Retail Department Manager- Harlow Garden Centre
Hours: Full-Time, 42.5 hours a week, including alternate weekends
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience
An exciting opportunity has recently arisen at our Harlow Garden Centre.
Are you passionate about garden leisure or the festive magic of Christmas? Whether it’s helping customers enjoy the outdoors or creating inspiring displays, we’re looking for enthusiastic team members this season who take pride in maintaining high retail standards.
Why Join Us?
At Harlow, we’re more than just a garden centre — we’re a community of gardening and retail enthusiasts dedicated to excellence, innovation, and providing our customers with an unforgettable shopping experience.
Harlow is also part of the Blue Diamond Group, the UK's largest Garden Centre Group in terms of turnover, having grown from a turnover of £187 million in 2019 to a turnover of over £400 million in 2025.
With 54 centres across the UK and Channel Islands, we are constantly evolving and expanding, and we want YOU to grow with us!
Our target demographic are AB1 customers, and we attract this calibre of customers by offering inspirational retailing with a point of difference: style, emotion and innovation for the home and garden, whilst providing exceptional customer service.
Our Chief Executive, Alan Roper, has headed up the Group since 1999, and we pride ourselves on our exceptional staff retention and in empowering our staff to reach their full potential and enjoy a rewarding career.
We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and on delivering an exceptional and unique retail experience. As the ideal candidate, you will be immaculately presented, professional and friendly with a genuine interest in Outdoor Leisure & Christmas, as well as having a good eye for detail. Our customers are our main priority, so therefore you will be someone who is passionate about customer service, polite and outgoing, and someone who would always put our customers first.
What you’ll do:
- Order, merchandise and manage stock, including monitoring slow-moving lines and seasonal transitions
- Monitor stock levels and assist with ordering to meet customer and seasonal demand
- Create, maintain and refresh inspiring displays in line with seasonal events and promotions, including Christmas
- Ensure POS materials are printed, placed and maintained to a high standard throughout the department
- Maintain high retail standards and a safe, clean and visually appealing department, both front and back of house
- Assist customers with product advice, special orders and carry-to-car service, delivering excellent customer service
- Supervise, motivate and support a small team within the Outdoor Leisure & Christmas department
- Organise and oversee your team’s daily and weekly tasks
- Deputise for department opening and closing when required
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the department, ensuring excellent merchandising standards
- Follow and implement action points from reports, floor-walks and Head Office guidelines
About You:
- A genuine interest in Outdoor Leisure and seasonal retail, with enthusiasm for Christmas ranges
- Previous experience in a retail, garden centre or supervisory/management role
- Proven ability to lead, motivate and support a team in a fast-paced environment
- Strong customer service skills with a friendly, professional and approachable manner
- Experience in stock ordering, stock control and merchandising
- Organised and commercially aware, with the ability to prioritise tasks effectively
- High attention to detail with strong visual merchandising standards
- Confident using retail systems, reports and POS processes
What we offer:
- Competitive salary and staff discount
- Training and development opportunities
- A friendly, supportive environment where your skills are valued
How to Apply:
To apply, please send your CV or any enquiries to:
Felicity Mitchell- Group Recruitment Manager
[email protected]
We are sorry that we can not respond to all applications, if you are not invited to attend an interview, please consider your application unsuccessful on this occasion.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Application question(s):
- Do you have retail management experience?
Work Location: In person
