Seasonal Nursery/Greenhouse Associate

Esbenshade's Greenhouses, Inc. is searching for a Nursery/Perennial Associate to support and grow our team. Applicants must be able to remain patient when confronted with a challenge and continually strive to be familiar with all the plants and products our store offers. They must proactively sell and maintain plant material, while helping to fulfil customers' visions and dreams. They assist with all daily operations within the department. We encourage individuals who can provide this level of service and are enthusiastic to apply for this position. Prior knowledge of and experience with woody ornamentals and perennials are helpful for this position.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Customer service is first and foremost. This means approaching every customer with a smile and pleasant attitude, offering assistance, answering questions, and doing all you can to provide Esbenshade's customers with a positive, successful shopping experience so that they will want to return.
• Must communicate well with customers to fulfill their needs and even suggest tie-in sales.
• Take responsibility and provide leadership for day-to-day operations within your department.
• Responsible for general clean up and maintenance of nursery yard, greenhouse space, and water garden display areas.
• Maintain a clean and safe environment, carefully monitoring for any trip hazards.
• Ensure good communication with customers, employees, vendors and management.
• Must be flexible with your scheduling to accommodate customer service for the work week.
• Stay informed of weekly sales items throughout your department.
• Knowledgeable of our Customer Loyalty Card Program.
• Commitment to attend employee meetings and training.
• Willing to learn to operate forklift, bobcat and other necessary equipment.
• Willing to provide cross coverage in other departments as needed.
• Position includes mulch and nursery deliveries, heavy lifting, loading and unloading trees, shrubs, perennials, and hard goods for customers and vendors.
• Design attractive, creative displays with proper signage and information for customers, including seasonal rotation of flowering plants.
• Ensure all plants receive proper care – watering, fertilizing, dead-heading, pest control, etc.
• Perform all other duties assigned by Nursery/Greenhouse or Store Manager.
• Follow all safety policies and procedures and observe all company policies.

Skills & Abilities:

• Basic knowledge of or willingness to learn about fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and other chemicals and methods of pest control.
• Ability to solve problems and make decisions or suggestions for customers.
• Ability to move and setup displays, pot nursery stock, maintain nursery.
• Basic knowledge of woody ornamentals and perennials is preferred.
• High level of initiative and desire for excellence.

Education & Experience:

• Knowledge of or previous experience with nursery stock, water gardening, landscaping, and perennials is preferred.
• Experience with retail sales is preferred.

Time Requirements:

• Work an average of 2 - 3 evenings per week during our Spring busy season (if evening hours are agreed upon at hiring).
• Most Saturdays required.
• Some Holidays (Easter weekend, Mother’s Day weekend) + the week of our Parking Lot Sale (June 18 - 21) are required.
• Should be willing to work overtime during busy Spring season (if needed).

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift heavy objects (up to 75-pounds).
• Must be able to work on your feet for long periods (up to 10 - 12 hours).
• Must be able to work in outdoor conditions: heat, rain, dust, coolness, and high humidity.