects that set up the next shift for success
- Communication: Keep Retail Lead and management informed about guest feedback, operational issues, product needs, equipment problems, or anything affecting the team's ability to serve guests excellently
Cross-Departmental Collaboration
Simple Bakery and Market is a team sport—retail exists because of production, and production exists because of retail.
WHY THIS MATTERS: The bakers and pastry chefs who create the products you sell arrive in the middle of the night and work in intense, physically demanding conditions. When you treat their work with respect, communicate clearly about what's selling or what feedback you're hearing, and help minimize waste, you strengthen the partnership that makes this business possible. They're working for you; you're working for them—this reciprocal respect is the foundation of a healthy workplace.
What This Looks Like:
- Treat production teammates with appreciation and respect—understand the skill and effort behind every item
- Communicate clearly and proactively about production needs, sell-through patterns, or guest feedback
- Handle products with care—transport, display, and serve items in ways that honor the work that went into creating them
- Help minimize waste by merchandising products strategically, making recommendations, and communicating with production about what's moving
- Support production staff during busy periods—offer to help with packaging, labeling, or retail prep when you have capacity
- Participate in team meetings, tastings, and training sessions to strengthen cross-departmental understanding
Personal Development & Growth
This position is a pathway to leadership and specialized roles within Simple Food Group.
WHY THIS MATTERS: We need strong leaders, skilled professionals, and engaged team members to grow our organization. When you invest in developing your skills, product knowledge, and leadership capacity, you create opportunities for yourself while strengthening the entire team. We promote from within whenever possible—many of our current leaders started in entry-level positions and grew with us.
What This Looks Like:
- Actively participate in training sessions and staff education opportunities
- Ask questions, seek feedback, and take initiative in developing your skills
- Learn additional roles and responsibilities to increase your versatility and value to the team
- Shadow experienced team members and leadership to understand different aspects of the operation
- Contribute ideas for improving guest experience, operational efficiency, or team culture
- Pursue formal skill development through ProStart certification, culinary coursework, or hospitality training programs if desired
REPORTING STRUCTURE & RELATIONSHIPS
You report to: Retail Lead, Retail Manager, General Manager, Executive Chef
You collaborate closely with:
- Retail team members (your frontline colleagues)
- Bread production team and Bread Lead
- Pastry production team and Pastry Lead
- Wholesale and Farmers Market team
- Bakery management team
Critical Understanding: While the Retail Lead is your primary supervisor for day-to-day operations, the General Manager and Executive Chef provide strategic leadership and are available for support, questions, or concerns. You're part of a flat, collaborative organization where communication across teams is encouraged and valued.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Essential Attitude & Character
- Genuine hospitality orientation — You actually enjoy serving people and creating positive experiences
- Proactive contribution mindset — You naturally look for ways to help without being asked
- Reliable and accountable — You show up on time, follow through on commitments, and own your mistakes
- Coachable and growth-oriented — You receive feedback gracefully and use it to improve
- Team-oriented mindset — You understand that your success is tied to the team's success
- Respectful and professional — You treat teammates, guests, and vendors with consistent kindness
- Adaptable and resilient — You handle unexpected challenges, busy periods, and changes in routine with steadiness
Essential Skills
- Food handling certification (or willingness to obtain within 30 days of hire)
- Basic math and cash handling abilities
- Clear communication in English (verbal and written)
- Physical stamina to stand for extended periods and lift up to 25 pounds regularly
- Reliable transportation to Lake Geneva for varied shift times
- Ability to work weekends and holidays (required—our busiest days)
Preferred Experience (Not Required)
- Previous retail, restaurant, or customer service experience
- Familiarity with POS systems (we use Square)
- Food production, bakery, or culinary experience
- Barista or specialty food experience
- Local food systems knowledge or interest
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Stand and move for entire shift duration
- Reach, bend, stoop, and lift repeatedly throughout shift
- Lift and carry up to 25 pounds regularly (occasionally up to 50 pounds with assistance)
- Work in varying temperatures (cold cases, warm production areas)
- Maintain focus during busy, fast-paced service periods
ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
This position can lead to:
- Senior Retail Team Member — Increased responsibility for training, opening/closing, and project leadership
- Retail Lead — Supervising retail staff, managing schedules, and overseeing front-of-house operations
- Production positions — Transitioning into bread or pastry production if you develop interest and skills
- Wholesale & Farmers Market Coordinator — Managing our wholesale accounts and farmers market operations
- Management track — Retail Manager, Assistant General Manager, or other leadership positions
- Specialized roles — Product development, wholesale sales, social media, event coordination, or other positions as our organization grows
Pay increases are earned through:
- Demonstrated hospitality excellence and consistent contribution
- Skill development and increased versatility
- Leadership capacity and mentoring of newer team members
- System adherence and operational excellence
- Cultural fluency and embodiment of our values
- Longevity and deepening commitment to the organization
You are responsible for:
- Developing and maintaining a personal and professional growth plan in collaboration with the Retail Lead, Retail Manager, and General Manager
- Seeking feedback regularly and acting on it
- Taking initiative in your own learning and skill development
SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE LOOKS LIKE:
✓ Guests consistently leave happier than they arrived because of your warm, knowledgeable, genuine service
✓ Your teammates trust and appreciate you because you're reliable, helpful, and contribute proactively to the team's success
✓ The retail floor operates smoothly because you follow systems, anticipate needs, and communicate clearly
✓ Products are presented beautifully and accurately because you take pride in showcasing the team's work
✓ You're constantly learning and growing — gaining product knowledge, developing skills, and building confidence
✓ You handle challenges with professionalism — busy rushes, difficult conversations, sold-out products, and unexpected problems don't rattle you
✓ Production teams see you as a trusted partner who respects their work and communicates effectively
✓ You actively contribute to the culture we're building—finding ways to make work better for yourself and others
ABOUT SIMPLE BAKERY AND MARKET
Simple Bakery and Market is part of Simple Food Group, a family of businesses dedicated to exceptional food, genuine hospitality, and meaningful community connection. We're located in downtown Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where we operate Simple Cafe and Simple Bakery & Market.
Our approach is grounded in:
- Locally-sourced ingredients from farmers and producers we know personally
- Traditional techniques including natural fermentation, stone-milling, and craft production methods
- Hospitality excellence inspired by leaders like Danny Meyer and organizations like Zingerman's
- Servant leadership culture where every team member is empowered to contribute meaningfully
- Three bottom lines: Great Food, Great Hospitality, and Strong Profits that fund our mission
We aspire to:
- James Beard Award recognition for our contributions to American food culture
- Michelin-level standards of excellence in everything we create
- Being an employer of choice that develops hospitality and culinary professionals
- Deepening our community's connection to local food systems and the people who grow our food
We partner with: Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Artisan Grain Collaborative, University of Wisconsin-Madison food systems programs, and numerous local farmers, makers, and producers who share our values.
Simple Bakery and Market is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Pay: From $15.00 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
