Job Description

About Us

Established in 1995, Bourne Buildings is the UK's largest garden buildings display site with over 200 buildings, 5000 stone ornaments and 100 furniture sets on display. Over 30 years, we have gained an outstanding reputation within the garden building industry, and with our customers all across the country.

Based in Farnham, Surrey, our family run retail business requires an experienced, motivated

full-time

Sales & Maintenance Assistant to work within a small, enthusiastic, and proactive team.

The Candidate

Due to the nature of the display site, much of the role is based outside, walking around our 3-acre site, talking to customers, and showing them the vast range of garden buildings in all types of weather, so this role will suit those who enjoy the outdoors, come rain or shine!

Candidates must have at least 2 years of retail/sales experience, excellent verbal and written communication skills, basic math skills and, most importantly, the ability to learn and retain a large amount of technical information. Attention to detail is a must, along with a friendly and professional manner.

In terms of work ethic, the candidate should be organised, dedicated, reliable, adaptable, and have time management skills. The ability to prioritize workloads and take responsibility and accountability for tasks is a must.

This role is first and foremost a sales role but will also include site maintenance work. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the sales process and will be able to ask the right questions to enable them to pinpoint the best garden building based on the customers' requirements and responses. They will also have excellent proven customer service skills which enable them to establish, build and maintain positive relationships with customers and represent our brand in a professional and knowledgeable way.

Candidates will need to have general maintenance skills and be capable of carrying out preventative maintenance and repairs on site and will need physical strength for lifting heavy objects.

Quotes and orders are prepared using pen and paper, so it is essential for the candidate to have neat and eligible writing and be able to write at a good speed. Plans to move over to an electronic system are currently underway.

Please note that this role is working Thursday - Monday which includes weekends and bank holidays - please see working pattern below for more details.

Role and Responsibilities

Greeting customers

Serving customers and dealing with enquiries in person and over the telephone

Developing and maintaining product knowledge concerning all our garden building ranges and services, including technical information

Building a rapport with customers by providing accurate guidance

Offering technical advice

Present, promote and sell our products, company and services

Processing cash & card payments

Producing accurate and detailed quotes

Writing up orders

Promoting products based on the Company's directives

Unpacking and sorting deliveries, including deliveries of stone and correct placement for display

Keeping the sales office and showsite clean & safe

Carrying out Health & Safety checks and tasks

Maintenance of the showsite

Inspecting equipment & buildings

Completing small repairs

Performing grounds maintenance

Carrying of furniture & stone items to customer cars

Dealing with telephone enquires

Contacting potential customers via telephone who have already had a quote with the company, to see if they are still interested

Other ad-hoc tasks

Qualifications and Education Requirements

A minimum of 5 GCSEs, with English and Math's at grades 9 to 4 (Grade C or above), or equivalent -

Please list these on you CV.

Preferred Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

2 years + of retail experience (or equivalent)

Customer service skills

Interpersonal skills

High energy, friendly personality

Capable of interpreting customers' needs and showing them suitable products

Basic math skills

Neat handwriting with the ability to write quickly

Ability to conduct effective sales

Maintenance skills

Physical strength to lift heavy objects

Ability to work in stressful situations

Ability to work well with a team

Willingness to work overtime when required

Attention to detail

Ability to plan and prioritise tasks

Additional Notes

WORKING PATTERN:

44 hours per week during normal opening-hour periods, and 40 hours per week during winter months (Nov - Feb).

Normal: 8:25am - 5:30pm Mon/Thu/Fri/Sat & 8:25am - 4:30pm Sundays

Winter: 8:25am - 4:30pm Mon/Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun

Tuesdays and Wednesdays = Days off, during both normal and winter hours

Working pattern is 5 days a week, Thursday to Monday (Tuesdays and Wednesdays we are closed). Weekends & Bank Holidays will be worked except for the following bank holidays: Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year's Day.

TRAINING

The below mandatory training will be provided by the company:

I. Manual Handling Awareness

II. Ladder Safety Awareness

III. Slips, Trips & Falls Awareness

IV. Working at Height Awareness

V. Work Equipment Awareness

VI. Electrical Safety Awareness

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From 28,800.00 per year

Additional pay:

Bonus scheme
Benefits:

Employee discount
Application question(s):

The working pattern of this role is Thursday to Monday (Tuesday and Wedensdays off), and therefore includes working every weekend (and most bank holidays)- is this suitable for you?
Experience:

Retail sales: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person