Location: Pots & Pithoi, The Barns, Turners Hill, West Sussex
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 8:30am–5:00pm
Salary: £27,000 per year
Job Type: Fixed term contract - 12 months (Maternity Cover)
About Pots & Pithoi
Pots & Pithoi is a family-owned business established in 1985, specialising in handmade Cretan terracotta pots, planters, water features, garden pieces and carefully selected artisan finds.
Based at The Barns in Turners Hill, West Sussex, we welcome customers to our picturesque courtyard, shop and café, offering friendly, knowledgeable advice and a high level of customer service. Our pots are hand thrown by skilled artisans in Crete using traditional methods, with each piece having its own natural character, colour and patina.
We are now looking for a practical, reliable and customer-focused Plant Maintenance & Showroom Assistant to help maintain our courtyard displays, care for planted specimens, and assist customers around our showroom.
The Role
This is a varied, hands-on role suited to someone who enjoys working outdoors, takes pride in presentation, and has a good eye for plants, pots and garden displays.
You will be responsible for helping to maintain the appearance of our courtyard and planted displays, including watering, feeding, pruning, tidying, seasonal planting and general plant care. You will also assist with planting up pots and trees for display, customer orders and showroom presentation.
Alongside the plant maintenance side of the role, you will support customers in the courtyard, help prepare orders, and assist the wider team with day-to-day showroom and yard operations.
You will also have the opportunity to support the business at key seasonal events, including prestigious garden shows such as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This may involve helping with stand preparation, loading and unloading, product presentation, customer service, and representing Pots & Pithoi to both retail and trade customers.
Key Responsibilities
Plant Care & Courtyard Presentation
- Maintain planted displays throughout the courtyard, shop entrance and showroom areas.
- Water, feed, prune, deadhead and tidy plants, trees and seasonal displays as required.
- Monitor plant health and report any issues such as pests, disease, drought stress or damage.
- Plant up a mixture of plants, shrubs, trees and seasonal displays in our terracotta pots.
- Assist with bulb planting in October and other seasonal planting projects throughout the year.
- Help keep the courtyard looking tidy, attractive and well-presented for customers.
- Ensure planted pots are displayed in a way that reflects the quality and character of the Pots & Pithoi brand.
Customer Service & Sales Support
- Welcome and assist customers in the courtyard, offering friendly and helpful advice.
- Help customers choose pots, planters, water features and garden pieces for their homes and gardens.
- Offer general guidance on plant suitability, pot pairings and planted displays where appropriate.
- Promote our products and services in a professional, knowledgeable and approachable manner.
- Maintain the high standard of customer experience expected at The Barns.
Showroom, Yard & Order Support
- Help maintain a tidy, safe and well-presented courtyard, yard and showroom area.
- Assist with stock movement, labelling, organisation and product presentation.
- Pick, prepare and carefully package customer orders for collection, courier, pallet and delivery services.
- Support the dispatch of orders to customers across the UK and overseas.
- Assist with the preparation of planted pots for customer orders and displays.
Water Features & Practical Work
- Assist with the preparation and presentation of bespoke water features and water butts where required.
- Help with practical workshop-style tasks once trained.
- Support the workshop and wider team with general hands-on tasks as needed.
Events & Seasonal Support
- Assist with preparation for key events and garden shows, including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
- Help with loading, unloading, stand setup, product display and presentation.
- Support customer enquiries and sales during events where required.
- Represent Pots & Pithoi in a professional and approachable manner.
General Support
- Assist with general maintenance around the courtyard, shop and café where required.
- Support the wider team during busy periods, seasonal events and day-to-day operations.
- Help ensure The Barns remains welcoming, tidy and well-presented throughout the year.
About You
We are looking for someone who is practical, reliable and personable, with a strong work ethic, an interest in plants and gardens, and a genuine appreciation for good customer service.
The ideal candidate will have:
- Experience in plant care, garden maintenance, horticulture, landscaping, nursery work, garden retail or a similar environment.
- A general knowledge of plant care, including watering, pruning, feeding and seasonal maintenance.
- A good eye for presentation and detail.
- A friendly, polite and professional manner.
- Confidence speaking with customers and offering helpful advice.
- Good practical skills and a willingness to learn.
- The role involves regular manual handling of large terracotta pots, plants and stock.Strong attention to detail when handling high-value products.
- A full UK driving licence (the role could involve driving the Company vehicle).
- The flexibility to support occasional key events and seasonal shows.
- The ability to work well as part of a small, friendly team.
- Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.
Why Join Us?
- Join a well-established, family-owned business with over 40 years of history.
- Work in a beautiful West Sussex setting surrounded by gardens, terracotta pots, plants and artisan products.
- Enjoy a varied role combining plant care, courtyard presentation, customer service, practical work and events.
- Be involved with prestigious garden events such as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
- Receive full training in our products, water features and showroom processes.
- Be part of a friendly, knowledgeable and supportive team.
- Competitive salary of £27,000 per year.
How to Apply
If you enjoy working outdoors, take pride in plant care and presentation, and are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, we would love to hear from you.
Please apply with your CV and a short covering note explaining why you would be a good fit for the role.
If you would like an informal chat about the role, or have any questions before applying, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01342 714 793 or email [email protected].
Pay: £27,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
