Store Manager

Books On The Hill is a new independent bookshop based in St Albans, Hertfordshire. 

We will be selling a combination of antiquarian, children’s, new, rare, special, and first edition books. 

We are looking for an experienced Store Manager on a full-time basis.  We are offering a very competitive salary, and career prospects to the right candidate.

The role

• Working alongside the owner to grow and develop a new bookstore.
• Accountable for the daily management of the bookshop.
• Working directly with customers and with the owner to grow sales and achieve targets.
• Ensuring all cash handling and monetary transactions are accurately recorded, banked and secured.
• Generating monthly reports based on sales, bestseller lists, seasonal planning reports, generating subject stocklists lists.
• Creating orders for antiquarian and new lead titles, keeping a full and relevant stock.
• Working directly with distributors, publishers and authors to process orders.
• Monitoring and managing the store website.
• Overseeing the process of distribution and the customer services side of our website orders.
• Maintaining and consistently improving product knowledge.
• Responsible for ensuring staff are able to offer excellent advice to customers on book selection and are keeping up to date with the book market and industry.
• Dealing with queries and issues from staff and customers.
• Managing staff, team rotas and training.
• Set up regular book clubs; fiction and non-fiction.
• Assisting the owner with book promotions and events as and when required.
• Preform stocktakes and audits when required.
• Keep up to date with reading and changes in the book industry through all forms of media.
• Developing the stores presence within the community.
• Ensuring customers have all the information to meet their sales goals.
• Managing and growing sales of stationary, accessories and art.
• Developing relationships with other businesses within St Albans.
• Responsible for ensuring the shop is cleaned, secured and complies with Health & Safety legislation.

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Experience of working in a bookshop or within the publishing industry.
• Excellent knowledge of literature with a natural passion and enjoyment for reading.
• Excellent all round communication skills.
• Able to act proactively and with limited direct supervision, while at the same time recognising when matters need to be referred to the owner.
• The interpersonal skills necessary to develop and sustain effective relationships internally, and on behalf of the store with external bodies and with its customers.
• Able to work accurately with detailed information.
• Ability to grasp new systems.
• Experience of managing people.
• Excellent numerical skills.
• Accuracy and ability in detailed handling of paperwork and accounting.
• Able to identify and highlight potential obstacles in achieving objectives and propose solutions where appropriate.
• A high level of organizational skills.
• Look at developing our interaction and relationship with the local community, including schools.

The role is a full-time position based in St Albans, salary to be discussed. To apply, please email your CV and a covering letter detailing how you meet the requirements outlined above for this role to clare@books-on-the-hill.co.uk. 

Please note in the subject line: Store Manager

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 14th October 2019.