WORK ENVIRONMENT

GrandErie Home Hardware Building Centre is more than a hardware store—it is home to one of Canada's largest Home Hardware Garden Centres. We are committed to creating an inspiring destination where customers discover ideas, learn new skills, and enjoy exceptional service.

Our Garden Centre is a year-round business that combines seasonal plants, nursery stock, outdoor living, hardgoods, workshops, educational events, and community engagement. We are looking for a leader who is passionate about creating memorable customer experiences while driving sales, profitability, and operational excellence.

ABOUT THE ROLE The Garden Centre Experience Lead is responsible for bringing the Garden Centre to life.

This position creates memorable customer experiences through workshops, educational events, seasonal displays and exceptional hospitality. As one of the primary faces of the Garden Centre, this individual welcomes customers, builds community relationships and helps transform the Garden Centre into a destination where people come to learn, connect and be inspired.

Working collaboratively with the Marketing Department, Workshop Committee and Garden Centre Operations Manager, this role ensures every event reflects the GrandErie Home Hardware Garden Centre brand and delivers exceptional customer experience.

Primary Responsibilities

Customer Experience

- Serve as the face and ambassador of the Garden Centre by building lasting relationships with customers and the local community.
- Deliver exceptional customer experiences through knowledgeable advice, genuine enthusiasm and personalized service.
- Ensure every customer is welcomed, acknowledged and assisted promptly.
- Create an environment where customers feel inspired, comfortable and excited to return.
- Work beside the team in providing outstanding service that exceeds customer expectations.

Garden Centre Vision & Experience

- Create an inspiring shopping environment through exceptional visual merchandising and seasonal presentations.
- Transform the Garden Centre into a destination where customers come for inspiration, education and enjoyment—not simply to shop.
- Design engaging displays that showcase gardening solutions and encourage additional purchases.
- Ensure the Garden Centre remains clean, organized, safe and visually appealing at all times.
- Continuously improve the customer journey by introducing creative ideas and current experiences.

Workshops & Events

- Work with garden centre manager, marketing manager & workshop committee to plan, organize and oversee a year-round calendar of workshops, educational seminars and special events.
- Create workshop environments that provide an engaging customer experience rather than simply arranging tables and chairs.




- Work with vendors and community partners to deliver educational and promotional events.
- Facilitate workshops that involve live goods, greenery or garden centre material.
- Execute creative event set-ups that inspire customers and reflect the workshop theme.
- Ensure workshop spaces feel welcoming, organized and professionally presented—not simply tables and chairs.
- Assist instructors, guest speakers and vendors during events.
- Evaluate workshop success and recommend improvements.

Creative Experience

- Work with the Marketing Department and Workshop Committee to develop new workshop ideas and seasonal experiences.
- Contribute creative concepts that encourage customer engagement.
- Help develop new programming that increases traffic throughout the year.
- Assist with seasonal displays that inspire customers and support sales.
- Stay current with gardening trends and educational opportunities.

Community Engagement

- Build relationships with repeat customers.
- Help establish the Garden Centre as a community destination.
- Represent the Garden Centre during community events when appropriate.
- Encourage workshop participation and customer loyalty.

Marketing & Customer Experience

- Collaborate with the Marketing Department to develop workshops, events and customer experiences that support seasonal promotions and advertising campaigns.
- Provide ideas to marketing team that showcase new products, workshops and seasonal inspiration.
- Execute promotional displays and event experiences that align with marketing campaigns and brand standards.
- Help transform advertised promotions into engaging in-store experiences that inspire customers and encourage repeat visits.
- Build relationships with local Horticultural Society, organizations and community partners.

Garden Centre & Seasonal Support

- Assist with merchandising prior to major events.
- Help maintain attractive displays.
- Assist with customer service during busy periods.
- Support seasonal promotions and special projects.
- Help maintain a clean, welcoming and inspiring environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

- Previous experience in customer service, retail, hospitality event coordination or community programming is preferred.
- Experience working in a garden centre, greenhouse, nursery environment an asset.
- Excellent merchandising and visual presentation skills.




- Craft and creative passion & skills required.
- Experience facilitating workshops, presentations or group activities is preferred.
- Exceptional interpersonal and customer service skills with a genuine passion for helping people.
- Creative mindset with an eye for visual presentation, displays and customer experiences.
- Warm, welcoming, approachable, enthusiastic and energetic.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and seasonal peak periods.
- There could be an increase in hours during peak seasons.

Success in This Role The successful Garden Centre Experience Lead understands that customers remember how they felt just as much as what they purchased. The Garden Centre is much more than a place to purchase plants—it is a destination where customers come to find inspiration, learn new skills, connect with others, and enjoy memorable experiences. They are warm, enthusiastic, and creative individual who naturally makes people feel welcome. Whether greeting a first-time visitor, facilitating a workshop, or helping a customer select the perfect plant, they create an atmosphere that encourages customers to linger, ask questions, and return again and again.

Success in this role is measured by the experiences created, the relationships built, and the lasting impression left on every customer. Through exceptional hospitality, engaging workshops, thoughtful event execution, and inspiring visual presentation, they help transform ordinary shopping trips into enjoyable and memorable experiences.

Working closely with the Garden Centre Operations Manager, Marketing Department, and Workshop Committee, they bring ideas to life that strengthen GrandErie's reputation as one of the region's premier garden destinations. They continually seek opportunities to introduce fresh ideas, celebrate the changing seasons, and create meaningful connections between customers, gardening, and the community.

Most importantly, they recognize that every interaction contributes to the GrandErie Home Hardware brand. Their passion, positivity, creativity, and genuine care for people help cultivate customer loyalty, inspire confidence, and create a Garden Centre that customers look forward to visiting throughout the year.

The successful candidate doesn't simply host workshops or coordinate events—they create experiences that inspire people to garden, connect with others, and become lifelong GrandErie Garden Centre customers.

Pay: $23.00-$25.00 per hour

Benefits

- On-site parking

Application question(s):
- How many years experience do you have in an events coordinating role?
- How many years experience do you have working with plants and flowers?

Work Location: In person

📌 Garden and Seasonal Centre Experience Lead (Dunnville)
🏢 GrandErie Home Hardware Building Centre
📍 Dunnville