Job Description & Specification for a Bookshop Salesman
A bookshop salesman, also known as a bookseller or a bookstore clerk, is the employee who interacts directly with customers in a bookstore. This can be the person behind the counter who rings up your purchase, or the clerk who helps you find a book or order one that is not in stock.
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General Job Description
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There are a variety of duties that can be part of the job description of a bookshop salesman. The bookseller is responsible for ordering books and merchandise, providing refunds and customer service, and even training new employees. A bookshop salesman's duties will vary, depending on the size of the store. Booksellers in a small store usually have several duties, such as operating the cash register, taking inventory and stocking shelves. A bookseller in a large store may have a specialized area to oversee or a specified job, such as arranging displays or unpacking merchandise.
Requirements
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A bookstore clerk must meet the minimum age requirement for his state, which is between 16 and 18 years of age. A high school diploma or equivalent is preferred. The bookstore environment is similar to a retail store and will require a salesman's schedule to be flexible because he may be required to work nights and weekends. Experience in retail sales and customer service skills are also usually required.
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Department Heads
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A bookstore typically is broken into sections, such as children's literature, fiction, magazines and travel. Depending on the size of the store, a department may have a person in charge of each section. This person is referred to as a lead or the department head. The department heads may also be responsible for shipping orders to large-volume customers such as schools and libraries.
Cashiers and Customer Service
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A bookshop salesman appointed to the cashier and customer service department is supervised by a head cashier. This type of salesman is in charge of ringing up orders, bagging the merchandise, handing out literature or promotions and offering rewards or discount programs. The customer service desk is also the area where customers can request assistance with choosing a book or checking to see if it is in stock.
Management Team
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A bookstore will have a management team that can be made up of the store manager and one or more assistant managers, depending on the size of the store. The management team is responsible for the store's financial goals, motivating employees and looking for new business opportunities. In larger chains, a bookstore manager is also responsible for reporting to the district manager, who is in charge of several stores. The management team is responsible for hiring the bookstore sales staff and promoting employees.
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References
- Photo Credit book image by Pali A from Fotolia.com
