Garden Centre Assistant

Retail Assistant

Reports to: Retail Supervisor

Role overview

The Retail Assistant helps provide a welcoming, attractive and well-run garden centre for our customers. This is a varied and practical role involving customer service, till operation, stock replenishment, merchandising, cleaning and general retail duties. Although support and direction will be available, the role includes regular periods of independent and unsupervised work. The role therefore requires reliability, the ability to follow procedures and the ability to complete assigned tasks to the required standard without continuous supervision. It is also necessary to serve alcohol and sell sharp items unsupervised. Availability to work alternate weekend is required.

Main responsibilities

• Welcome customers and provide friendly, helpful and professional service.
• Assist customers in locating plants, products and other services.
• Provide product or gardening information within the limits of personal knowledge, referring specialist enquiries to an appropriate colleague.
• Operate tills and handle cash, card payments, refunds and discounts accurately and in accordance with company procedures.
• Replenish, rotate, price and display stock.
• Maintain attractive, tidy and commercially effective displays.
• Receive, check and move deliveries, reporting shortages or damage.
• Monitor stock levels and report gaps, pricing errors or other concerns.
• Complete assigned tasks independently and report when work has been completed.
• Prioritise routine work sensibly when working without direct supervision.
• Maintain clean, safe and presentable retail, storage and customer areas.
• Assist with stock counts and other stock-control activities.
• Follow all health and safety, fire safety, security and manual-handling procedures.
• Help prevent stock loss, damage and wastage.
• Assist other departments when reasonably required.
• Weekend a weekday working is required on rota basis.

Skills and experience

Essential

• A friendly and welcoming manner.
• A genuine willingness to help customers.
• The ability to work effectively both as part of a team and independently.
• The reliability and judgement needed to work without continuous supervision.
• The ability to follow instructions, procedures and agreed standards.
• Good attention to detail, particularly when handling money, pricing or checking stock.
• A practical attitude and willingness to undertake a wide variety of duties.
• Basic computer skills, or the ability to learn how to use the company’s EPOS system.
• An interest in plants and gardening.
• A flexible approach and a strong work ethic.

Desirable

• Existing horticultural or garden centre knowledge would be an advantage, but is not essential.

The role involves standing, walking, bending and the safe movement of stock during much of the working day. Reasonable adjustments will be considered where appropriate. This description outlines the main responsibilities of the role. The Retail Assistant may be asked to undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the position. This job meets national minimum wage requirements for relevant age groups.

Pay: £10.85-£12.71 per hour

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person