Garden Centre General Manager

Longacres Garden Centres; Addlestone; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Staff discount (15% → 20% after 5 yrs)

Training and development

Employee Assistant Programme

Employee recognition and benefits

Holiday entitlement 29 days incl bank/

Pension plan

Job summary

Longacres Garden Centre is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead Bourne Valley, Addlestone. You will oversee day-to-day operations, drive sales, and ensure outstanding customer service and store presentation.

You will manage a large team of around 80, with a strong focus on commercial performance, stock replenishment, and staff development in a busy garden centre environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in a senior management role within a garden centre, horticulture, or retail industry.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with a track record of inspiring and motivating teams.
• Experience managing large multi-million-pound centres.
• Ability to lead a team of around 80 staff at the Bourne Valley branch.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day to day operations, including inventory management, product merchandising, and customer service.
• Ensure very high standards of store presentation and merchandising.
• Improve gross margins by reductions in waste and stock losses.
• Reduce overheads by keeping control of all costs and expenditure.
• Optimise stock availability by ensuring effective replenishment systems.
• Plan and deliver seasonal and product promotions; manage store department teams.
• Recruit, motivate and develop an effective retail team with regular performance reviews.
• Create an effective communication strategy with team meetings and briefings.
• Adhere to Health & Safety procedures and comply with statutory requirements.
• Train staff in all applicable store areas.

Skills

Senior management experience

Leadership

Customer service excellence

Retail operations

Commercial acumen

Job description

Are you an experienced retail manager with a passion for customer service, strong commercial awareness and the ability to inspire and lead a large team?

We are currently recruiting for an enthusiastic and commercially minded General Manager to lead our popular, busy and family-owned independent garden centre at Bourne Valley. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced retail manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the store, overseeing retail operations, and ensuring the highest standards of customer service and store presentation.

The successful candidate will have proven senior management experience within a garden centre, horticultural business or similar large-scale retail environment, with a strong track record of leading and developing teams. You will be a confident, hands-on leader with excellent organisational skills, strong commercial acumen and the ability to take ownership of the store's performance while motivating your team to deliver outstanding results.

Responsibilities would include: -

• Oversee day to day operations, including inventory management, product merchandising, and customer service, to ensure a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience for our customers.
• Ensure very high standards of store presentation and merchandising are maintained.
• Improve gross margins by reductions in waste and stock losses.
• Reduce overheads by keeping control of all costs and expenditure.
• To optimise stock availability by ensuring effective systems for replenishment are achieved.
• Seasonal and product promotions are planned and delivered.Management of Store department teams throughout the business group.
• To recruit, motivate and develop an effective retail team complying with company procedures and ensuring individual performance is regularly reviewed through assessment and appraisal.
• To create an effective communication strategy, including team meetings and briefings to ensure accuracy of information across all employees.
• All Company Health & Safety procedures are adhered to and compliance with all statutory requirements.
• Training of staff in all and any applicable area of the store throughout.

Desired Experience & Characteristics: -

• Proven experience in a senior management role within the garden centre, horticulture, or retail industry
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with a track record of inspiring and motivating teams.
• Exceptional customer service skills and the ability to provide expert advice to customers
• Candidates must have experience of working and managing large multi-million-pound centres.
• Be capable of managing a team of approximately 80 members staff at this branch.
• Must have great commercial acumen, be an insightful and an instinctive retailer who does not need to be driven by head office instructions.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with colleagues at all levels.
• Free onsite parking
• 15% Staff discount (Increase to 20% after 5 years of service)
• Training and development with opportunities to forge a career with us
• Employee Assistant Programme
• Employee recognition and benefits programme
• Holiday entitlement of 29 days, including bank holidays (Increases with length of service)
• Pension plan

Store: Bourne Valley (Addlestone)

Department: General Store

Contract: Full time

Includes: Monday to Friday with a rota’d day off and alternate weekends

About the Company: -

Longacres Garden Centre aims to be the destination of choice for garden enthusiasts, offering exceptional service and high-quality products at competitive prices. Established in 1979 as a family-run business, Longacres has grown to include six stores across the South East of England, employing over 700 staff in 2026. As a growing company, we provide ample opportunities for personal development and learning within a supportive, inclusive, and friendly team environment. We are deeply committed to our loyal customers, delivering top-notch products while maintaining affordability. Guided by our core values - trust and integrity, family, teamwork, accountability, and retail excellence - we strive to continuously enhance the customer experience and foster lasting relationships.