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- Tasks: Lead daily operations at our vibrant Garden Centre and coffee shop.
- Company: Join a dynamic team in a customer-focused garden centre in Liss, Hampshire.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Combine your passion for gardening and hospitality to create memorable experiences.
- Qualifications: Retail management experience and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Exciting role with seasonal events and a focus on sustainability.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Garden Centre Manager to lead the day-to-day operation at our Garden Centre at Liss, Hampshire, including its coffee shop. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys a varied role, thrives in a customer-focused environment, and can bring together retail and hospitality to deliver an exceptional experience for every visitor.
Key responsibilities include:
- Overseeing all areas of the garden centre, including retail and coffee shop operations
- Ensuring strong coordination between retail and hospitality to maximise performance and profitability
- Managing stock levels, supply chains, merchandising, and promotional activity
- Delivering excellent customer service and maintaining high standards of presentation across all departments
- Organising seasonal events, promotions, and customer engagement activities
- Monitoring budgets, controlling costs, and driving commercial performance
- Leading and developing teams across retail and hospitality, including staffing, rotas, recruitment, and performance reviews
- Ensuring compliance with all health, safety, and food hygiene requirements
- Maintaining safe working practices and completing risk assessments
- Managing stock, monitoring wastage, and maximising margin potential
- Ensuring accurate till operations, cash handling, and banking procedures
- Acting as a key holder and taking part in the duty manager rota
- Working closely with HR on performance, conduct, and employee matters
Skills and experience:
- Proven retail management experience, ideally within a garden centre or similar commercial environment
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing diverse teams
- Confidence in managing budgets, sales targets, and cost control
- Excellent communication and customer service skills
- Ability to multitask and manage competing priorities across retail and hospitality
Personal attributes:
- Inspiring leadership style with the ability to motivate and support teams
- Calm, resilient, and composed in a fast-paced environment
- High attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high standards
- Commercially minded with a focus on sales growth and customer engagement
- Flexible and adaptable, particularly during peak seasonal periods
- Passion for sustainability and environmentally friendly practices
- Strong problem-solving skills and proactive decision-making
- Willingness to work weekends
Garden Centre Manager in Cambourne employer: Hillier Nurseries Ltd
Contact Detail:
Hillier Nurseries Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Garden Centre Manager in Cambourne
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the garden centre and retail industry. Attend local events or join online groups where you can meet people who might know about job openings or can give you insider tips.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your personality! When you get an interview, let your passion for gardening and customer service shine through. Share stories that highlight your leadership skills and how you've created memorable experiences for customers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky questions! Think about how you would handle specific scenarios related to managing a garden centre, like dealing with stock shortages or planning seasonal events. Practising your responses will help you feel more confident.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing applications directly from candidates who are excited about joining our team. It shows initiative and gives us a chance to see your enthusiasm right from the start.
We think you need these skills to ace Garden Centre Manager in Cambourne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: Let us see your enthusiasm for the garden centre industry! Share your love for plants, gardening, and customer service in your application. A genuine passion can really make you stand out.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your retail management experience and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to lead teams and drive performance.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Be specific about how your background aligns with our needs, especially in managing both retail and hospitality operations.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hillier Nurseries Ltd
✨Know Your Garden Centre Stuff
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of garden centre operations. Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in retail and hospitality, especially those relevant to garden centres. This will show that you're not just passionate about plants but also understand how to run a successful business.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led teams in the past. Think about times when you motivated staff or improved team performance. Highlight your ability to manage diverse teams and how you’ve handled challenges in a fast-paced environment.
✨Customer Service is Key
Prepare to discuss your approach to customer service. Have anecdotes ready that demonstrate your commitment to delivering exceptional experiences. Remember, this role is all about creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors, so let your passion shine through!
✨Budgeting and Profitability Know-How
Since managing budgets and driving commercial performance is crucial, be prepared to talk about your experience with financial management. Share how you've successfully controlled costs and maximised profitability in previous roles, and be ready to discuss your strategies for achieving sales targets.
