At a Glance
- Tasks: Assist customers in finding the perfect pets and aquatics products while ensuring a great shopping experience.
- Company: Join Squires Garden Centre, a family-owned business dedicated to customer happiness since 1936.
- Benefits: Enjoy 50% off in restaurants, generous holiday leave, and a bonus at Christmas!
- Other info: Flexible hours with a supportive environment and exciting employee rewards.
- Why this job: Be part of a friendly team that values your contributions and offers growth opportunities.
- Qualifications: A good attitude, interpersonal skills, and some pet or fish knowledge are essential.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
Squires Garden Centre, Common Road, Stanmore, London, City of, United Kingdom
Job Description
Posted Tuesday 14 October 2025 at 00:00
Your primary responsibility will be to provide professional support to our customers.
Working closely with the Garden Centre Manager to help the business to succeed.
Rota: Every Wednesday 09:00-18:00 with alternate weekends Saturday and Sunday 10:00-16:00
Main duties and responsibilities:
- Provide an enjoyable shopping experience for everyone by:
- Ensuring all customers are greeted and offered assistance
- Handling customer queries courteously and efficiently
- Identifying customer needs through interaction, and taking appropriate action
- Excellent standards of merchandising and housekeeping are established and maintained in accordance with company guidelines
- Must have some Pet or fish knowledge
To be successful in this role, we are looking for people:
- Good friendly manner
- Good interpersonal skills
- Willing to learn
Squire’s is a family-owned group of 17 garden centres based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex, and Berkshire. Since 1936 the purpose of our business has been the happiness of those who work in it.
We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticulture, catering, and retail. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment.
Rewards & Benefits: We want our employees to be known for their friendliness, helpfulness, and good customer service, with their whole ethos being ‘nothing is too much trouble for our customers’. In turn we will provide an extensive benefit package, please see below.
- Employee Discount– 50% in Restaurants and 20% in Garden Centre on joining, increasing to 25% after 2 years’ service and 30% after 5 years’ service.
- Holiday (including bank holidays)– 5.6 weeks on joining increasing to 6.2 week after 2 years’ service and 6.6 weeks after 5 years’ service.
- Bonus– We reward our employees with a non-contractual bonus at Christmas, based on the profit of the company in any financial year (first year is dependent on start date).
- Pension– We are all aware of how important it is to save for our retirement. We offer a Defined Contribution Pension Plan to new employees. If you pay into the plan and meet the government criteria, the company will too, and these contributions will be invested.
- Attendance– After one years service, if you have worked for a full financial year and have 100% attendance, one day holiday (pro-rata) will be added to your holiday grant as a \'Thank you\'.
- Made A Difference Scheme (M.A.D)– A reward scheme for team members who make a difference to our business through outstanding customer service, over and above normal duties or initiatives that have grown / inspired the business. There is a monthly winner. All winners select a gift to receive.
- Learning & Development– You can look forward to a wealth of learning opportunities with us that will enhance and develop you with the skills and confidence you need.
- Birthday –After 6 months service if your birthday falls on your contracted day to work, you can leave work early (holiday policy rules apply). If you have 2 years service on your birthday, you will receive a £25 Squires gift voucher (pro rata for less than 40 hours).
- Cycle2work scheme –After 1 years service, a government initiative which offers a 25% to 39% saving on new cycling equipment. This cost is deducted out of your pay over 12 or 19 months.
- Child\'s first day at school –After 1 year\'s service come in late and go home early on your child\'s first day of school life, so that you can be there to take them and pick them up from school on the first day.
- RHS Membership or a Tree / Shrub –After 1 years service Squire\'s employees can choose either one tree or shrub to plant each year up to the value of £50 retail on the anniversary of your engagement or £50 towards RHS annual membership.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) –After 2 years service employees are eligible to join an EAP, that gives them access to a range of wellbeing resources, etc.
- Retirement–After 15 years service if you are retiring and have over 15 years service, your contracted hours will be reduced by a fifth but your pay will remain the same for your final 3 months.
- Free Parking– Available to all employees in the designated parking areas on our site.
Pets and Aquatics - Sales Assistant in City of London employer: Squire's Garden Centres
Squire's Garden Centre is an exceptional employer, offering a friendly and energetic work environment where employees are valued for their commitment to customer service. With generous benefits including substantial discounts, extensive holiday allowances, and opportunities for personal growth, Squire's fosters a culture of support and development, making it an ideal place for those passionate about horticulture and customer engagement in the heart of London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Pets and Aquatics - Sales Assistant in City of London
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Squire's Garden Centres, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Squire's Garden Centres!
We think you need these skills to ace Pets and Aquatics - Sales Assistant in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Squire's Garden Centres, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Squire's Garden Centres and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Squire's Garden Centres that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Squire's Garden Centres
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
