Position Summary
The primary responsibility of all positions at Fletcher Hardware is to WOW Every Customer, Every Time while upholding the company’s Core Values. As a Garden Center Associate, this role emphasizes plant knowledge, gardening expertise, and hands-on experience in an active garden center environment. Associates engage customers, assess their gardening needs, and provide knowledgeable solutions related to plants, soils, fertilizers, tools, and seasonal garden care. This position is physically active and requires working outdoors in varying weather conditions, particularly during warm spring and summer months.
Garden Center Associate Job Description
As a key member of the Garden Center team, you will deliver exceptional customer service with a strong focus on gardening education and plant care guidance. By following the Five Foot Rule, you will greet and acknowledge every customer in a friendly, approachable manner while offering informed recommendations based on plant type, growing conditions, and seasonal needs. You will use your knowledge of plants, landscaping basics, and garden maintenance to help customers make confident purchasing decisions.
This role requires standing and walking for extended periods, frequent lifting, and working in outdoor conditions, including heat during the busy spring season. Associates are expected to stay informed about current promotions, seasonal plant offerings, and garden center trends to effectively assist customers. Clear communication with team members and management is essential; wearing a radio ensures timely responses to customer needs and store operations. You will assist customers with loading plants, soil, and other heavy items, offer carts or baskets as needed, and support the training and development of fellow associates by sharing product and plant knowledge. Your expertise and enthusiasm for gardening help create a welcoming, educational, and memorable garden center experience.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
As a Garden Center Associate, you will:
- Assist customers with selecting plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, soils, fertilizers, and gardening tools, providing knowledgeable advice on plant care, watering, sunlight, pruning, and seasonal maintenance
- Answer customer questions related to gardening, landscaping basics, pest control, and plant health, offering practical solutions and product recommendations
- Maintain the health, appearance, and organization of live plants, including watering, pruning, rotating stock, and removing distressed or damaged plants
- Unload, receive, and properly merchandise plant deliveries and garden center products
- Lift, move, and load bags of soil, mulch, plants, and other garden materials; stand and walk for extended periods throughout the shift
- Keep the garden center clean, safe, organized, and fully stocked at all times
- Set up, maintain, and take down promotional displays and signage for seasonal and sales events
- Work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, humidity, and sun exposure during the spring and summer seasons
- Participate in daily huddles, team communication, and store initiatives, sharing ideas to improve customer experience and plant presentation
- Maintain a visible presence on the sales floor, proactively assisting customers and demonstrating the company’s WOW process
- Help prevent shoplifting through attentive, engaged customer service
- Support peers and management in creating an efficient, friendly, and professional garden center environment
Reports To: Assistant Manager, Store Manager
Shift: Varies
Status: Seasonal / Part-Time
Work schedule
- Weekend availability