My Job in 5: Emanuela Maranci

1. Describe your role 

When I first came to Scotland (July 2015) my English was still very scholastic so I started my new job organizing shelves in alphabetical order. As time progressed I became more confident- thanks to Shaun and Nicky- so I started working on my own in the shop interacting with customers, answering at the phone, dealing with Royal Mail, doing Random Book Club and all the other important small jobs.

2. What do you like best about your role?            

I love working surrounded by books and talking with customers (even now, after few years dealing with the grumpy Shaun). Thanks to my job I improved my English and now I am part of a lovely community. So I can say that I like everything about my job, even cleaning dusty books or spending an entire day pricing and listing books online.

3. Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?        

I am mostly helping Shaun when he needs an extra help. I am still the ‘crazy granny’ as he would say. I am also helping doing Random Book Club.

4. What skills do you need for your role?      

I could say that you have to love books but it sounds a bit banal. I don’t think you need particular skills, just a good passion for what you are doing and be happy to learn lots of things about an industry, about books, about yourself and people as well. 

5. What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry?    

I asked advice as well when I was a student in Turin. I wanted to work in a bookshop and I sent lots of email in Italy, Spain and UK. Then I wrote an email to Shaun and after few months I left Italy and I arrived at The Bookshop. I don’t know if I can give a good advice, the only think I know is that it’s not an easy path to take, like every other cultural field. But if you like doing that then keep asking people, keep sending email, show your passion around.