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

15% Staff discount (Increase to 20%...

Training and development with career机会

Employee Assistant Programme

Employee recognition and benefits

Holiday entitlement of 29 days

Pension plan

Job summary

Longacres Garden Centre is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead Bourne Valley, Addlestone, driving exceptional customer service and commercial performance. You will manage a large team, optimise store operations, and develop strategies to improve margins while maintaining a first-class shopping environment.

Join a family-owned retailer with six southeast stores and 700+ staff, offering development opportunities, supportive culture, and a competitive benefits package including pension,

Qualifications

• Proven senior management experience in garden centre, horticulture, or large-scale retail.
• Strong leadership and people management with ability to motivate teams.
• Excellent customer service and expert advice to customers.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations, including inventory management, product merchandising and customer service.
• Maintain very high standards of store presentation and merchandising.
• Improve gross margins by reducing waste and stock losses.
• Reduce overheads by controlling costs and expenditure.
• Optimise stock availability with effective replenishment systems.
• Recruit, motivate and develop an effective retail team and review performance.
• Create communication strategies with team meetings and briefings.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Store operations

Inventory management

Merchandising

Cost control

Team development

Communication

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.

Benefits

• 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

Hours: 40 Hours per week

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.