Bookseller - Expression of Interest

We're not currently actively hiring for booksellers, but are always keen to receive applications from people who think they might be a great fit! 

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Simply Books is an award-winning independent bookshop based in the heart of Bramhall, just south of Manchester. As a hub of the community for over 20 years, we are lucky to have a very engaged and passionate customer base who love what we do.

Recently, new owners have taken over the shop and are in the process of putting their own stamp on things. This role, as with all of the others we’re hiring for as part of our founding team, will be a big part of how we shape the business’ next 20 years and beyond.

We are looking for passionate and dedicated booksellers to form the core of our team. Your role will be wide ranging, but at the end of the day it all comes down to a true love of books.

Key Responsibilities

• Welcome and assist customers, providing a friendly face and expert guidance
• Manage point-of-sale operations, processing purchases efficiently
• Unpack, process, and display new book arrivals, ensuring our shelves are stocked and inviting
• Organise and maintain appealing shelves and displays, including promotional setups
• Offer personalised book recommendations and foster meaningful relationships with customers
• Handle customer communications via email and messages, ensuring responsive and thoughtful service
• Respond to telephone inquiries and manage in-store queries
• Assist in the daily operations of the shop, handling returns and other day-to-day tasks
• Coordinate and participate in store events such as book clubs, author signings, and other community engagements
• Engage in content creation for our social media, and maintain a robust online presence by updating our website and platforms with the latest books, events, and news
• Sometimes for our monthly newsletter and shelf displays, sharing reviews, top picks, and literary trends with our community
• Help create a welcoming and inspiring store environment that encourages repeat visits
• Occasionally assist in our café to cover absences or busy periods
• Support the owners with various tasks and contribute to special projects

Person Description

We hire a little differently. For us, the right person outweighs qualifications and experience every time, so we don’t have people descriptions for our roles or minimum experience requirements and the like (not even secretly!).

Instead, we have core traits/behaviours that are a good indicator of being a fit for our team across all roles:

📚 You're a book lover

🗣️ You're a great communicator, both written and verbal, who can get on well with people from all walks of life

📈 You’re driven, always wanting to improve and help the business succeed

😊 You’re kind and friendly, with a good sense of humour

💡 You're a self-starter who can use your own initiative

🤝 But you can also work well with teammates

👀 You have great attention to detail

🤸🏽 You're flexible and versatile

⚡ You have a creative flair

📢 You're comfortable taking direction and listening to advice from others

🎓 You're a quick learner

💪 You're not precious about getting your hands dirty and pitching in to help in any area of the business

💼 You're professional in your attitude at work

💣 You work well under pressure

💻 You're comfortable using technology

There's a lot to the role, but we've deliberately kept the descriptions fairly short and sweet. To summarise further, all we are looking for is someone that fits into our team seamlessly and is willing to get stuck in with whatever our growing business requires- we can help get you up to speed with the rest.

For this role, we are considering both part-time and full-time applications, and there are multiple positions available. The ability to work evenings and weekends would be advantageous but not required.

Benefits

• 28 days annual leave (pro-rated for part-time team members), including flexible bank holidays meaning you can use those days elsewhere if you would prefer
• 40% off everything in the shop- including books!
• Free hot and soft drinks from our café
• 24/7 employee wellbeing helpline, including counselling and financial advice
• Company pension contributions (for eligible team members)
• Access to early proofs, exclusive content, and more!
• Opportunity to attend industry events
• Regular team socials