Are you passionate about plants and enjoy creating visually appealing displays? Do you thrive in outdoor environments and appreciate flexible work schedules? If so, consider becoming a plant partner with us and embark on a rewarding career in garden center merchandising. We are seeking enthusiastic individuals to join our team and help us enhance the shopping experience for plant lovers across various locations.
As a plant partner, you will play a crucial role in promoting the sale of live plants by expertly crafting and maintaining attractive displays. Your creativity and attention to detail will directly impact customer satisfaction and sales. You will be working in dynamic garden center settings, collaborating with friendly coworkers and interacting with customers who share your passion for horticulture.
The Perks of Being a Plant Partner:
We understand the importance of work-life balance and offer a range of benefits to our valued Plant Partners:
- Flexible Schedules: We offer schedules that adapt to your lifestyle, providing the flexibility you need to manage your personal commitments.
- Outdoor Work Environment: Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine as you work in beautiful garden center settings.
- Creative Freedom: Unleash your creativity by designing and arranging stunning plant displays that captivate customers.
- Positive Work Atmosphere: Join a team of friendly colleagues and interact with customers who are passionate about plants, creating a pleasant and engaging work environment.
- Horticultural Knowledge Expansion: Immerse yourself in the world of plants and expand your knowledge of horticulture through hands-on experience and interactions with industry professionals.
- Seasonal Income Boost: Take advantage of seasonal work opportunities to earn extra income and achieve your financial goals.
- Career Advancement Pathways: We are committed to nurturing talent and offer opportunities for growth within our company, with pathways to leadership roles for dedicated plant partners.
Roles and Responsibilities as a Plant Partner:
We offer several roles within our merchandising team, each with distinct responsibilities and opportunities for growth. Whether you are starting your career or seeking a leadership position, there’s a place for you as a plant partner.
Merchandiser (Entry-Level Plant Partner):
As a Merchandiser, you are the foundation of our plant partner team, ensuring our live plant displays are always at their best.
- Maintaining Display Excellence: Execute live nursery programs and uphold merchandising standards to create visually appealing and organized displays.
- Display Freshness and Organization: Keep displays fresh, tidy, clean, and well-organized according to established layouts and guidelines.
- Effective Communication: Maintain regular communication with your District Manager, Team Lead, and store staff to ensure smooth operations.
- Issue Reporting: Proactively inform supervisors about any concerns related to displays, product quality, safety hazards, or store partner interactions.
- Professional Customer Engagement: Maintain a professional, approachable, and customer-friendly demeanor at all times.
- Customer Assistance: Provide exceptional customer service, offering assistance and guidance to customers with their live goods selections.
- Safety Compliance: Adhere to company safety protocols to create and maintain a safe working and shopping environment for everyone.
- Policy Adherence: Follow all customer and vendor policies and procedures as part of your daily work routine.
Qualifications for Merchandiser Roles:
- Passion for plants and an interest in retail merchandising (experience preferred but not mandatory).
- Ability to meticulously follow instructions and guidelines.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- Reliability and dedication to completing assigned tasks efficiently.
- Commitment to upholding all safety requirements and recommendations.
- Smartphone proficiency for work-related apps and communication.
- Flexible availability, including weekends and holidays during peak seasons.
- Successful completion of a criminal background check.
- English language fluency (reading, writing, and understanding).
Team Lead Merchandiser (Mid-Level Plant Partner):
Team Leads are experienced plant partners who take on additional responsibilities, guiding and supporting Merchandisers to achieve team goals.
- Leadership and Mentorship: Perform all Merchandiser duties while providing guidance, training, and support to a team of Merchandisers.
- Communication Hub: Communicate product updates and merchandising strategies to store staff and Merchandisers.
- Issue Management: Inform store management of any issues concerning displays, product quality, or safety within your assigned area.
- Team Development: Assist in recruiting, training, and retaining seasonal merchandising staff to build a strong and effective team.
- Ongoing Training and Direction: Provide continuous training and direction to seasonal Merchandisers, ensuring consistent performance.
- Reporting and Documentation: Capture photos and prepare reports as requested by management, providing updates on progress and challenges.
Additional Training for Team Lead Plant Partners:
We invest in our Team Leads, providing specialized training to enhance their leadership and management skills:
- Leadership Development
- Problem-Solving Techniques
- Time Management and Goal Setting
- Effective Communication and Reporting
- Training and Coaching Others
Essential Duties and Responsibilities for Team Leads:
- Task Execution and Delegation: Execute daily merchandising tasks for assigned stores as directed by the District Manager, and delegate tasks to the team effectively.
- Team Training and Development: Assist the District Manager in training and further developing Merchandisers’ job skills, fostering growth within the team.
- Safety Leadership: Enforce all company safety protocols, ensuring a safe working and shopping environment for the team and customers.
- Store Staff Collaboration: Build productive and positive working relationships with store staff, facilitating smooth communication and cooperation.
- Feedback and Communication Flow: Communicate feedback and updates to store personnel and Merchandisers as needed to optimize product sales and merchandising efforts.
- Issue Escalation: Inform the District Manager of any issues related to displays, product quality, safety concerns, or store partner matters.
- Timely Reporting: Complete assigned reports and provide photographs in a timely manner, keeping management informed of progress and challenges.
- Inventory Management: Perform inventory control tasks using company-provided mobile applications, ensuring accurate stock levels.
- Customer Service Excellence: Maintain a professional and customer-friendly attitude, providing exceptional service and assistance to live goods customers.
- Policy Compliance: Adhere to customer and vendor policies and procedures in your daily work routine, ensuring operational efficiency.
Qualifications for Team Lead Roles:
- Demonstrated leadership and communication skills, with experience in guiding and motivating teams.
- Proven proficiency in garden center merchandising practices and techniques.
- Ability to meticulously follow directions and implement merchandising plans.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high standards.
- Ability to follow through and complete all assigned tasks efficiently and effectively.
- Commitment to adhering to all safety requirements and recommendations, prioritizing safety in all operations.
- Flexible availability, including weekends and key holidays during peak seasons, to meet business demands.
- Weekend work as required to align with business needs and peak customer traffic.
- Successful completion of a criminal background check for security and safety assurance.
- Fluency in English (reading, writing, and understanding) for effective communication and task comprehension.
- Valid driver’s license, proof of insurance (for travel-compensated positions), and a satisfactory Motor Vehicle Report.
District Manager (Management-Level Plant Partner):
District Managers are leadership-level plant partners responsible for overseeing the merchandising service program across multiple garden centers within their district.
- Strategic Leadership: Manage the execution and performance of the live goods merchandising service program within your assigned district, driving program success.
- Team Building and Staffing: Collaborate with the Regional Manager and Field Support to recruit, interview, and hire Garden Center merchandising teams, ensuring adequate staffing levels within budget.
- Training and Development Expertise: Train and develop merchandising teams according to company expectations, fostering professional growth and skill enhancement.
- Communication and Direction: Provide ongoing communication, direction, and leadership to the merchandising team, ensuring clear goals and effective execution.
- Safety Advocacy: Enforce all company safety protocols, maintaining a safe working and shopping environment across all locations within your district.
- Relationship Building: Build and maintain productive working relationships with merchandising teams and store staff throughout your district, fostering collaboration and teamwork.
- Sales Optimization: Provide updates and feedback to facilitate product sales throughout your district, contributing to overall revenue growth.
- Professional Representation: Maintain a professional and customer-friendly attitude, representing the company positively in all interactions.
- Policy and Procedure Compliance: Ensure adherence to customer and vendor policies and procedures in daily operations, maintaining operational standards.
Qualifications for District Manager Roles:
- High School Diploma or GED required; higher education preferred.
- Proven experience in management, supervision, or related leadership roles, demonstrating leadership capabilities.
- Ability to plan and coordinate multiple initiatives effectively while meeting deadlines, showcasing organizational skills.
- Demonstrated leadership, communication, and facilitation skills, essential for managing teams and projects.
- Ability to meticulously follow directions while maintaining strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Commitment to upholding all safety requirements and recommendations, prioritizing safety across the district.
- Ability to learn and utilize company software and business-related applications, demonstrating technological adaptability.
- Willingness to embrace new technology and adapt to evolving digital tools, keeping up with industry advancements.
- Willingness to embrace company culture and values, aligning with organizational principles.
- Flexible availability, including weekends and key holidays during peak seasons, to meet business demands and district needs.
- Weekend work as required to align with business needs and operational requirements.
- Must reside within the designated district to effectively manage and oversee operations.
- Successful completion of a criminal background check for security and safety compliance.
- Fluency in English (reading, writing, and understanding) for effective communication and management.
- Valid driver’s license, proof of required insurance coverage, and a satisfactory Motor Vehicle Report.
Regional Manager (Senior Management Plant Partner):
Regional Managers are senior leadership plant partners who oversee the entire Garden Center Live Goods merchandising program across a region, guiding and supporting District Managers.
- Program Oversight and Execution: Responsible for the successful execution of the Garden Center Live Goods service program throughout a defined region, ensuring program effectiveness.
- District Manager Development: Train and develop District Managers according to company expectations, building a strong leadership pipeline.
- Staffing and Budget Management: Provide oversight to District Managers in the staffing process, ensuring adherence to budgetary needs and efficient resource allocation.
- Regional Communication and Leadership: Provide ongoing communication, direction, and leadership to District Managers, fostering a cohesive and high-performing regional team.
- Safety and Compliance Champion: Enforce all company safety protocols, maintaining a safe working and shopping environment across the entire region.
- Strategic Relationship Building: Build and maintain productive working relationships with merchandising teams, live goods suppliers, store staff, and client merchants/operations managers throughout the region, fostering collaboration and partnerships.
- Regional Sales and Performance Management: Provide updates and feedback to facilitate product sales throughout the region, driving regional revenue and performance.
- Professional Representation and Liaison: Act as a company liaison, providing information and guidance to client regional management and store teams, representing the company professionally.
- Operational Reporting: Maintain ongoing communications with the Operations Manager regarding Regional progress, providing regular updates and insights.
- Policy and Procedure Enforcement: Ensure adherence to customer and vendor policies and procedures in daily routine across the region, maintaining operational consistency.
Qualifications for Regional Manager Roles:
- Bachelor’s Degree in business or a relevant field preferred, or equivalent experience in people management and development, demonstrating a strong educational background or relevant experience.
- Ability to plan and coordinate multiple initiatives effectively while meeting deadlines, showcasing strong organizational and project management skills.
- Demonstrated leadership, communication, and facilitation skills, essential for managing a team of District Managers and regional operations.
- Ability to meticulously follow directions while maintaining strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and compliance at a regional level.
- Commitment to upholding all safety requirements and recommendations, prioritizing safety across the entire region.
- Ability to learn and utilize company software and business-related applications, demonstrating technological proficiency at a management level.
- Experience in The Microsoft Office Suite and willingness to embrace new technology, showcasing familiarity with essential software and adaptability to new tools.
- Willingness to embrace company culture and values, aligning with organizational principles and promoting company ethos.
- Must reside within the designated region to effectively oversee and manage regional operations.
- Extensive travel with some overnight stays required, demonstrating willingness to travel and manage regional responsibilities across different locations.
- Flexible availability, including weekends and key holidays according to business needs, accommodating regional business demands and peak seasons.
- Successful completion of a criminal background check for security and safety compliance at a regional oversight level.
- Fluency in English (reading, writing, and understanding) for effective communication and management of a regional team.
- Valid driver’s license and proof of required insurance coverage and pass the company’s required Motor Vehicle Report requirements, ensuring compliance with driving and insurance regulations for travel.
Work Environment and Physical Demands for all Plant Partner Roles:
- Outdoor Work: Be prepared to work in all outdoor elements, experiencing varying weather conditions.
- Physical Stamina: Ability to walk and stand, push, pull, bend, and stoop for extended periods throughout a shift.
- Lifting Capability: Must be able to lift or carry up to 30 lbs. regularly and occasionally up to 50 lbs.
- Overhead Lifting: Ability to lift a minimum of 18 lbs. over your head, requiring upper body strength.
- Team Lifting: Capability to perform buddy or team lifts for items weighing 51-100 lbs., ensuring safe handling of heavier objects.
- Mobility: May be required to climb stairs or ladders to access and arrange displays.
- Travel (for Management Roles): District and Regional Manager roles require travel by motorized vehicle for extended periods, and Regional Managers may need to travel by air.
- Indoor Office Work (for Management Roles): Management roles also involve indoor work using standard office equipment.
Grow Your Career with Us as a Plant Partner!
Many of our current District Managers and Regional Managers began their journey as Team Lead Merchandisers, demonstrating the potential for career advancement within our company. We are dedicated to fostering growth and providing opportunities for our plant partners to excel.
If you are a motivated individual with a love for plants and a desire to contribute to a thriving team, we encourage you to apply and become a plant partner today! Join us in creating beautiful garden center experiences and helping customers bring the joy of plants into their lives.
