Employment 2026

Employment

Updated Note as of June 20, 2026— While our high-demand season has come and gone, retail is still open through October (which requires help at the Cash Register, Perennial House, and Trees/Yard), we have production processes still going on (mostly in Perennials Land), and we have many garden maintenance and installation jobs to fulfill.  There are still some part-time / summer roles at this time that we are looking for assistance with, and we are always looking for specialists that can help us this season and into the future! Things can change quickly as the season moves forward, so submit your application if you’re interested!

Roles that we are still looking for help in– 1) Seasonal Cash Register (mostly weekend; some mid-week training would also be necessary); 2) Tree & Shrub Sales Specialists (this is primarily weekend work through October, but occasional weekday work can be helpful for training purposes. Having bobcat loading experience is very helpful); 3) Tree/Yard Support (this is primarily weekend work through October, but often combined with the Summer Gardening role); 4) Perennials Support (this is a mixture of weekend work along with some weekday work); 5) Perennials Sales Specialist (this is a mixture of weekend work along with some weekday work); 6) Summer Gardening (this is a weekday role, usually full days of 8:00-4:30.  Especially looking for someone who can help us from July through a portion of October when other workers head back to school).

At this time of year, your best way to get in the door is to start in a seasonal role.  Full-time positions are currently not available.

It is VERY beneficial for you to read through the various roles below BEFORE you apply and/or receive a tour so you understand the different roles and scheduling requirements. It is helpful to note what specific role or roles you are best suited for in your application.

Thank you for your interest in Thomsens Garden Center.  We are always seeking happy people, to work with other happy people and, of course, our plants.  Voted “Best of Central MN” for several years in a row is an indication of our team and our customers!  If you’re interested, we’d love to hear from you. Don’t wait until May; we typically try to hire for positions in January – March when we are less busy and have more time for an adequate conversation with you!

Positions can range from part time seasonal to full time year-round, dependent upon the needs of the candidate and the business. The seasonal positions typically begin in March (Annuals and Perennials Production), April (Cash Register, Various Sales roles, Trees & Shrubs, Yard Support), late April (Annuals and Perennials Re-stock) or late May (Gardening Maintenance and Landscape Installations) and continue through early summer (late summer for gardening). If you are interested in being part of a team with the reputation as an industry leader, this may be the opportunity for you. Click the Application button below to begin the process.

Benefits– Seasonal employees receive employee discount benefits, as well as paid time off per the MN Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) rules. Part-time year round employees receive employee discount benefits, ESST, and paid time off after six months of employment. Full-time year round employees receive employee discount benefits, ESST, and paid time off after three months of employment. Year-round employees can also qualify for SIMPLE IRA match.

You don’t have to be a plant expert to work with us, but a positive attitude is a MUST.  We’ll train the rest. As we say, getting your foot in the door is the hard part.  Once you’ve shown us what you can do, you are free to work across any of our departments, should the need arise.

While the role descriptions below are most suitable for the busier spring and summer seasons, we  are always willing to take and review applications for them (existing role descriptions reviewed as of June 20, 2026, more to come soon):

* 1) Seasonal Cash Register / Retail Checkout Specialist– Cash register processing, customer cart organizing and box-up, customer inquiries, occasional sweeping, watering and plant maintenance in retail space. Positions typically run from mid-April through mid-June, but can extend further into the year if interested (Retail is open 7 days a week from April 1st until Halloween). Familiarity with plant material, along with some cash register and customer service experience is a helpful start. You will be on your feet the majority of the day, and the environment can be warm. You will almost always work in tandem with a retail team member, you will be in constant communication with our customers, along with regular usage of our hand-held walkie-talkies to communicate with Thomsens staff, so bring your confident voice, smile and don’t be shy! You will need to become comfortable with a fast pace, distracting and noisy environment, completing register transactions quickly and accurately. A typical work week might be 16-24 hours but could be as many as 40 hours if that is agreeable to both parties (overtime eligible). Rates start at $14/hr. Typical store hours are 9-5, so shifts are typically 8:45 to 5:15 or so.  It is not desirable, in most instances, to work shorter shifts than this, as we then have to find someone to cover the remaining portion of the day.

* 5) Seasonal Sales Specialist, Perennials– Are you very familiar with perennials, and like to work with customers one on one? Our seasonal sales specialist role may be right for you! Perennial specialist positions are in demand from mid-April through the end of retail season in mid-October. You will be tasked with answering customer questions, providing plant knowledge, and offering alternatives when necessary (having knowledge of our other offerings such as our annuals, pottery / hardgoods, bagged and bulk product, trees and shrubs is a bonus and will be acquired during the process). Rest assured, experienced Thomsens staff is always a “walkie-talkie away” if you are unsure of a customer’s question. You will be on your feet the majority of the day, and the environment can be warm. You will typically be asked to work the busiest days of the week (Thursday – Sunday) and be part of weekend rotations, but during our busiest period in May, and more & more the rest of the year as our perennial inventory and volumes grow, there is a need almost every day. A typical work week might be 16-24 hours but could be as many as 40 hours if that is agreeable to both parties. You may also get involved in perennial plantings and re-stock, if that is of interest to you. Rates start at $16/hr. Overtime eligible.

* 2) Seasonal Sales Specialist, Trees & Shrubs– Role requires at least a basic to mid-level knowledge of trees and shrubs being offered to the consumer. Ability to answer customer questions or be resourceful is necessary. Educational materials on our offerings are provided. The role typically includes running a bobcat for mulch, compost or similar customer orders, but it is not required for the right candidate. The “busy time” for tree & shrub sales roles typically runs from late-April through mid-June when yard staffing is needed daily, but yard/sales staff is also needed until late September for sure, typically Thursday-Sunday. The role can also include being involved in the potting and yard setup of such material when it arrives (mid-April), as well as customer installs, if interested. The role can require lifting of trees and shrubs into customer vehicles as well as moving them within the yard; a forklift and other team member assistance is available when necessary. You will be asked to water and provide plant maintenance as well; support will be provided during the busiest times. You will be on your feet the majority of the day. Weekend work is required, usually every other weekend or one of the two days of the weekend. A typical work week might be 12-24 hours but could be as many as 40 hours if that is agreeable to both parties. Shifts are usually 9:00 – 5:30, sometimes starting & ending later in May due to extended retail hours until 8PM.  Rates start at $17/hr. Overtime eligible.

* 3) Seasonal Tree/Shrubs/Yard Support– Assisting with tree & shrub re-stock, product placement / standing up tipped inventory, watering, weeding of yard, tagging and moving sold product, tending to bagged product, etc. Also involved with helping customers move pottery or bagged product into cars, etc. Great intro role for high school / college / summer workers. Weekday shifts are often 2-4 hours, but can be up to 6-8 hours; weekend shifts are typically 2-8 hours, depending on your availability and resources needed. Rates start at $14/hr.  Overtime eligible.

* 4) Seasonal Perennials Support / Restock– Primarily focused on replenishment and maintenance of the perennial & natives categories from the growing ranges into our Perennial House.  Watering techniques will be trained over time. You will be paired with a more experienced Perennials team member who knows our processes and where material is being grown, its readiness for sale, etc.  Mid-week shifts are usually 8:00-4:30, while weekend shifts are usually 9:00-5:00. You will need to work some but not all weekends. You will be on your feet and moving the entire shift, bending often to move, lift and place flats of material on tables or on the ground. Can be combined with other roles to earn more hours. Rates start at $14/hr.  Overtime eligible.

* 6) Summer Gardening– This role is a great way to get started with our work team. You’ll be asked to do a variety of tasks, and will have supervision throughout. Tasks will include work at customer gardens (installs and maintenance), as well as work in and around the greenhouse facility (planting, weeding, watering, moving materials, cleanup, etc). The more dependable you become the more variety of work you will get to take on, including working on the retail side of the business or in other production support roles. The role occasionally requires lifting items up to 50 lbs. You will be on your feet the majority of the day, and the environment can be warm. Typical work days are 8:00 – 4:30, Monday through Friday. A typical work week might be 24 hours but could be as many as 40 hours if that is agreeable to both parties. Rates start at $14/hr. Overtime eligible.

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