COMPANY DESCRIPTION 

Sow True Seed is a small, dedicated employee-owned cooperative committed to making gardening approachable for everyone. We operate with a social and environmental consciousness to the best of our ability by taking our beliefs and convictions and putting them into action. We provide gardeners with high quality, open-pollinated seed varieties and we actively work to create better access to healthy food in a regenerative, sustainable, and inclusive environment. We strive to help our customers cultivate a sense of empowerment and connection in an era of disengagement from nature, food, and community. 

COMPANY CULTURE

Sow True Seed is a small and enthusiastic team that values collaboration, trust, and solution-oriented creativity. We operate under a flat-management system, meaning there is no general manager, but instead folks that run and make decisions regarding their own departments and collaborate regularly across departments to make decisions, execute projects, and ensure that our values and branding are consistent across the board. 

Work-Life Balance

We strive to ensure our staff maintains a healthy relationship between work and personal life, which is crucial for productivity and mental health. 

Living Wage Certified

We’re proud to pay our employees a fair, Asheville certified living wage.

Supportive Environment

As a worker-owned cooperative, we value creating a workplace where employees feel supported, their voices heard, and have room to grow and flourish.

Flexibility and Autonomy

JOB SUMMARY

The Garden Shop Manager is responsible for managing the day to day operations of our small Garden/ Seed Shop, including generating sales, managing inventory, and providing outstanding customer service. 

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops and implements strategies to meet sales targets, drive store traffic and revenue and maximize profitability. 
• Provides consistent, outstanding customer service and helps educate customers about our company, mission, products, proper growing practices and seed industry standards. 
• Creates rotating seasonal product displays. Maintains visual merchandising standards to enhance shop aesthetic and customer experience. Creates store and product signage with proper branding. 
• Sources quality products to sell in the store and online, expands and rotates product offerings to entice return visits from customers.
• Monitors and analyzes sales trends to optimize product offers and pricing strategies. 
• Maintains inventory control of products sold in store and online, ensuring available products remain in stock at all times. 
• Assists customers with questions, complaints and feedback in a professional manner. 
• Operates POS system, handling cash transactions and providing accurate change to customers. 
• Perform weekly cash reconciliations, bank deposits and change requests. 
• Ensures the store remains a safe, accessable, and clean space for both employees and customers. 
• Works with the Creative Director to generate social media content relating to store events, promotions and products. 
• Works with the Creative Director to continually design branded merchandise. 
• Works with the Marketing Manager to organize in store events and classes. 
• Assists in hiring, training and supervising temporary store employees. 

REQUIREMENTS 

• Proven experience in retail sales and store management or equivalent experience.  
• Proficient in inventory control and purchasing practices. 
• Superior customer service and communication skills.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills. 
• Takes initiative to complete tasks and problem solve. 
• Skilled at researching answers to customer questions. 
• Punctual and reliable. 
• Computer proficiency, ability to learn new software quickly. 
• Ability to effectively work independently with no supervision. 
• General gardening knowledge is preferred. Ability and interest in expanding gardening knowledge required. 
• Experience with POS systems, Shopify, Canva, and Google Suite preferred. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

This job requires the ability to; stand for extended periods, perform repetitive tasks including bendling, reaching and lifting. Lift up to 30 lbs regularly and 50 lbs occasionally. 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE 

Customer Service - 2 years
Management Experience - 1 year 

SALARY: $48,500

BENEFITS: 

Paid time off 

Sick leave 

Paid Holidays 

Employee Discounts 

Employee Ownership Track: Permanent, full-time positions qualify for the Employee-Ownership track. After two full years or 3,640 working hours of employment, employees will be eligible to request to become a member-owner and join the Board of Sow True Seed. Member-owners run the big picture business operation and participate in profit-sharing. 

Work Hours and Schedule: The garden shop manager will be required to work an average of 35 hours per week and have the following schedule. 

Monday 9:30 am - 4:00 pm 

Tuesday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm 

Wednesday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm 

Thursday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm 

Friday 9:30 am - 2:00 pm 

Occasional Saturdays required. 

Work Location: 243 Haywood St, Asheville, NC