Bookends & Beginnings

Bookends & Beginnings (Evanston, IL) is looking for an experienced bookstore leader to join our management team. The position reports to the store’s owner, and its scope will depend on the experience you bring. The primary function is to facilitate the daily operations of the store, with responsibility for scheduling and overseeing daily staff, providing and modeling our trademark cheerful customer service, overseeing receiving and returning, and continually brainstorming ways to improve operations. 

When applying, please include a detailed cover letter along with your resume that addresses your experience with bookstores, customer service, and management.

Job responsibilities include:

• Creating and maintaining an upbeat, positive attitude on the sales floor
• Scheduling work shifts and time off on the store’s shared calendar
• Opening and closing functions, requiring early arrival and late departures
• Performing all basic bookselling functions alongside other staffers including handselling, online order processing, and POS functions.
• Serving as on-site decision-maker for situations requiring immediate attention if owner is not present
• Hiring new booksellers, overseeing training, providing ongoing coaching and cross-training
• Providing positive acknowledgment and constructive feedback to booksellers
• Ensuring staff compliance with store policies as laid out in our Staff Handbook
• Facilitate and help execute management decisions
• Monitor and order supplies as necessary
• Trouble-shooting IT issues as they arise
• Will have or acquire proficiency with Anthology POS, IndieCommerce website, Edelweiss (ordering and analytics), Google Docs and the Microsoft and Meta suite
• Preparing bi-weekly payroll reports and some other financial and administrative tasks including accounts payable, cash handling, reporting damages to publishers
• Working with our Events and Marketing Manager to ensure that all in-store and offsite events are properly staffed, and that in-store signage and other activities reflect our marketing goals
• While we believe strongly in work/life balance, this is an exempt managerial position which may require more than 40 hours in any given week; this person will be expected to occasionally come in early, work late, and staff special events. This person will also regularly work one weekend day.

Salary: $42K or commensurate with experience

Benefits:

• Three weeks PTO plus 5 paid holidays when the store is closed
• Choice of 4 BCBSIL group medical plans with a substantial stipend provided
• Attendance at national and regional conferences encouraged to promote professional development
• Employee discount

Bookends & Beginnings is a large general interest store with a vibrant national and local literary-events program, and an in-store MiniBar. We have a small satellite used bookstore down the street called Middles, and we offer educational events through our programming arm Bookends University. We aim to be a warm and welcoming literary hospitality space, in the heart of a Chicago-adjacent university town (Evanston).