Garden Center Associate

Job Title: Garden Associate

Reports to: Garden Center Manager

Job Summary:

A Garden Associate plays a crucial role in assisting and supporting customers in the garden and outdoor departments of the store. This position involves a combination of customer service, product knowledge, and hands-on tasks related to plants, gardening supplies, and outdoor living products. Garden Associates help customers make informed decisions, maintain a tidy and organized sales area, and contribute to a positive shopping experience.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Customer Assistance: Greet and engage with customers, offering friendly and knowledgeable assistance in selecting plants, gardening tools, outdoor furniture, and related products.
• Product Knowledge: Provide accurate information about plant varieties, soil types, fertilizers, pest control methods, and other gardening-related topics to guide customer choices. Be willing to learn the Paul’s way by asking questions and listening.
• Plant Care: Water, prune, and care for plants to ensure they are healthy, well-maintained, and visually appealing for customers. Follow Paul’s instructions for proper display, watering, and pruning.
• Inventory Management: Receive and restock merchandise, ensuring that shelves and displays are adequately stocked and well-organized. Assist in receiving and stocking.
• Merchandising: Create attractive displays of plants and products, ensuring proper signage, pricing, and visual appeal to attract customers’ attention. Share ideas on merchandising suggestions.
• Cash Handling: Process customer transactions accurately, including cash, credit, and electronic payments.
• Consultations: Offer personalized advice and recommendations to customers based on their gardening goals, preferences, and specific needs. If you are not sure please find a manager to assist.
• Problem-Solving: Assist customers in troubleshooting gardening issues, such as plant diseases, pest problems, or landscape design challenges.
• Loading and Unloading: Assist customers with loading heavy or bulky items into their vehicles and unloading merchandise from trucks as needed.
• Equipment Maintenance: Ensure that gardening tools, and equipment, are clean, and properly maintained.
• Upkeep: Keep the garden and outdoor areas clean, organized, and debris-free, ensuring an inviting and pleasant shopping environment.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Plant Knowledge: Familiarity with plant varieties, care requirements, and gardening techniques. Formal horticultural education or gardening experience is a plus.
• Customer Service Skills: Strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact effectively with customers and address their inquiries.
• Physical Stamina: Ability to perform tasks such as lifting plants and bags of soil, standing for extended periods, and outdoor work in various weather conditions.
• Sales Skills: Basic sales skills to assist customers in finding suitable products and upselling complementary items.
• Problem-Solving: Analytical and problem-solving skills to address customer concerns and provide solutions.
• Cash Handling: Proficiency in processing transactions accurately and handling cash, credit, and electronic payments.
• Teamwork: Ability to collaborate with colleagues, work as part of a team, and support overall store operations.
• Creativity: Artistic flair to help design appealing plant displays and arrangements.

Education and Experience:

• A high school diploma or GED
• Training in horticulture, gardening, or a related field
• Practical experience in gardening, either in personal projects or community gardens, can provide valuable insights into plant care, landscaping, and customer preferences.
• Experience in a retail environment, especially in customer-facing roles, can provide exceptional customer service and assist shoppers effectively.
• Experience caring for various indoor and outdoor plants can provide accurate plant selection and care advice.

Physical Requirements:

• Lifting and Carrying: Garden Associates may need to lift and carry heavy bags of soil, mulch, pots, and other gardening supplies. Planting and moving larger potted plants or trees may also require lifting and carrying.
• Bending and Stooping: Tending to plants, arranging displays, and accessing items on lower shelves or on the ground may involve bending, stooping, and kneeling.
• Plant Care: Watering, pruning, and maintaining plants require physical dexterity and attention to detail. This includes reaching and handling plants at various heights.
• Outdoor Work: Depending on the garden center, Garden Associates may work outdoors, exposing them to various weather conditions such as sun, rain, or wind. Dressing for the weather is important.
• Walking and Standing: Garden Associates are often on their feet, assisting customers, maintaining displays, and restocking shelves, which requires walking and standing for extended periods.
• Pushing and Pulling: Moving carts or plant displays, especially when restocking or rearranging, might involve pushing or pulling.
• Physical Stamina: Garden work can be physically demanding, especially during busy seasons or when handling bulkier items. Stamina is important for consistent performance.
• Manual Dexterity: Delicate tasks such as potting plants, arranging decorations, and handling small gardening tools require good manual dexterity.
• Interaction with Customers: Garden Associates need to engage with customers, offer assistance, and provide recommendations, which involves effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Equipment Use: Operating gardening tools, equipment, and machinery may be necessary. Familiarity with tools such as pruners, shovels, and hoses is valuable.
• Ladder Use: A step stool or ladder might be required if the garden center has elevated displays or shelves.
• Health and Safety: Adherence to health and safety guidelines, including proper lifting techniques and using personal protective equipment (PPE) as needed.

Pay Range:

• Entry-Level: $14 - $16 per hour
• Mid-Career: $16 - $18 per hour

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $14.00 - $17.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person

Salary : $14 - $16