Hiring: Shop Associate
April 23, 2026
Shop Associate
2280 Main St, Vancouver · 28–35 hours/week · 4–5 shifts
Cultivate is a tasting room and shop for rare tea, matcha, and ceramics — sourced directly from small producers across three origins — China, Taiwan, and Japan — since 2014. We're looking for someone to join our team on Main Street.
This is a hands-on role. The work is a mix of guiding customers through our collection, making recommendations, and hosting tastings — alongside operations like packing teas for wholesale and online orders, restocking, and organizing inventory. You'll move between different tasks throughout the day, which keeps the work varied. The role requires care, attention, and a quiet sense of urgency.
Training takes four to five months. We're looking for someone who intends to stay at least two years — long enough to develop real knowledge and grow into the role. There is a clear path toward a supervisor or manager position for the right person.
Day-to-day
- Helping customers navigate our teas and making recommendations
- Making matcha lattes and preparing teas
- Packing teas for wholesale and online orders
- Processing and shipping online orders
- Organizing and restocking teas and tea ware
- Maintaining the tea bar, displays, and shop
- Opening and closing the shop
As you develop
- Hosting tea tastings for individuals and groups
- Developing deep product knowledge across our full collection
- Taking on operational ownership — inventory, ordering, and shop management
- Making informed decisions independently and managing the shop without oversight
Who this is for
Someone with a genuine interest in tea and curiosity about where it comes from. You don't need to be an expert — but you should care. This is a self-directed position, well suited to someone who takes initiative, works well alone, and pays attention to detail. Experience with hospitality, customer service, or retail is an asset but not required.
The trial period is two months. The schedule is 28–35 hours per week across 4–5 shifts, with some flexibility on which days. We ask for a minimum two-year commitment.
The best parts of this role
Interacting with wonderful customers who genuinely care about what they're drinking. Learning about rare teas and the sourcing behind them. The reward of helping someone find exactly the right tea. Working in a quiet, considered space. Tasting a remarkable collection of teas, matcha, and hojicha every day.