Are you an experienced retail manager with strong commercial awareness, excellent leadership skills, and a passion for delivering outstanding customer experiences?
Do you thrive in a fast-paced retail environment where sales performance, operational standards, and team development are key to success?
If so, we would love you to join us as our Retail Department Manager at Coton Orchard Garden Centre.
Location: Coton Orchard Garden Centre
Hours: Full-time, 42.5 hours per week, including alternate weekends
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience
Why Join Us?
Coton Orchard Garden Centre is part of the Blue Diamond Garden Centres group, the UK’s largest garden centre group by turnover, continuing to grow rapidly across the UK and Channel Islands.
We are proud to create inspirational retail destinations that combine style, innovation, and exceptional customer service. Our centres attract a strong AB1 customer demographic, and we focus on delivering premium retailing through outstanding presentation, operational excellence, and strong commercial performance.
Led by Chief Executive Alan Roper, Blue Diamond has built a reputation for developing talent, supporting career progression, and maintaining excellent staff retention across the business.
The Role
As Retail Department Manager, you will take full responsibility for the day-to-day leadership, commercial performance, and operational management of the Gardening (Landscaping) Department.
This includes garden tools, landscaping, compost, plant care, irrigation, pots, and associated accessories.
You will lead and develop the department team to deliver exceptional customer service, maximise sales opportunities, and maintain the highest standards of merchandising and stock management.
This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a commercially driven retail manager who can motivate teams, manage performance, and consistently deliver excellent retail standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the department to achieve sales, margin, and profitability targets
- Manage and develop a high-performing team through coaching, training, and leadership
- Deliver exceptional customer service standards across the department
- Maintain excellent visual merchandising and product presentation standards
- Oversee stock control, ordering, replenishment, and stock rotation processes
- Analyse daily and weekly sales reports to identify opportunities and drive performance
- Plan and execute seasonal launches, promotional activity, and POS implementation
- Manage rota planning, staffing levels, and daily operational organisation
- Ensure full compliance with health and safety and company procedures
- Conduct regular shop floor walk-rounds to maintain operational excellence
- Work closely with senior management to support wider business objectives
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, standards, and commercial performance
The Ideal Candidate
- Proven experience in a retail management role within garden retail, DIY, home improvement, or a similar fast-paced retail environment
- Strong commercial awareness with experience managing sales performance and KPIs
- Excellent leadership and people management skills
- Strong understanding of merchandising, stock control, and operational standards
- Passion for delivering high levels of customer service
- Organised, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities effectively
- High attention to detail and pride in presentation standards
- Hands-on management style with a flexible and positive approach
- Ability to motivate and inspire teams to achieve results
- Desire to grow and develop within a successful and expanding retail business
What We Offer
- Competitive salary
- Generous staff discount
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
- Supportive management structure
- Clear progression opportunities within a growing national group
- Opportunity to join one of the UK’s leading garden centre retailers
If you are a motivated retail manager looking for your next challenge within a growing and successful business, we would love to hear from you.
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Application question(s):
- Do you have previous retail management experience?
Work Location: In person
