Live Goods Specialist

BIG TOOL BOX INC; Parker (CO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

BIG TOOL BOX INC seeks a Live Goods Specialist to act as in-store expert for live goods including annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, houseplants, bulbs, and sod. You will own purchasing, receiving, cycle counts, and merchandising for an engaging garden center experience.

You will manage plant health, maintain displays, and monitor service quality while coordinating credit processing and vendor communications as needed.

Qualifications

• Purchasing precision-orders to grow sales while avoiding waste.
• RF/Mango mastery closes 100 live counts before lunch.
• Merchandising artistry turns tables into color-focused displays.
• Credit tenacity recovers DOA credits within 30 days.
• Service obsession spots issues and assists customers from 50 ft.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Purchasing Live Goods.
• Receiving Live Goods and staging for vitality.
• Cycle Counts & Inventory Accuracy to 98%+.
• Merchandising & Outdoor Garden Center Setup with themed zones.
• Water, prune, deadhead, rotate stock daily.
• Pursuing Plant Credits and processing vendor credits.
• Monitor service quality and customer interactions.

Skills

Purchasing precision-orders

RF/Mango mastery

Merchandising artistry

Credit tenacity

Service obsession

Microsoft Office

2+ years live goods purchasing/recei**

Education

High school diploma or GED

Horticulture certificate or Master Gardener

Job description

Live Goods Specialist

Job Summary

• Serve as the in-store expert for live goods (annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, houseplants, bulbs, sod) by owning purchasing, receiving, cycle counts, merchandising, plant credits, outdoor garden center setup, and monitoring exceptional service.
• Keep plants healthy, displays stunning, and inventory accurate while delivering wow customer experiences in the garden center.
• Full-time position with flexible availability including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Praise worthy customer service is our goal in every customer interaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Purchasing Live Goods
• Negotiate early-order discounts, co-op tags, and freight terms; lock in spring color rotations by December.
• Track PO aging; expedite late trucks and update out-of-stock board daily.
• Receiving Live Goods
• Quarantine suspect stock, notify vendor within 2 hours, and stage healthy plants by sunlight/water needs.
• Cycle Counts & Inventory Accuracy
• Maintain 98% accuracy; adjust for transplant loss, customer damage, or theft.
• Merchandising & Outdoor Garden Center Setup
• Build themed zones (pollinator patio, veggie start, shade retreat) with Proven Winners POP, QR care tags, and cross-merch (pots + saucers + fertilizer).
• Water, prune, deadhead, rotate stock daily; consolidate trays and cull wilted before opening.
• Pursuing Plant Credits
• Photograph and submit credit requests within 24 hours for DOA, pest-infested, or mis-shipped plants via vendor portals.
• Track credit aging; follow up weekly until posted; reconcile monthly statements.
• Reduce shrink credits 20% YoY through better receiving protocols and vendor scorecards.
• Monitoring Exceptional Service
• Walk the garden center every 30 min; greet customers, offer carry-out, loading, or plant care advice.
• Train staff on exceptional service scripts: Let me wheel this tree to your car.
• Monitor Ace Rewards attachments, clinic sign-ups, and 5-star Google reviews; recognize top service associates weekly.
• All other duties as assigned by management.

Required Qualifications and Skills

Education

High school diploma or GED; Horticulture certificate or Master Gardener a plus.

Experience

2+ years live goods purchasing/receiving in garden center or nursery; merchandising and credit processing required.

Skills & Abilities

• Purchasing precision-orders enough to grow sales, but not too much that is lost to waste
• RF/Mango mastery - closes 100 live counts before lunch, exports shrink dashboard in <2 min.
• Merchandising artistry - turns empty tables into $10K color bowl sales in one weekend.
• Credit tenacity - recovers 95% of eligible DOA credits within 30 days.
• Service obsession - spots wilted leaf or confused customer from 50 ft.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office

Physical Requirements

• Lift/carry up to 50 lbs repeatedly (flats of annuals, 5-gal shrubs, bagged soil).
• Stand/walk full shift outdoors; bend, kneel, reach overhead; work in heat, cold, rain, sun, pollen.
• Push/pull rolling plant racks (500+ lbs) across gravel.

Other

• Valid drivers license (nursery pickups, jobsite consults).
• Early spring/summer flexible availability.
• Passion for plant health, pollinator habitats, and zero-waste credits.