Garden Center Associate

About the Company

Costa Farms is one of the world’s largest horticultural growers, founded in 1961 in Miami, Florida. Starting on 30 acres, we’ve grown to over 5,000 acres worldwide, with farms in North and South Carolina, Central and South Florida, the Dominican Republic, and an office in China. We employ nearly 6,000 people across various roles, including engineers, marketers, accountants, growers, and plant scientists. Our mission is to enrich the world by bringing plants into everyone’s life, growing more than 1,500 plant varieties while fostering innovation and sustainability. We cultivate a winning culture rooted in our H3 values: Humble, Hungry, and Hustling.

About the Role

The Garden Center Merchandiser serves as the face of Costa Farms in retail garden centers, ensuring brand standards, optimizing product presentation, and delivering a positive customer experience. This role involves caring for, displaying, and replenishing products, maintaining inventory accuracy, and upholding Costa Farms’ merchandising standards. Positions are available in Garden Centers around Grants Pass, Phoenix, and Roseburg, OR.

Responsibilities

• Ensure Costa Farms and/or third-party products are neatly displayed, fully stocked, and visually appealing at all times.
• Follow Costa Farms merchandising standards and planograms to maintain consistency across stores.
• Rotate inventory based on freshness and product lifecycle.
• Provide excellent customer service to stores and store personnel by exhibiting professionalism, integrity, and decorum.
• Maintain availability for flexible schedule changes based on business needs, including seasonal demand, weekends, nights, and holidays.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams as required.
• Comply with safety standards while working in stores and ensure the same from other Costa Farms employees.
• Exhibit high productivity and accuracy while merchandising products.
• Complete surveys and Go Spot Check missions correctly and promptly.
• Track and report inventory levels using designated systems.
• Arrive at assigned locations to meet with the team and complete scheduled tasks.
• Prepare stores for tours, meetings, and other events as required.
• Build and maintain strong, respectful relationships with store personnel.
• Ensure consumers are treated well by projecting a cheerful, helpful, and friendly persona.
• Perform additional duties as required.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Previous retail, merchandising, or garden center experience preferred.
• Basic knowledge of plant care is a plus.

Physical Demands

• Heavy Work: Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds frequently, and up to 20 pounds constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects.
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing racks, and reaching.
• Ability to lift and move plant products or displays up to 50 lbs. safely.
• Work outdoors or in semi-covered environments, exposed to varying weather conditions including heat, humidity, rain, and cold.

Work Environment

The Garden Center Merchandiser role is a physically active, hands-on position based in retail garden centers, such as The Home Depot. Team members work independently, manage their time effectively, and may be assigned to multiple locations within a designated territory. A reliable mode of transportation is necessary.

Skills

• Merchandise plants to Costa Farms’ standards, ensuring displays are clean, organized, and visually appealing.
• Prioritize daily tasks and manage time independently across multiple locations.
• Communicate clearly with store associates, supervisors, and internal teams; report inventory updates, issues, or store needs promptly.
• Act as a positive representative of Costa Farms while engaging with store staff and customers.
• Identify and address issues (e.g., damaged product, inventory discrepancies) with minimal supervision.
• Work comfortably in changing conditions (weather, seasonal product changes, shifting schedules).
• Collaborate effectively both independently and with peers to foster shared success and accountability.
• Perform physically demanding tasks, including lifting, bending, standing for long periods, and working outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Demonstrate dependability, punctuality, and a strong work ethic with consistent attendance.
• Use a smartphone or tablet to submit reports, photos, and updates through company platforms (e.g., Teams, internal apps).

Competencies

• Collaboration
• Effective Communication
• Time Management
• Accountability
• Customer Focus
• Dependability

Benefits

• Competitive wages.
• 401(k) plan with company matching contributions.
• Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), and Dependent Care options.
• Telemedicine and mental health services.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Pet insurance.
• Supplemental insurance (Aflac).
• Growth opportunities and challenging work environment.
• Costa Farms scholarship program.
• Employee discounts on plants.