Application Guide
How to Apply for Sales Associate
at Mercado Global
🏢 About Mercado Global
Mercado Global is a nonprofit that pairs sustainable, ethical fashion with the financial independence of rural Indigenous women artisans across Latin America, partnering with major brands like Levi Strauss, Stitch Fix, and Nordstrom. Since its founding, it has generated nearly $10 million in sales for artisan partners and supported over 2,000 women entrepreneurs. Working here means directly contributing to a mission that keeps children in school and elevates women into community leadership roles.
About This Role
This Sales Associate role is a hybrid of executive support and hands-on selling: you'll manage the EVP of Strategic Partnerships' schedule, Salesforce pipeline, proposals, samples, and board calls, while also owning account management from prospecting new boutiques on Faire to reporting monthly sell-through. You'll be the operational backbone of a small, high-impact sales team, with a clear path to supporting marketing's press and influencer relationships. It's ideal for someone who thrives on both organization and relationship-building in a mission-driven, remote-first environment.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with updating Salesforce pipeline and prepping the EVP's schedule for client and board calls, then moving into prospecting new boutiques on Faire or following up on samples and proposals. You'll also analyze ATS inventory and sell-through data to prepare monthly reports, and end the day managing existing boutique accounts or coordinating conference logistics. Expect a blend of executive coordination, active selling, and mission-driven collaboration with a small remote team.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Mercado Global Is Looking For
- Highly organized and proactive, able to juggle executive scheduling, Salesforce pipeline updates, and client follow-ups without dropping details.
- Comfortable moving between executive support (preparing for board and client calls) and active selling (prospecting boutiques, managing existing accounts).
- Experienced with CRM tools like Salesforce and wholesale platforms like Faire, plus inventory reporting and sell-through analysis.
- Based in Guatemala or elsewhere in Latin America, with strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish, and a genuine passion for ethical fashion and artisan empowerment.
📝 Tips for Applying to Mercado Global
Highlight any experience with Salesforce, Faire, or similar wholesale/CRM platforms directly in your resume and cover letter—this role explicitly names them.
Quantify your account management or sales support impact (e.g., 'managed 30+ boutique accounts,' 'grew reorder rate by X%') to show you can own the stockist list end-to-end.
Mention your location (Guatemala or Latin America) and language skills (Spanish/English) early, since the role is location-specific and client-facing with Latin American artisans.
Reference Mercado Global's brand partners (Levi Strauss, Stitch Fix, Nordstrom) and its mission in your application to demonstrate you understand the ethical fashion wholesale context.
Show you can be an EVP's 'right hand' by giving examples of supporting senior leaders with scheduling, call prep, and follow-through in fast-paced environments.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
Emphasize your ability to be both an executive support partner and an active seller—give a concrete example of managing a senior leader's calendar and pipeline while also closing or growing accounts. Highlight your proficiency with Salesforce and Faire, and your experience with wholesale account management, inventory reporting, and sell-through analysis. Connect your personal commitment to ethical fashion and women's economic empowerment to Mercado Global's mission and artisan partners. Finally, note your location in Guatemala or Latin America and your bilingual skills, as these are directly relevant to the role's client and artisan interactions.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore Mercado Global's brand partnerships (Levi Strauss, Stitch Fix, Stuart Weitzman, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's) and understand how their wholesale model works with artisans.
- → Familiarize yourself with Faire as a wholesale marketplace and how boutiques typically order from ethical fashion brands.
- → Read about Mercado Global's impact metrics (nearly $10 million in sales, 2,000+ women entrepreneurs) and be ready to discuss how sales supports that mission.
- → Research the EVP of Strategic Partnerships' role and any public interviews or LinkedIn posts to understand their priorities and working style.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating this as a generic sales role and ignoring the executive support and nonprofit/ethical fashion context—show you understand the dual nature of the job.
- Failing to mention Salesforce, Faire, or wholesale account management experience, since these are core tools and responsibilities named in the job description.
- Applying without addressing location or language requirements—if you're not in Guatemala or Latin America, explain how you'll manage remote work and client communication in Spanish.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Mercado Global!