When you think about a career in retail, your first thought might be the traditional high street, supermarkets or large national chains.

But there’s another side to retail that offers something quite different: garden retail.

Garden centres have evolved significantly over the years. They are no longer simply places to buy plants and gardening products. Many are now destination experiences, combining horticulture with retail, hospitality, food, leisure and events.

And according to the candidates we speak to, that difference can make garden retail a particularly rewarding industry to work in.

We asked candidates working across both garden retail and traditional retail what they enjoy about their roles - and what they would change.

Here’s what stood out.

1. A working environment that feels different

Perhaps the most obvious difference is the environment itself.

For one candidate, who has built his career in garden retail, being surrounded by plants and nature is one of the biggest attractions.

In his words, it’s “the best job in the world”.

During the summer, he describes being surrounded by plants, flowers, birds and natural beauty - and even getting a bit of a tan while working outside.

It’s a sentiment echoed by others in the industry. Steve Harrison particularly enjoys the horticultural side of garden retail and the opportunity to spend more time outdoors.

For people who don't enjoy the traditional shop-floor environment, that connection with the outdoors can be a significant part of the appeal.

2. Customers who come for an experience

Customer interaction is a big part of any retail role, but garden centres can offer a slightly different relationship with their customers.

Many customers aren't simply popping in to buy something quickly. They're visiting for inspiration, advice or to spend time in an environment they enjoy.

That can create opportunities to build genuine relationships.

Our candidate particularly enjoys getting to know regular customers and having conversations with them, while another says he enjoys the fact that customers in garden centres are often happier and that interacting with them is a rewarding part of the job.

For retail professionals who enjoy the people side of the industry, those relationships can make a real difference to their working day.

3. More opportunity to create something

Garden retail is also an industry where the physical environment matters.

Visual merchandising, plant presentation, product selection, seasonal displays and customer experience all contribute to how a garden centre feels.

Another candidate describes garden centres as “proper destination centres” where there is an opportunity to create something genuinely special for customers.

That also brings a challenge: everything needs to be right.

But for people who enjoy having a visible impact on their environment and seeing the results of their work, that can be hugely rewarding.

Rather than simply filling shelves, there can be a real sense of creating an experience.

4. Greater variety within one role

One of the things that makes modern garden centres interesting is the sheer variety of activity taking place under one roof.

A career in garden retail can involve much more than traditional retail operations, with opportunities across horticulture, retail, buying, merchandising, hospitality, food and beverage, logistics, marketing, HR and finance.

The RHS, for example, highlights the variety of work within its retail teams, from merchandising and customer service through to management and retail strategy.

That breadth can also create opportunities for people who want to develop their careers without necessarily having to leave the sector.

As the garden retail industry continues to evolve into a destination-led experience, the range of skills required continues to grow.

5. The opportunity to build and lead teams

One of the most rewarding parts of working in garden retail is managing people.

Of course, managing a team isn't always straightforward - and can be challenging at times.

But building a strong team and creating the right atmosphere is something our candidate genuinely enjoys.

That people-focused environment can be particularly appealing to experienced retail managers who want to have a visible influence on their teams and their wider business.

And for those looking to progress, garden retail can provide a genuine career path rather than simply another shop-floor role.

Recent industry discussions have highlighted the breadth of roles available within larger garden centres, with some sites employing people across dozens of different functions.

6. A different kind of retail challenge

It's important to say that garden retail isn't without its challenges.

In fact, comments highlight exactly why some people enjoy it: getting everything right is challenging.

But there can be a different sense of purpose behind those challenges.

Traditional retail candidates we spoke to highlighted frustrations around price competition from online retailers, restrictions on product choice and the pressure created by shrinking hours and costs.

One candidate described the frustration of knowing exactly what local customers want but not always being able to stock those products because of wider commercial decisions.

Another spoke about spending significant time helping a customer, only for them to purchase the product online because they could find it cheaper.

Garden retail isn't immune to those pressures, of course. But its ability to offer something beyond price - expertise, inspiration, experience and personal service - can create a different proposition for both customers and employees.

7. A sense of pride in what you do

Perhaps the biggest theme we heard from candidates was simply enjoyment.

One candidate describes garden retail as the “best job in the world”.

Another loves the horticultural side, the outdoor environment and building teams.

Another enjoys the atmosphere, the customers and the opportunity to succeed.

and another loves the challenge of creating something special for customers.

Different people, different roles and different motivations – but a common thread runs through all of their answers.

They enjoy where they work, who they work with and what they are creating for customers.

And that’s an important reminder that a career in retail doesn't have to mean choosing between progression and enjoyment.

So, is garden retail worth considering?

If you're an experienced retail professional looking for your next move, garden retail is an industry worth exploring.

It can offer the familiar challenges of retail - managing teams, delivering sales, understanding customers and creating great commercial environments - while adding horticulture, outdoor working, destination experiences and a strong connection with the products customers are passionate about.

For some people, that combination is exactly what makes it appealing.

As one of our candidates put it, there’s something hard to beat about spending your working day surrounded by plants, nature and happy customers.

Perhaps garden retail deserves to be on more retail professionals' radar.

Looking for your next opportunity in garden retail?

At MorePeople, we work with businesses across the garden retail, home and garden and wider consumer industries, connecting talented professionals with opportunities across the sector.

Whether you're an experienced retail manager, horticultural specialist, buyer, merchandiser or aspiring leader, we'd love to hear from you.