Getting hired at Aaron Brothers Art and Framing can be a creative dream come true. As one of the largest art and framing retailers in the United States, Aaron Brothers offers a unique work environment for those passionate about arts, crafts, and design.
However, landing a job there requires acing the interview process. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the most common Aaron Brothers interview questions along with tips to help you craft winning responses. Read on to learn everything you need to shine in your upcoming interview.
About Aaron Brothers Art and Framing
Before we dive into the interview, let’s do a quick rundown of the company. Aaron Brothers was founded in 1946 in San Francisco by brothers Charles and Samuel Aaron. What began as a single neighborhood art supplies store has since grown into a chain of over 275 locations across the U.S. and Canada.
While Aaron Brothers started out focused solely on art supplies, it later expanded into custom framing as well. Today, it offers a wide selection of art and crafting products including:
- Paints, brushes, canvases
- Craft kits
- Custom framing supplies
- Readymade frames
- Wall décor
Aaron Brothers positions itself as an approachable, full-service art retailer catering to creative hobbyists and professionals alike. Its friendly staff aims to offer personalized guidance to help customers bring their creative visions to life.
Now that we have the company background let’s look at some of the most frequently asked interview questions and how to tackle them like a pro.
Common Interview Questions and Answers
Here are some of the top questions candidates can expect during the Aaron Brothers interview process:
1. Why do you want to work for Aaron Brothers Art and Framing?
This is a chance for you to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the company and how you feel you’d be a great culture fit. When answering:
- Talk about your passion for arts, crafts, or design and how you’d love being surrounded by creativity daily.
- Mention why the company’s friendly, customer-focused approach appeals to you.
- Share examples of how you could contribute, like your sales skills or knack for crafting.
Example: “I’ve always had a deep appreciation for creativity and grew up immersed in arts and crafts, so working for Aaron Brothers would be a dream. I love that you cater to creative passions at all levels, from novice to expert. With my strong sales abilities and creative flair, I know I could help customers bring their artistic visions to life while hitting sales goals. Being able to share my passion in such an inspiring environment is what really draws me to Aaron Brothers.”
2. What experience do you have in a retail environment?
The interviewer wants to gauge your familiarity with retail workflows and responsibilities. When answering:
- Share any retail, sales, or customer service experience you have.
- Highlight transferable skills like organization, time management, and ability to handle busy periods.
- Use examples to demonstrate how you contributed in past retail roles.
Example: “I have two years of retail experience from my role as a sales associate at a home goods store. There, I assisted customers in selecting products, handled POS transactions, and achieved the highest sales in my department through excellent customer service. This experience allowed me to hone skills like organization, multitasking, and managing inventory that I know would translate well to a role at Aaron Brothers.”
3. How would you handle an unhappy customer?
This tests your customer service skills. When responding:
- Emphasize listening attentively to understand the customer’s grievance.
- Discuss remaining calm and employing empathy when interacting.
- Share how you would work to resolve the issue respectfully.
- Give an example of successfully pacifying an angry customer if you have one.
Example: “If faced with an unhappy customer, I would listen closely without interrupting to fully understand their concerns. I would apologize sincerely for their dissatisfaction and remain patient and empathetic, recognizing that the situation is frustrating for them. My focus would be on resolving the issue respectfully by exploring solutions or alternatives. For example, when a customer complained that a custom framing order wasn’t completed properly, I offered a discount on redoing the work to their satisfaction, which helped turn their negative experience into a positive one.”
4. How would you go about learning our products and services?
Here they want to see your enthusiasm for learning and ability to get up to speed quickly. When responding:
- Express excitement to dive into learning all about their offerings.
- Discuss studying product materials, communicating with colleagues, using the products yourself.
- Share how you got up to speed with products/services in previous roles.
Example: “I would be thrilled to fully immerse myself in learning about Aaron Brothers’ selection of art supplies and framing options. To ramp up quickly, I would study all product materials and catalogues you provide, take notes on unique product features and suitable applications. I’d also engage colleagues with product expertise through Q&A sessions to gain insights directly from their experience. Whenever possible during downtime, I’d experiment with products myself to better understand their use. For example, in a previous framing role, I practiced framing personal photographs using sample mouldings to become intimately familiar with the process and materials.”
5. How would you handle customers with varying levels of art experience?
Here they are looking for your ability to personalize service based on the customer. When responding:
- Discuss asking probing questions to gauge each customer’s proficiency from the outset.
- Share how you’d offer detailed guidance to beginners vs. catering to experts’ precise needs.
- Provide examples of successfully customizing assistance in past roles.
Example: “I recognize that customers coming into Aaron Brothers have varying degrees of experience with art supplies and techniques. To provide personalized service, I make a point to engage each customer with questions to assess their proficiency level right away. For someone with minimal experience, I would provide extensive guidance on appropriate supplies and application techniques to ensure their success. On the other hand, when assisting expert artists and crafters, I would focus on understanding their precise project needs and making spot-on recommendations tailored to their skills. No matter their level, my goal is to make every customer feel supported in achieving their creative vision.”
6. This role requires lifting heavy frames and boxes frequently. Can you perform these duties?
With this question, the interviewer aims to confirm that you can fulfill the physical demands of working in the framing and shipping departments. When responding:
- Affirm directly that you are able to lift up to 50 lbs regularly as the role requires.
- You can provide examples of lifting heavy materials in past roles if relevant.
- Mention any strength training you do to stay fit for a physically demanding position.
Example: “Yes, I am fully able to lift heavy frames, packaged orders, and boxes on a regular basis as the role requires. In past warehouse roles, I frequently moved materials up to 50 lbs safely by using proper lifting techniques. I stay physically fit with strength training which helps keep me prepared for any physical duties of this position. The frequent heavy lifting required would not be an issue for me.”
7. How do you prioritize tasks when handling multiple customer requests?
This question tests your ability to multitask intelligently under pressure. When responding:
- Discuss evaluating urgency and importance to triage requests.
- Explain balancing multiple priorities fluidly and asking colleagues for assistance when needed.
- Share an example of successfully prioritizing competing tasks in a past role.
Example: *”When juggling multiple customer requests, I quickly evaluate urgency and importance to determine how to prioritize and tackle each one efficiently. I make sure to greet each customer warmly regardless of wait time to set the right tone from the outset. For maximum efficiency, I leverage my colleagues as
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