Business of Home

Hawthorne House is a thriving furnishings & lighting showroom in Athens, Georgia. The city is a creative community filled with artists, musicians, & beautifully designed homes that inspire our work every day. Since 2003, we have been a destination for design professionals & discerning homeowners seeking craftsmanship, comfort, and connection. We serve clients both remotely & in our Athens showroom, partnering with customers nationwide who share a passion for beautiful living.

The Furniture Showroom Sales Specialist is a front-line opportunity to shape experiences & build relationships through our three signature programs: Concierge, Encore, & To-the-Trade. This role blends hospitality, design expertise, & business development to guide clients through selections, pricing, & budgets, helping transform ideas into inspired interiors.

Each day brings variety & momentum, from greeting clients & preparing quotes to following up on leads and collaborating with the design & marketing teams. You will enjoy the satisfaction of cultivating loyal relationships, generating new business, & contributing to meaningful projects across markets.

Responsibilities include:

Developing new client relationships through in-showroom hospitality, remote outreach, & trade networking.

Conducting consultations with homeowners, interior designers, real estate professionals, & investors to guide selections and budgets.

Preparing detailed proposals & managing client communications through our CRM.

Collaborating with the Design Project Coordinator to ensure seamless order management & project execution.

Supporting showroom merchandising and vendor presentations to keep the environment polished & current.

Engaging with the local & regional design community through showhouses, trade events, & partnerships that promote the Hawthorne House brand & enhance learning & updates of furnishings & lighting.

Planning & hosting showroom events & learning sessions to foster relationships & drive visibility.

This position is based on-site in our Athens showroom, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The environment is collaborative, design-focused, & fast-paced. Occasional off-site client meetings or vendor visits may occur.

This role offers the opportunity to grow alongside a respected brand, contribute to design projects near and far, & share in the success of bringing each client’s vision to life.

Education: Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in interior design, decorative arts, or a related field.

Experience: Proven success in furniture, lighting, or design-related sales, with a strong understanding of the furnishings & lighting market.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, & Adobe Acrobat. Experience with Monday.com & Canva preferred. Working knowledge of design software such as AutoCAD or SketchUp is a plus.

Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with trade pricing, lead times, & the ordering process within the design industry. Ability to speak confidently about furniture & lighting construction, materials, & fabrics.

Interpersonal Skills: Strong communication, organization, & relationship-building abilities. Professional demeanor, self-motivated, & capable of managing multiple client needs in a fast-paced environment.

Ideal attributes include being personable, sales-driven, design-minded, resourceful, collaborative, creative, & detail-focused.

You are an upbeat professional who thrives on connection & enjoys turning inspiration into action. You combine initiative & follow-through with warmth & polish, reflecting Hawthorne House’s long-standing reputation for excellence.

Hawthorne House is a furnishings and lighting showroom founded in 2003 and based in Athens, Georgia. We serve as a trusted resource for design professionals, developers, and homeowners seeking thoughtfully curated furniture, fabrics, and lighting. Our mission is to create environments of beauty and intention through service, craftsmanship, and connection.

Through our Concierge, Encore, and To-the-Trade programs, we support clients at every stage, from design discovery to installation, offering project-level pricing, personalized guidance, and access to premium vendors.

Our team thrives in a boutique, hands-on environment where creativity meets structure and every day brings something new. We believe in clear communication, proactive problem-solving, and a collaborative approach to serving clients both locally and remotely.

Working at Hawthorne House means joining a culture defined by high standards, continuous learning, and genuine enthusiasm for design. We value accuracy, organization, and reliability as much as artistry and imagination.

We are looking for individuals who share our love of design and our dedication to helping clients bring their spaces to life.

Kate Metherell

Talent Acquisition Manager