Chalet, Wilmette, Illinois
Year founded:
Chalet was founded in 1917.
What is your garden center known for?
Chalet is known for being a staple on the North Shore with more than 100 years in business and as a fourth-generation family-owned company. Chalet has high-quality plants, exceptional customer service and expert gardening advice. We offer a wide range of plants, garden supplies and home décor, making it a one-stop shop for everything to make your home beautiful inside and out.
How do you set your store apart from the big boxes?
Chalet sets itself apart from big-box stores by providing personalized customer service, expert gardening advice, and a curated selection of high-quality plants and products. Our knowledgeable staff offers tailored recommendations and guidance, ensuring customers find the right plants and supplies for their specific needs.
How do you ensure teamwork among employees?
For teamwork, Chalet’s organizational structure is fairly unique in the garden center world. Instead of having self-contained teams that manage all aspects of their product line (from buying to merchandising to selling), each of our teams — built around job functions — are fully reliant on each other for success. This model inspires creativity through diverse viewpoints, accelerates the pace of innovation with our highly talented and focused staff, regularly tackling problems in dynamic flow states, and streamlines processes by reducing friction between intersections. Additionally, regular team meetings, open communication and collaborative projects further strengthen the sense of community and cooperation among staff. Team-building activities and training sessions also help in fostering teamwork.
What are your best practices for managing staff?
Our best practices for managing staff begin with our carefully structured onboarding program. This program is consistent in introducing our team values while being customized for each individual role. During this protected time, our management team articulates their leadership promises to new hires and asks to be held accountable to those promises. Additionally, we provide ongoing training and development opportunities, recognize and reward hard work, and maintain a supportive and inclusive workplace culture. By fostering a positive environment, we ensure that employees feel valued and motivated to perform their best.
How is your store involved in your local community?
Chalet is actively involved in the local community through various initiatives such as hosting private events, gardening workshops, our kids’ nature-focused “Sprouts” program, participating in community events, and supporting local charities and organizations.
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