Garden Centre Manager

Job Summary:

A pivotal role within the J. Parker’s group, our Garden Centre Managers oversee the daily operations of our garden centres. The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing staff, driving sales, ensuring excellent customer service, and maintaining high standards of plant care and product presentation.

Main purpose/scope of the role:

Reporting to the Operations Manager, our Garden Centre Managers are responsible for the overall performance, profitability, and customer experience of their garden centre. This includes leading a team, managing operations, driving sales, and ensuring the centre is visually appealing, well-stocked, and aligned with seasonal trends. The role requires a hands-on leader with strong commercial awareness and a passion for horticulture and retail excellence.

Key responsibilities:

Operations Management:

• Oversee daily operations including stock management, merchandising, customer service, and health & safety.
• Ensure the garden centre is clean, organised, safe, and welcoming at all times.
• Monitor and manage budgets, costs, and profitability.
• Give input to the procurement, stocking, and display of plants, gardening supplies, and other merchandise.

Colleague Management:

• Lead, coach and support your team in the completion of their duties and help them to achieve their targets.
• Oversee the recruitment and training of new colleagues, ensuring they are knowledgeable and deliver excellent customer service.
• Create work schedules, assign daily tasks, and monitor staff performance.
• Provide ongoing coaching and support to team members to foster a positive work environment.
• Lead meetings and communicate operational updates and objectives.
• Complete team appraisals.
• Regularly meet with store support colleagues (for example the buyer and visual merchandiser) to discuss sales, stocks, floor layouts and seasonal moves.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety regulations, trading standards, and company policies.

Customer Service:

• Ensure all customers receive friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful service.
• Address and resolve any customer enquiries or complaints in a professional manner.
• Promote a customer-focused environment, with staff engaged in understanding customer needs and offering appropriate solutions.

Financial Management:

• Monitor daily sales, costs, and budgets, ensuring financial targets are met.
• Implement strategies to increase sales, profitability, and foot traffic.
• Create and review performance reports and adjust operational plans accordingly.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and more efficient use of resources.

Marketing and Sales:

• Collaborate with the marketing team to create promotional strategies, seasonal displays, and in-store events.
• Drive product sales by ensuring effective merchandising and suggesting complementary products to customers.
• Be aware of seasonal and future trends within the horticulture industry.

Personal Specification:

This role requires:

• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate staff.
• Strong organisational, multitasking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficient in inventory management systems and retail software.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Exceptional customer service skills with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing demands.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Well-organised and good at time management
• Ability to quickly build rapport and maintain trusting relationships with customers, suppliers and colleagues
• Team player who’s skilled in working well with multiple teams
• Have an approachable, positive and proactive manner
• Computer and systems literate and good knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office applications
• Able to work full time hours on a rota basis, including weekend working

Desirable, but not mandatory skills include:

• Proven experience in a managerial role within a retail or garden centre environment.
• Strong knowledge of horticulture, plants, gardening products, and seasonal trends.

Pay: £37,000.00-£40,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Anwick NG34 9SS: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person