Regional Sales Partner

Business Development Sales Associate

Part Time  |  Tampa Bay Florida  |  $15 Per Hour Plus Commission  |  10 to 12 (+) Hours Per Week

Help build the next stage of a proven Tampa Bay bonsai business. Artisans Bonsai Inc. is seeking an ambitious USF student or recent graduate who wants to help grow EastWest Bonsai Supply Co., develop lasting business accounts, and earn the opportunity to move into a full-time leadership role and build a sales team as the wholesale division expands.

The opportunity

This is not a routine campus job. You will work directly with founder Joseph G. Cain Jr. to develop EastWest’s Florida territory, introduce a complete bonsai program to business clients, and help shape the sales systems, relationships, and market presence of a growing wholesale division.

We are looking for someone who wants to take ownership, contribute ideas, build a book of business, and grow with the company. The right person will see the potential in this opportunity, help turn it into something substantial, and ultimately help recruit, train, and lead additional sales representatives as new territories open.

About the company

Artisans Bonsai Inc. is the employing company and an established Tampa Bay bonsai nursery and training center. EastWest Bonsai Supply Co. is the wholesale division of Artisans Bonsai Inc., supplying imported pre-bonsai, specimen trees, professional tools, soil, pots, training, merchandising support, and complete bonsai department programs to business clients.

Our founder has practiced bonsai since 1983 and brings more than 13 years of importing, retail, and teaching experience. Artisans Bonsai has trained more than 2,000 students and maintains a 4.9-star customer reputation. EastWest builds on that foundation with direct Asian sourcing, exclusive professional tool distribution, modern visualization resources, and an existing database of more than 4,500 business prospects.

Position details

• Employer - Artisans Bonsai Inc.
• Division - EastWest Bonsai Supply Co. (B2B wholesale sales)
• Location - Thonotosassa and the Tampa Bay area
• Schedule - 10 to 12 hours per week
• Base pay - $15.00 per hour
• Standard commission - 5% on qualifying sales
• Enhanced commission - 7% on qualifying dealer displays, bundles, and commercial projects
• Residual commission - 2% for 12 months on qualifying repeat business from accounts you develop
• Performance review - Formal review after 90 days

What you will do

• Learn EastWest’s products, programs, ideal customers, and value proposition through structured onboarding and bonsai training.
• Work from our existing prospect database and identify additional qualified opportunities throughout an assigned territory or market segment.
• Contact owners, buyers, landscape architects, hospitality businesses, commercial property professionals, and other decision-makers by phone, email, video meeting, and in-person visits.
• Conduct discovery conversations, understand client needs, and recommend inventory, dealer displays, specimen trees, or commercial project solutions.
• Prepare presentations using digital catalogs, professional photography, AI-assisted TreeScape visualizations, and CAD resources for landscape professionals.
• Maintain organized prospect and account records, complete follow-up promptly, and build long-term relationships that produce reorders.
• Contribute ideas that improve our sales process, dealer programs, marketing materials, and territory-development strategy.
• Develop the leadership skills and operating knowledge needed to help recruit, train, and lead future sales representatives as the division grows.
• Represent Artisans Bonsai inc and EastWest Bonsai Supply Co. professionally, accurately, and ethically.

A complete client support program

You will offer clients more than trees. EastWest provides the products, training, technology, and ongoing support businesses need to create a successful bonsai category or complete a distinctive commercial project.

• Imported pre-bonsai and specimen trees sourced through established Asian growers and import relationships.
• Professional bonsai tools, soil, pots, wire, merchandising guidance, sales materials, and complete dealer display programs.
• Certified Retail Bonsai Specialist training, product education, sales guidance, and continuing founder support.
• BonsaiRegistry.com customer accounts for tree registration, ownership and provenance records, and support when a registered tree is reported missing or stolen.
• QR-enabled tags connecting customers with species information, care guidance, educational resources, and the Bonsai Registry ecosystem.
• BonsAI Sensei digital assistance, online and in-person classes, dealer-location visibility, and continuing after-sale customer support.
• AI-powered TreeScape visualization, CAD blocks, and consultation support for landscape architects, hospitality clients, and commercial projects.

Training and support

• Direct access to the founder for training, sales strategy, account planning, and larger opportunities.
• Structured bonsai and product education; previous bonsai knowledge is not required.
• Digital catalogs, presentations, scripts, objection-handling guidance, professional photography, and marketing materials.
• Hands-on assistance with dealer programs, commercial projects, specimen-tree presentations, and account development.
• An established prospect base with no employee fees, inventory purchases, or recruitment requirements.

Compensation and growth

This position pays $15.00 per hour for 10 to 12 scheduled hours per week, plus 5% commission on standard qualifying sales, 7% on qualifying dealer displays, bundles, and commercial projects, and 2% residual commission for 12 months on qualifying repeat business from accounts you develop.

Performance will be formally reviewed after 90 days. A successful associate who consistently develops qualified accounts, produces sales, contributes to the division, and demonstrates leadership will have the opportunity to be considered for a full-time business-development or territory-management position. The long-term goal is for this person to help open new territories and recruit, train, and lead an expanding EastWest sales team.

Who should apply

We welcome current USF students and recent graduates from any major. This position is especially relevant to students interested in marketing, professional selling, entrepreneurship, management, hospitality, communications, horticulture, landscape-related fields, architecture, commercial design, and small-business growth.

Required qualifications: Professional communication, reliability, integrity, curiosity, organized follow-up, comfort speaking with business decision-makers, willingness to conduct consistent outreach, and reliable transportation for local client meetings and visits.

Preferred qualifications: Coursework or experience in sales, marketing, customer service, horticulture, nursery operations, landscaping, hospitality, architecture, design, business development and Social Media knowledge These are helpful but not required.

Explore our work

Artisans Bonsai Inc. — Retail nursery, bonsai education, and services

EastWest Bonsai Supply Co. — Wholesale pre-bonsai, dealer programs, and professional project support

Bonsai Registry — Tree registration, provenance records, QR resources, and theft-recovery support (Launching soon)

How to apply

Apply through Handshake with your current resume and a short note explaining why you want to help build EastWest Bonsai Supply Co., what you hope to contribute, and what you hope to learn. Include your weekly availability and confirm that you have reliable transportation for local client meetings.

Artisans Bonsai Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, performance, and business needs without unlawful discrimination.