Garden Centre Associate

**THIS IS A NON-STUDENT POSITION**

**Position starts immediately and ends December 31, 2023. Permanent employment is a possibility.**

**THIS IS A NON-STUDENT POSITION**

**Summary**

The Garden Centre Sales Associate works in a fast-paced environment that involves constant interaction with customers to deliver friendly and courteous service while explaining features and benefits of lawn and garden products. This role also involves garden centre maintenance (watering and caring for annuals, perennials and nursery stock), stocking shelves, merchandising, customer carry outs and general housekeeping.

**Responsibilities and Tasks**
- Provides excellent customer service to all customers entering the garden centre, by educating them in the care and maintenance of annuals, perennials, nursery stock and related products.
- Smiles, makes eye contact with and greets customers.
- Guides customer to the location of requested items. Locates products in the warehouse.
- Answers questions and provides friendly advice and services to customers.
- Suggests value-added and related products to customers to ensure they go home with what they need.
- Ends the discussion with the customer using a closing statement (e.g., “Is there anything else I can do for you today?” “Did you find everything you were looking for?” “Thank you for shopping at Canadian Tire”).
- Responds to and handles customer inquiries, requests and concerns in a timely manner, over the phone and in person.
- Handles multiple customers in an effective and efficient manner.
- Deals with challenging situations in a professional manner.
- Learns about new lawn and garden products on a regular basis.
- Ensures that retail basics tasks are executed efficiently (e.g., stocking, labels, facing, etc.).
- Maintains and rotates annuals, perennials and nursery stock to ensure they are fresh and appealing.
- Keeps the garden centre neat and tidy. Assists in the receipt of garden centre products.
- Advises management of slow and fast moving products.
- Ensures that all merchandise to be purchased is rung through the cash register. Reconciles all carry-out purchases.
- Reports stolen and damaged goods to Management.
- Operates computer and RF gun, and enters all relevant coding in Canadian Tire systems.
- Engages in learning activities and listens to feedback to improve their own abilities.
- Complies with company, store, and Garden Centre policies.
- Abides by all health and safety programs and regulations. Reports any observed or potential hazards immediately.
- Uses professional language and maintains a professional appearance (uniform, hygiene, grooming, and name tag) when interacting with others.
- Completes other tasks, as required.

**Requirements**:

- Experience in a horticultural customer service role is required
- A good working knowledge of nursery stock and horticultural products.
- Ability to work under mínimal supervision with computerized systems. (i.e., POS systems, AS-400, RF Guns and PCs).
- Basic math and typing skills.
- Experience with Canadian Tire store and cash register experience are considered an asset.

**Physical Demands and Working Conditions**
- In compliance with the store’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures:

- Standing/walking for 8 hours.
- Working outside in various weather conditions.
- Lifting and/or carrying of merchandise items, as required, on a regular, frequent and unassisted basis. Merchandise items may vary in weight from “light” to “heavy”.
- Lifting and turning repeatedly throughout the shift. Lifting above the shoulder, from floor to shoulder and floor to waist.
- Walking and carrying at the same time and pushing/pulling, as required.
- Twisting, turning, reaching and working above shoulder level.
- Ability to go up and down a ladder

**Job Types**: Part-time, Permanent, Seasonal
Contract length: 6 months
Part-time hours: 24-32 per week

**Salary**: From $16.00 per hour

**Benefits**:

- Store discount

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Every Weekend
- Holidays

**Experience**:

- garden centre: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person