At Heeman’s, each staff member is titled a “Daymaker” first and foremost. We believe our amazing staff is the key to making our space a “Happy Place” for everyone who enters.
As a Houseplant Associate, you will bring Heeman’s customer experience to life in the Houseplants & Tropicals Department by delivering exceptional customer service, caring for houseplant and tropical plants, maintaining inventory as well as maintaining visual brand standards. This role involves watering, pricing, displaying, scouting for pests, and further caring for each houseplant You will be a proponent for all houseplants and tropicals, which is a very diverse, ever-growing and continually changing department.
Employment Type:
- Full-time, seasonal
Responsibilities:
- Assisting customers by locating specific products, making informed recommendations, advising them on appropriate plant care and answering any additional questions they might have
- Understanding unique care requirements of all houseplants and tropical plants including, but not limited to, light, water, soil, fertilizer, temperature and humidity requirements
- Learning the physical characteristics of the plants, including but not limited to size, growth pattern, leaf colour/pattern and toxicity (for pets and children)
- Participating in the restocking process by condensing the available product, replenishing low inventory from backstock understock, writing replenishment lists, and moving back stocked products to the retail floor
- Maintaining the appearance of the Houseplant department by condensing the trays, straightening containers, and cleaning the plants
- Setting up visual displays, marketing and/or signage in the Houseplants department
- Assisting with houseplant shipments by unloading delivery trucks, counting the inventory, sending the receiving information to the Inventory Management Technologist, accurately pricing and stickering the containers and preparing the plants for the retail floor
- Scouting for pests every week by doing a thorough inspection for detrimental insects and potential signs of damaging insects and consulting with the Houseplant Manager upon identification
- Attending to the care of Air Plants in a gentle soaking process every week
- Answering radio calls from all departments with appropriate radio etiquette
- Cleaning the physical space by sweeping/weeding the floor, emptying any garbage or compost bins, cleaning litter and organizing the shared staff space
- Being sure to show up to your shift prepared with the proper tools and supplies (or knowing where to locate them quickly); Which may include pens, paper pads, scissors, stakes, plant ties, price lists, educational resources, flat beds carts, double-decker carts, golf carts and radio
- Operating a golf cart safely and effectively: Training will be required before use
- Using patio pot pole and hanging basket pole to remove/ add planters to the greenhouse roof
- Work in compliance with all human resources, operational (SOP) and Food, Health and Safety policies and procedures
- Any other duties as assigned by your manager
Knowledge, Skills & Personal Attributes
- Excellent customer service skills
- Strong knowledge of tropicals and indoor houseplants
- Open communication style
- Capable of following directions and working independently
- Excellent time management skills and ability to manage frequent interruptions
- Capable of working independently and in a team environment
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Adaptability to a continuously changing work environment
- Transportation plan; Heeman’s is not located on a bus route
Education, Experience & Language
- Prior retail, agriculture or greenhouse work experience is considered an asset
- Language: advanced English (written and oral)
Availability
- Availability to work before and after regular hours and during all hours of operation (which will include evenings and weekends)
- Availability to work up to 6 days per week
- Flexibility to accommodate scheduling changes
- Open availability for peak season
About Working at Heeman’s:
No two days are the same at Heeman’s, which keeps things interesting and exciting. As a seasonal farm business that’s open year-round, we see some pretty busy times and experience down seasons, too. The environment here in the greenhouse and outdoors means it can be sunny and hot or cold and snowy. You’ll need to be capable of performing in this kind of environment, and you’ll spend most of your time on the sales floor in the houseplant department, sometimes standing for prolonged periods, receiving products and moving plants (that can weigh up to 50 lbs). Heeman’s is proudly a family-owned and farm/agriculture-based business, and our employees are classified as agriculture employees under the ESA.