Assistant Tradebook Manager
Brown University
To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to: https://brown.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/staff-careers-brown/job/164-Angell-Street/Assistant-Tradebook-Manager_REQ198665
Job Description:
Assistant Manager Tradebooks
Manage the trade book department with the responsibility for the sales, expense control and net profit of the department. Responsible for the selection and inventory of a high-volume trade department, including hardcovers, paperbacks, and calendars the Brown Bookstore. Responsible for maintaining stock to meet the various needs and interests of the academic and local community, as well as effectively promoting the Brown Bookstore’s services, such as supporting author appearances and special events.
Major Responsibility: Merchandise and managing a profitable trade department, while meeting or exceeding the budgeting sales goals
Supporting Actions:
- Support the mission of the bookstore.
- Solicit and co-ordinate with University departments to support their programs with readings and signings.
- Grow sales through an expanded schedule of popular author/ speaker events.
- Solicit and service our community’s (to include Providence East Side organizations and educational entities) need for informational/ author events.
- Whenever possible develop speaking/ signing events for current and former Brown faculty and students/ alumni. During certain periods; provide coverage for author events that run outside of store operating hours.
- Develop merchandise presentation plans that display the books in a manner that allows for enhanced customer navigation, supports the store mission responsibilities and maximizes sales.
- Develop promotional plans with the marketing coordinator.
- Assort and relay the sales floor based on space requirements of the books in inventory and the space needed to properly support the various lines of merchandise and our mission responsibilities.
- Train on and monitor the adherence to the book positioning plan.
Major Responsibility: Source, select, and manage front and backlist titles from all major publishers, university presses, and other publishers and wholesalers as needed. Manage, facilitate, and grow special events.
Supporting Actions:
- Collaborate with the planner to ensure timely reorders, to maintain the back list of titles and maximize sales.
- Train and interface with the trade book planner to assort the store with the right books in the right quantity to maximize sales.
- Select and manage title assortment and quantity both in the store and online.
- Work with the planner to develop the mix of distributor versus publisher purchasing that minimizes net cost including freight.
- Work with the planner to minimize returns to save on freight costs.
- Develop an expanded remainder program.
- Make space and presentation plans with a focus on the margin percent of specific books or lines of books.
- Determine the mix of new titles to carry as well as their quantities and placement in the store, making analytical buying decisions that best fit our mission and market.
- Determine the appropriate titles to maintain a robust backstock to reflect an academic bookstore, and the community we serve.
- Work with publisher sales reps in person or on the phone, as well as with book and merchandise catalogues, especially electronic ones, primarily Edelweiss.
Major Responsibility: Meet or exceed budgeted gross margin dollars while managing the operational cost of the Book Department within Budget Goals.
Supporting Actions:
- Schedule payroll as dictated by budgets and sales trends.
- Analyze financial reports, and control expenses.
- Within budget constraints, manage other miscellaneous expenses based on sales trends, sales growth potential and net income impact.
- Manage and ensure the returns process in a timely manner to avoid unnecessary markdowns on shopworn and nonreturnable merchandise.
- Generate stock returns based on sales, data analysis, and invoice expiration dates.
- Work with vendors and shipping/receiving department to resolve issues with shipping errors and damaged merchandise.
- Conduct analysis and execution of markdowns, chargebacks and returns.
Major Responsibility: Support store operations.
Supporting Actions:
- Support store in conducting daily operations including opening, and closing responsibilities on a regular basis and deploying appropriate staff when on duty.
- Supervise and train staff.
- Work with the senior staff team to develop strategies, policies and plans.
- Manage the entire store as part of the group that opens and closes the store.
- Attend meeting as needed.
- Hone skills with respect to business related software and systems
- Interface with all mangers to ascertain signing needs and scheduling
Education and Experience
High School or GED
Extensive experience with bookselling and familiarity with publishers is ideal and highly recommended, as is knowledge of the Brown community and our neighbors.
Job Competencies
- Good management skills.
- Strong organizational ability.
- Able to multitask.
- Able to lift cases of books up to 50 pounds
- Some marketing/ promotional planning experience.
- Good communication skills.
- Customer service focus.
- High standards for sales floor presentation (including neatness, cleanliness and visual impact).
- Able to gain proficiency in utilizing bookstore POS and inventory management system.
- Work independently with spreadsheets and assess and analyze data.
- Must be personable, customer service focused, and able to work with faculty, students and administrators as well as with the general public and colleagues.
- Broad book knowledge and familiarity with literary and academic areas, as well as knowledge of popular areas of interest, are required. Must have sufficient knowledge of the many book categories in order to be able to intelligently select appropriate titles from areas ranging from children’s books to academic interest.
- All offers of employment are contingent upon a criminal background check.
- Demonstrated ability to support a community of diverse perspectives and cultures in an inclusive environment.
Benefits of Working at Brown:
Information on the Benefits of Working at Brown can be found here.
Recruiting Start Date:
2024-11-20
Job Posting Title:
Assistant Tradebook Manager
Department:
Bookstore
Grade:
Grade 8
Worker Type:
Employee
Worker Sub-Type:
Regular
Time Type:
Full time
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
37.5
Position Work Location:
Onsite
Submission Guidelines:
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any staff position at Brown University you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.
Still Have Questions?
If you have any questions you may contact employment@brown.edu.
EEO Statement:
Brown University is an E-Verify Employer.
As an EEO/AA employer, Brown University provides equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person’s race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law, and caste, which is protected by our University policies.
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