Garden Center Retail Sales Associate

Description

Position Description: As the Garden Center Retail Sales Associate, one must be familiar with all aspects of the Nursery Industry including but not limited to customer service, basic landscape design, inventory management, and the day-to-day operations of a retail plant yard. The Garden Center Retail Sales Associate is essentially responsible for the presentation of the retail yard, maintenance of that specific area of plant material and the interaction with the retail clients. This position must successfully interact with the Garden Center Manager and Staff. The Garden Center Retail Sales Associate must also successfully and professionally interact with outside vendors and wholesale customers as well as all landscape crews.

Reports to: The Garden Center Sales Associate reports to the Garden Center Manager and General Manager.

Requirements

Skill set and educational requirements for position:

• Experience recommended in the Retail Nursery Industry with exposure to a broad range of Garden Center experience.
• Experience in Horticultural/Landscape design would be helpful but not required.
• Possess a valid driver's license.
• Proficient in both oral and written communications.
• Proficient in MS Word and MS Excel.
• Able to become familiar with industry standard inventory/ Point of Sale software.
• Willing to learn the operation of nursery equipment that is necessary to operate on a daily basis.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and able to carry 15-20 pounds repeatedly through the length of greenhouse.
• Excellent knowledge of plant material including health, quality issues, disease and pests of landscape plants.
• Ability to operate in a stressful and fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in typing.
• Able to represent the company in a courteous and professional manner.
• Good organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks for various individuals.

Other position requirements:

• The Garden Center Retail Sales Associate may be required to work 24-32 hours a week in an effort to accomplish goals and objectives.
• The Garden Center Retail Sales Associate may be exposed to any or all of the following job related hazards:
• Stress related to job function
• Hazards related to computer usages including but not limited to eye strain, back strain, carpel tunnel syndrome, etc.
• Lifting or moving objects weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Other standard office and work-place hazards.

Responsibilities:

• Create and implement systems and procedures for the retail sales portion of the nursery. This will require working directly with Garden Center staff.
• Organize, set-up and display all plant material and Point-of-Purchase material in the designated retail yard for optimal attractiveness to create and drive sales.
• Maintain all plant material in the retail area, including but not limited to watering, pruning, scouting for insects and disease, etc.
• Restocking the retail yard with plants out of the wholesale area and communicating with the Nursery Retail Sales/ Promotional Manager on material quantities and future needs.
• Understand and become fluent in the nursery inventory/ sales system. Assist in the set­ up and use of the software system to manage all material flowing through the retail portion of the nursery.
• Promptly greet customers, assist with plant selections, load plant material, and process sales through Point-of-Sales system. Also, create spot designs to promote sales of nursery stock as needed.
• Survey customers as directed by Retail Sales/ Promotional Manager.

Success Factors:

• A successful Retail Sales Associate will have the ability to efficiently and effectively work with the Retail Sales/ Manager to restock plant material and maintain an organized retail sales area.
• The Retail Sales Associate must professionally and politely interact with all customers to generate retail sales. She/he must also gain excellent plant knowledge and have the ability to develop landscape designs based on SLI's design guidelines/standards as needed.
• She/he must also be able to interact with all staff, vendors, etc. in a professional manner at all times.