About the job
Online Bookseller
Permanent
Hybrid working based in London Piccadilly (3 days in the office / 2 days at home)
We are looking for an Online Bookseller to join our friendly and dynamic team here at Waterstones in London. The online Bookseller's role will be to help customers discover the best of Blackwell's and the books they both knew and didn't know they wanted. To harness the knowledge within the business to deliver exceptional customer service and make the site an outstanding example of integrated ecommerce, whilst still maintaining a personal tone of voice and displaying a passion for books.
A core member of the digital team reporting to the senior online bookseller. You will have outstanding book knowledge and a genuine passion for books as well as having experience with social media and be tech savvy and confident working with systems.
What you will be doing
- Managing the merchandised books on the site
- Ability to write impactful short copy
- Working with Booksellers across the chain in order to showcase their knowledge online
- Communicating with customers and customer service to ensure the highest service standards in the industry
- Identifying and championing books which make a difference, proactively identifying trends and future bestsellers
- Key to delivering the commercial targets for the business
- Developing and delivering email campaigns, both single and multi-channel
- Looking for and developing 'joined up' ways of working – shops, online, publishers, customers and external partners
- Managing 'Back to University' titles and custom bundles
- Managing a signed and limited-edition offer
- Working with Corporate Professional and Institutional sales, Rare and Mapping (to name but a few) on integrated approaches
- Managing the CMS for the site and working with front end development and design on change and developing best practice
- Working with CRM and acquisition in the construction and delivery of the online marketing plan
- Ensuring brand guidelines are adhered to
- Measuring effectiveness of promotions, reporting and optimising
What we need from you
- Outstanding book knowledge and an irrepressible enthusiasm for books
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Experience working with social media
- Demonstrable short copy skills
- Excellent customer service
- Innovative approaches to marketing and promotions
- Self-starter
- Well organised and able to prioritise effectively
- Good 'eye' for design and detail with the ability to brief
- Able to work with software engineers
- Numerate and confident with numbers and modelling
- Proficiency, and confidence in basic technical skills, Excel to a good level
- Bookselling, including face to face with customers, written marketing communication, solid knowledge of publishers and supply chain
- Photography and videography skills – happy to be both in front and behind the camera
Person Profile
- Able to effectively express themselves at a senior level, and communicate within the team
- Supportive of colleagues
- To be able to work effectively on their own
- Work well with others in a virtual environment – often via email, Slack and Teams
- Sense of humour
Why work for Waterstones
Waterstones is the cornerstone of bookselling across the UK and Ireland. Joining Waterstones means being an active part in a success story that began in 1982, and books are as popular now as the day we started.
Trading across the UK, Ireland and Europe, we are present in over 300 shopping locations, where Waterstones continues to thrive, each year actively pursuing a programme of new bookshop openings. Online at Waterstones.com, we meanwhile mirror the essence of our bookshops, further showcasing the unique enthusiasm and knowledge of our booksellers.
If you have the relevant essential experience and you are interested, we would love to hear from you.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Online Bookseller in Slough
✨Get to Know Your E-commerce Community
Dive into specific e-commerce forums and groups on platforms like Reddit or Facebook. Engaging with these communities can open up opportunities and give you insights into what companies like Waterstones are looking for when hiring for a Online Bookseller.
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✨Attend E-commerce Events and Conferences
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✨Utilise Company Resources
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Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your E-Commerce Savviness:When you're applying for an e-commerce role at Waterstones, make sure your CV reflects your familiarity with online retail platforms, digital marketing, and user experience. Highlight any relevant tools and technologies you've used, like Shopify or Google Analytics, to demonstrate that you’re well-versed in the industry.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Waterstones
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In a sector like e-commerce, having a strong grasp of current trends and technologies is crucial. Let’s make sure you’ve brushed up on key platforms that Waterstones uses—think about popular e-commerce software, digital marketing strategies, and how these affect consumer behaviour. Being able to discuss these intelligently can really set you apart.
✨Portfolio Power: Showcase Your Results
For a full-time e-commerce role, it’s key for us to present a portfolio that highlights your results rather than just your tasks. If you’ve worked on campaigns or projects, bring examples that showcase your contribution and the impact they made—use metrics if you can! This helps to illustrate your value in a real-world context.
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Get ready to tackle some technical questions related to e-commerce analytics, SEO tools, or website optimisation. Think about any past experiences where you utilised data to inform decisions or improve sales. Being prepared with specific examples will showcase not just your knowledge, but also your practical application of it, which we all know is crucial!
✨Engage in a Conversational Style
Full-time interviews can feel quite formal, but try to keep it conversational, especially if you click with your interviewers at Waterstones. Share your thoughts and ideas about the future of e-commerce, and don’t shy away from engaging with their questions openly. The more genuine and relatable you are, the better connection you’ll create!
