Free retail cover letter template

For sales assistants, customer assistants and seasonal jobs. A full example for a Christmas role and what to put in yours.

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A retail cover letter in the Banner design, with a made-up name and a typed signature

Retail cover letter example

Jade Turner, Christmas Sales Assistant (temporary) · a year part-time at a supermarket

Dear Mr Patel,

I am applying for the temporary Christmas Sales Assistant role at your Lincoln store. I have worked part-time at a supermarket for a year while studying, so I know how busy the run-up to Christmas gets, and I enjoy it.

I work the tills and self-checkouts, take deliveries, fill shelves to the planogram and handle refunds and age-restricted sales under Challenge 25. My manager trusts me to cash up at the end of a shift, and in September I signed up more customers to our loyalty scheme than anyone else on my team.

I often shop in your store for presents and like how easy it is to find things, so I would be glad to help customers do the same. I am available every evening after 4pm, all day at weekends and full time from 18 December to 2 January.

Thank you for considering my application. I have attached my CV and can come in for an interview at any time.

Yours sincerely,
Jade Turner

Or write yours from the job advert

What to mention in a retail cover letter

Keep it to one page. Pick what the advert stresses most, and give an example for each point.

Writing the CV too? See the retail CV template and our retail sales assistant CV example.

  1. Availability, exactly

    The days and hours you can work, and for seasonal jobs the dates.

  2. Till and stock

    Cash and card, self-checkouts, deliveries, replenishment and cashing up.

  3. Customers

    How you help customers, and one result such as a sales or sign-up target.

  4. Training

    Challenge 25 or age-restricted sales, and food hygiene for food retail.

  5. Why this shop

    One line on what you like about the store or brand.

Retail cover letters: your questions

Do I need a cover letter for a retail job?

Many large retailers do not ask for one, because you apply online. For smaller shops, or when you email your CV, a short letter helps, especially to explain your availability.

What should I write in a cover letter for a Christmas job?

The dates and hours you can work, any retail or customer experience, and that you are happy in busy periods. Seasonal staff are often hired quickly, so keep it short.

How do I write a retail cover letter with no experience?

Mention school, volunteering or a charity shop, and the qualities store managers want: friendly, reliable and careful with money. Show you know the shop.

Keep going

Cover letters for other jobs: Nurse Teaching assistant Care worker Customer service

Your turn. Write yours

Paste the job advert and make the draft your own. Download it in your CV’s design, with your signature.

Write yours freeSee the example