garden center merchandiser

merchandiser

merchandise manager

scheduler

regional manager

Masterpiece Flower Company LLC

Masterpiece Flower Company is a merchandising company.  Masterpiece delivers live goods (annual flowers) to Home Depot and Meijer's in northwest Illinois and southern Wisconsin.  Merchandisers receive live goods, build displays, maintain displays, and keep plants alive. When necessary, a merchandiser culls product and reports cull numbers to their supervisor, in order to keep accurate inventory. Provides customer service in regards to annual flowers. You also need to communicate with garden department associates, managers, and store managers.

You will work in snow, sleet, rain, and hot weather. You have to WANT to work outside to enjoy this job.  Each cart of flowers can weigh up to 800lbs, so the job is physically demanding. Larger containers can weigh up to 30lbs.  It's a great workout and I love coming home from a long day out in the sun, tired from an honest day's work. 

The only problem is that it is difficult to move up in the company. As stated before, it is a physically demanding job. While I can adequately do my duties as a merchandiser, supervisor positions will generally go to men and women who can lift 60+lbs. It is also seasonal and you'd have to be in very good graces to receive a raise if you are rehired. Also, due to the seasonal nature of the job, you will be employed roughly from March through October, and then merchandisers are laid off (supervisors build and break down displays, and merchandise holiday goods during this time of year). If this job were more steady, I'd gladly keep working here until my body could no longer take it.

Not sure where to start. 
I worked here years ago and loved it. But it seems completely different now and not so loved. My first time working there was great. Lots of training and lots of help. This time though I was thrown to the wolves. My supervisor stopped working there a week after I was hired. I spent 1 day with her trying to remember everything. They expected me to be the only one at one store and expected me to set up Easter displays with no help or idea where to start. I almost died trying to pull a rack of flowers from the wrong side of the store because it was just left there (literally. The store employees almost called an ambulance because the rack was so heavy my heart rate went to 198 and I fainted). 3 weeks in to working I finally got a text from a manager saying they had … forgotten I worked there … the pay wasn’t nearly worth it for having all the inconveniences there were. Walking jugs of water across the store because the water hose in floral wasn’t working. Ever. No one does anything the same so you can be “taught” one thing then told no - do it this way. Very disappointed. 

This is a great company, I wish I wouldve returned after the 2016 season in the St Louis area.  The management in the company is by far some of the best I've worked with, they care. I worked in the spring/summer/fall from 2012-2016  I would typically start at 6AM and Work till 2 or 2:30.  It was a very fast paced job but I loved every second about it.  I love working with plants, and the staff at my Home depot was friendly, they were like sister after all those years.  I left the job for an inside, and I think I will be returning next season if they let me.  They pay wasnt that great, but you could get your hours in.  Usually there is 2 people working on a team, per store.  But my seasons there, I did all the work myself ( which I loved ) because when management did come around, they'd be like HOW DO YOU DO IT?  I was really happy about that.  The management in Michigan would come down at the start of the year and meet the local St Louis crew, which is showing that they care.  I will go back.

Took this as a seasonal job for the summer for fun, during interview was asked about the amount of weight I could move and passed on manager response I believed that the work was something that I could complete. Within a week I realized that the physical requirements had not been fully explained to me and I was not able to complete the tasks required of me. I was forced to quit but had been considering leaving before this. When I started I asked my manager for a schedule and for assistance in getting me settled as I was likely to be the main person at the location. I was never given a schedule, never provided training or helpful guidance from management about my daily tasks, nor was I given an idea of what to expect day to day but for reading a booklet that was required of us.

Hopefully as the summer goes on it will be more organized but I needed to have the clear understanding of at least my schedule to ensure my personal life did not interfer with my working hours.

The actual job itself was okay. It's mostly unpacking flowers and plants from boxes, putting them on display in Meijer, and watering them. The carts the flowers come in are very heavy and cumbersome though.

The most enjoyable part of the job was working with plants and sometimes working outside if the weather wasn't too hot. The hardest part of the job was the management and their complete disregard for my time. 

I had no set schedule, even though I was told I would have one during my interview. My boss claimed the flower shipments arrived at fluctuating times each day. I was given my scheduled hours day by day, with my boss texting me my hours the evening before my next work day. It felt very unprofessional and made work/life balance impossible. I find it hard to believe that the whole company is run in this very last-minute way. Also, some days I was only given 2-3 hours which ended up costing me more in travel than I was paid that day.

If your new the fist year its great!  You get help and support when asked, you see your manager more frequently and they answer questions you may have.
After the fist year, prepare for long hours, working by yourself and feeling overwhelmed...and when you hit your breaking point and actually ask for help, be prepared for not getting it.
Also if you are a regional and have garden centers, when they open, it’s double the workload.  It is solely your job to get people interviewed, hired, and trained before the season starts with no help from your manager and no hours for the new team members.
The districts are too big for 1 district manager ( coordinator) and there time is spread too thin.
Your manager should be able to visit at least one of your stores, when you are there and help with orders, I don’t feel that is asking too much of any job.

Currently with Masterpiece for 13 years. 
The very flexible work schedule is a huge bonus.  
A typical day is empting Garden racks onto display tables, signing, watering and keeping everything looking fresh.  
Floral merchandising consists of the same job duties as garden.  Floral Holidays are the best.  From merchandising Valentine Roses, Spring Bulbs, Easter Lilies, Fall Mums, and ending the year with Poinsettias.....the year is filled with ever changing seasonal Floral products. 
The most rewarding part of the job is creating a beautiful display and seeing the product sell-out!  
The hardest part of the job, its very physical .  Its like a workout everyday! 
Management/Owners - Owners/Managers are hands on and open to new ideas.  They are ready to roll their sleeves up and do what it takes to make the team successful.  
This company is very passionate about what they do!

What is the best part of working at the company?
Being able to water the flowers and not have to interact directly with costumers. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The manager I had required constant check ins over text, scheduled me outside of when I was available and was upset when I would point this out, and expected me to come in on my day off for training. I would also constantly be expected to stay past my scheduled hours and be reprimanded if I left when I was scheduled to. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
You work until the work is done, regardless of what your hours are, and you are expected to give your everything for minimal respect. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Clock in on time, be micromanaged by the person above me, be required to constantly use my personal phone for work, such as taking pictures of what I had completed and text it to my supervisor, and stay past my scheduled shift if something wasn't completed/to satisfaction.

Have great Supervisor with great ideas and insights, but also can be appreciative when you have your own ideas as well. She's up for anything that works and looks great! Great company that honors loyal employees. If it was full time or even few more hours per week , I'd definitely make it my one and only employer. It's excellent as a 2nd income (which is what I do), after school hours, or retired individuals. Receive anywhere from 9 hrs. per week during slower months (months without floral holidays) and up to 12-14 hrs. during floral holiday times, like Valentine's, Easter. Mother's Day, Fall and Christmas. Have received a raise each year, and couldn't ask for a better Supervisor. 

This is a beautiful job. You get to work in the sun and with the flowers. Though a little warning is when you beginning early season, it can get cold and rainy so gear up and prepare. When I was working , we worked in the rain and we were soaking. At one point I didn't wear proper shoes so my feet had frozen up! So buy good gear! The people I worked with were amazing, and friendly. Even the Home Depot employees were great too. I made a lot of friends. There were times where we would bring things for one another, us Masterpiece employees, and we would have a good time. We helped out each other and when we left, or when I left I felt good. This job is job for someone with muscle and discipline. When I joined, I was lazy and I know I had upset the boss at the time, because I admit I would slack off. But he was a good boss, a very stern one and a caring one. You can learn from someone like that. Anyway great job, have fun and don't forget to gear up! Also enjoy it, you're around flowers and sunshine. :)

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Garden center merchandiser 93 salaries reported	$15.75 per hour
Merchandiser 26 salaries reported	$14.63 per hour
Merchandise manager 9 salaries reported	$19.33 per hour
Scheduler 3 salaries reported	$15.50 per hour
Regional manager 5 salaries reported	$13.50 per hour

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