Bookshop Manager (Full-Time)

Location:  6 Chiswick High Road, London   W4 1TH

About Everybody Reads: Opening May/June 2024, Everybody Reads will be a vibrant community bookshop dedicated to building a strong sense of community, fostering a love of reading, and promoting literacy in Chiswick, Hammersmith and beyond.  We will stock a carefully curated selection of new books and sidelines for all ages and underpinning every sale will be our commitment to offering a superb customer experience whilst also working toward a stronger and ‘better-read’ community.  As a start-up, we are passionate about creating a welcoming space where readers of all ages, interests and reading abilities can come together to explore, be inspired, find what they love, and connect with others.  Our passion also extends past the doors of the shop as we partner with local schools and other charities that share our literacy goals.

Job Description: As Bookshop Manager you, together with the Owner, will take Everybody Reads from an idea to a successful retail enterprise that is both achieving our goals in the community and meeting the financial targets that will ensure its continued success.  You will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the shop and the hiring, training and management of bookselling staff while also proactively making improvements that help us reach, and even exceed, our expectations.  The ideal candidate will share the shop’s ethos, and be an inspiring, highly collaborative, team player able to lead others, and take direction, as the situation requires.

Responsibilities:

• Efficiently manage day-to-day operations of the bookshop, including opening and closing procedures, customer sales and orders, cashing up and daily reconciliation, inventory management, and staffing
• Ensure a welcoming, attractive, safe, and inclusive environment for all customers and staff
• Provide exceptional, thoughtful, and efficient customer service and offer personalised recommendations appropriate for each customer’s interests and reading experience
• Be friendly and welcoming; engage with customers and train staff to do the same
• Curate and maintain an engaging selection of books across various genres, catering to the diverse interests and needs of our community and bearing in mind our community goals
• Merchandise stock (throughout shop and in window) to maximise sales and to promote interest in reading in general
• Participate in the development of and delivery of creative and engaging events, programmes and other activities that promote literacy and foster community engagement
• Participate in the development of a website with ecommerce capabilities
• Develop and implement effective marketing strategies to promote the bookshop and increase foot traffic, including social media, email newsletters, and local partnerships
• Regularly review financial position, including budgeting, sales analysis, and inventory management, to drive profitability and growth
• Meet or exceed agreed financial targets
• Recruit, train, and supervise a team of passionate and knowledgeable staff, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment
• Other duties that may be agreed

Essential Requirements:

• Bookshop Experience (Manager or Assistant Manager preferred)
• Strong working knowledge of computer and bookshop systems - Stock Management, POS, MS Office/Google Workspace
• Passionate about reading with a strong knowledge of current and backlist Adult, YA and Children’s titles across various genres
• Excellent spoken and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Highly collaborative, team player who can both lead others and take direction as required
• Strong organisational and multitasking abilities, with attention to detail
• Able to lift 14 kilos and walk up and down a flight of stairs with ease
• Able to work a flexible 5-day week (40 hours) once the shop is open, including weekends and off-site event work, if required

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience with Batch and Batchline
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a related field
• Deep knowledge of children’s and YA books
• Experience working with children
• Experience with website development and maintenance, e-commerce and social media marketing
• Experience in organising and managing events
• Able to work flexible hours prior to the shop’s opening (for planning, bookselling staff hire, staff training and shop set up)

Benefits:

• £27-30K per annum, based on experience
• 28 days paid holiday (including public holidays)
• Opportunity to have a meaningful social impact by promoting reading/literacy and fostering connection and sense of community
• 33% discount on books and merchandise
• Positive and collaborative work environment in a vibrant community setting
• Excellent transport links (steps from Stamford Brook District Line station and Bus Routes 237, 110, 190, 267, H91, N9 and N11)

If you have what it takes to drive the success of this start-up community bookshop,  we encourage you to apply for the Bookshop Manager position at Everybody Reads. Join us as we build community and literacy in Chiswick, Hammersmith and beyond.

To Apply:

Send CV and cover letter to Carol at info@everybodyreads.com.

Closing date for applications: 5th April 2024

Thank you for your interest in Everybody Reads!