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The main role of a bookseller is to sell books. A successful bookseller is able to work with a variety of customers, helping them locate what they are looking for, and offering advice on other products available. The work is largely based on the shop floor.
Booksellers need to be familiar with, and be able to promote their stock. They use mainly electronic search methods to locate and order books.
The exact nature of the job may differ depending upon whether it is based in a specialist bookshop or a non-specialist shop, where books may form only part of the stock.
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| Bookseller - - Normal Working Activities |
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- dealing with enquiries and identifying customer needs;
- offering advice, where appropriate;
- undertaking bibliographic work to identify and locate titles (some printed sources may be used but, more typically, this will involve electronic searches using a computer);
- selling to a variety of customers;
- handling payments - in many shops, this will require the use of electronic point of sale (EPOS) technology;
- setting budgets;
- processing customer orders;
- processing book reservations;
- dealing with mail order, email and web-based orders, although this will only apply in certain businesses;
- processing book deliveries and returns;
- stock-checking books and, depending on the shop, other merchandise;
- buying from catalogues and publishers'
- representatives - the extent to which bookselling staff are involved in buying stock varies a great deal from shop to shop;
- negotiating prices with sellers;
- creating in-store and window displays;
- undertaking general housekeeping, such as unpacking, stock replenishment and tidying;
- liaising with teaching and library staff on set texts in academic shops;
- liaising with other external account holders, for example schools, councils, and companies;
- reviewing sales performance and meeting sales targets;
- helping with book events, including organising talks, signing sessions and reading groups.
- With increased responsibility, the role will become more operations and business-orientated. For those at higher levels, the work will also involve:
- dealing with staffing issues and training needs;
- reporting sales and budget figures.
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| Bookseller - - Job Entry Requirements |
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Although this area is open to all graduates and Applicants, a degree or HND in business/management may increase your chances.
A degree is not essential, but a high proportion of those working in bookselling have a degree or HND, especially those working in academic booksellers. Bookshops on campus will often use students for temporary staff. More specialist shops may favour applicants with a good academic background and specify a degree for entry, although the work itself may not necessarily draw upon this. Indeed, many recruiters rate enthusiasm, experience and communication skills more highly than specific academic qualifications.
A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not needed.
Pre-entry experience is not always required, but experience in retailing or any other experience which will demonstrate your ability to work with the public, communicate effectively and work as part of a team will improve your chances.
Some employers consider a great passion for books to be an essential quality and will be looking for evidence of this; others will require a more general interest in sales and retailing - an interest in books, whilst useful, may be less important than other factors in these settings. Potential candidates will also need to show evidence of the following:
- excellent communication skills;
- the ability and confidence to deal with a wide range of people;
- organisational skills;
- time management skills;
- good team-working;
- the ability to work under pressure;
- good general knowledge;
- strong enthusiasm for books;
- commercial awareness;
- IT literacy;
- an interest in, and knowledge of, the bookselling sector;
- an ability to multi-task.
Many sellers are using online ordering and direct delivery services, so a grasp of e-commerce may be useful. An awareness of current literary topics is desirable; some specialist bookshops may have specific requirements for subject knowledge.
Although not well paid, competition for posts is high. Some
jobs are secured through speculative applications. |
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Training is mainly on the job and you should investigate what type of training and opportunities for continuing professional development (CPD) are likely to be available. There is currently no formal professional qualification in this area.
Membership of The Booksellers Association of the United Kingdom and Ireland Ltd (BA) or The Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABA), as appropriate, may be useful.
All posts are likely to involve structured training in the form of an induction, covering an introduction to the business and basic bookselling techniques. Further training opportunities will vary depending on the size and nature of the organisation but may include:
- customer service;
- bibliographic searching;
- specialist areas, such as children's bookselling or event management.
For those aiming higher, some larger employers offer trainee manager schemes, covering areas such as:
- recruitment and management of staff;
- marketing;
- business and consumer legislation;
- stock management;
- budgeting and finance.
In smaller businesses, training and development may be provided primarily by more experienced colleagues, though some external training courses may be supported.
A postgraduate diploma (PgDip) in Antiquarian Bookselling is offered by University College London, which may be an option for those interested in further study.
Career Development
Promotion prospects are good within large chains, which often promote from within, but poorer in smaller outlets where relocation may be necessary.
Working in a non-specialist bookshop provides the opportunity to gain a range of experience and develop basic, but highly transferable, retailing skills that could be applied in a number of different retailing environments. Progression into other sales areas is, therefore, possible. Similar skills will be acquired in a specialist setting but there may also be opportunities to acquire skills specific to the book trade in order to develop expertise and increase chances of career progression in this field.
Progression in a larger store might involve specialisation in a specific subject area, managing a particular section or floor, and then moving into an assistant manager or store manager position.
Progression for graduates can be rapid and it is possible to manage a branch within three years from starting as a more junior bookseller.
Some people move into publishing, but this is a very competitive field. Other avenues include independent bookselling and/or antiquarian bookselling. There are also specialist market sectors such as academic, children's and religious bookshops.
The field of bookselling is going through a time of rapid change. Online, direct and discount selling through a variety of outlets mean a wider variety of opportunities in bookselling, but the competition for a share of the book-buying market is fierce. Success is likely to depend on
developing a strong commercial sense and a thorough understanding of the market.
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| Bookseller - Web Resources |
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- BookCareers
- Book Industry Communication (BIC)
Other
- The Bookseller, Bookseller Publications, Weekly
- Bookselling for Dummies, Wiley - John & Sons Ltd, 2005
- The Guardian, Guardian Newspapers Ltd, Daily
- Publishing News Online, Publishing News Ltd, Weekly
- The Times Literary Supplement, TSL Education, Weekly
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| Bookseller -- Industry Bodies |
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The Antiquarian Booksellers Association (ABA)
Sackville House, 40 Piccadilly, London W1J 0DR
Tel: 020 7439 3118
www.aba.org.uk
Arts Council England
14 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 3NQ
Tel: 0845 300 6200
www.artscouncil.org.uk
Book Marketing Limited (BML)
BML, 7 John Street, London WC1N 2ES
Tel: 020 7440 8930
www.bookmarketing.co.uk/
The Booksellers Association of the United Kingdom and Ireland Ltd (BA)
Minster House, 272 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1BA
Tel: 020 7802 0802
www.booksellers.org.uk
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
7 Ridgmount Street, London WC1E 7AE
Tel: 020 7255 0500
www.cilip.org.uk
International Booksellers Federation
Chaussee de Charleroi 51b, Boite 1, B1060 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: (00) 32 2 223 49 40
www.ibf-booksellers.org
Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association
The Old Coach House, 16 Melbourn Street, Royston, Herts SG8 7BZ
Tel: 01763 248400
www.pbfa.org
Publishing Scotland
137 Dundee Street, Edinburgh EH11 1BG
Tel: 0131 228 6866
www.publishingscotland.org.uk
Scottish Arts Council (SAC)
12 Manor Place, Edinburgh EH3 7DD
Tel: 0131 226 6051
www.scottisharts.org.uk |
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- Range of typical starting salaries: £11,500 - £16,000 (salary data collected Jan 07).
- Range of typical salaries at senior level/with experience (e.g. after 10-15 years in the role): £19,000 - £40,000 (salary data collected Jan 07). The upper end of the scale is only achieved by those who have progressed to managing a large bookshop or the large branch of a chain.
- Salaries vary and will depend on the location and size of the shop but tend to be modest. There may be more scope for increased pay in the larger bookshop chains.
- Working hours typically include regular unsocial hours. Shops are increasingly open for longer hours during the week, and at least part of the weekend. Academic bookshops may offer more social hours.
- Compared to other areas of retailing, bookselling may offer more responsibility at an earlier stage.
- Retail environments are diverse in size, sales and style.
- The job is largely based on the shop floor with some behind-the-scenes work.
- The work can be very busy and physically demanding; standing for long periods and moving books can be tiring.
- Opportunities for part-time work are good. Career breaks are also possible.
- Self-employment is unlikely at an early stage of a bookselling career, although it is a longer-term possibility. There are a large number of independent bookshops throughout the country but the competition from larger stores and chains, who are able to offer substantial discounts and internet selling, is strong. Self-employment would require good contacts in the publishing and book supply world and a thorough understanding of the current market and trends in bookselling.
- Gender balance within the occupation is roughly equal.
- There are opportunities throughout the country, though branches of chains are concentrated in towns and cities.
- Travel during the working day, absence from home at night, and overseas work or travel are all unlikely, but may increase if in a senior management role.
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