Interviewing our booksellers

This week, October Books has been lucky enough to enjoy the assistance of a fresh face. Our new work experience pupil (aged 14), has conducted an interview with Clare, Jacqueline, Amelia and Jack to find out more about the ups and downs of bookselling. We set this as a challenge for her week long project, enjoy!

Read below: 

What inspired you to become a bookseller?
Clare: Community, loves books, conversations and connecting with customers.
Jacqueline: Background in libraries, passion to distribute information to others.
Amelia: My siblings read books, but I had trouble reading and wanted to be included in their “group” so became... a bookseller!
Jack: Desperation. Loneliness. I love books very much.

In your opinion, what makes a good book?
Clare: Relatable, something that can capture your imagination.
Jacqueline: Careful usage of words, expressive and clear vocabulary, intrigue or curiosity like a hook.
Amelia: Immersive, detailed.
Jack: If you can’t tell whether the book is supposed to be funny or not

What are the benefits of being a bookseller?
Clare: Cheaper books, hearing the stories of other people, part of a community, chatting with customers.
Jacqueline: On top of new books, learn more about your community.
Amelia: Reading unpublished books and not selling vacuums!
Jack: You meet others who have similar interest as you, acquire loads of books.

What are the most challenging aspects of being a bookseller?

Clare: Selling enough books, small business- people have to take on many roles.
Jacqueline: Guessing what people want to read- the next big hit, competing with big sellers.
Amelia: Keeping up to date with certain events, guessing the next big hit.
Jack: There’s always more books, it never ends.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?
Clare: Part of supportive team, conversations with customers.
Jacqueline:  Bringing in popular books, bonding with others, valuable community effort.
Amelia: Making people feel excited about literature and reading.
Jack: The feeling of community.

What’s the best part of working here?
Clare: Cutting edge of new publications, different views (books), progressive books (compared to other places).
Jacqueline: Everyone has a say in how things are run- you don't get that with bigger stores.
Amelia: The ability to be creative.
Jack: The staff.

What’s the worst thing about working in a bookstore?
Clare: Low pay
Jacqueline: Low pay
Amelia: Low pay. Men telling you to read Ulysses.
Jack: The pay.

What are some of the biggest challenges that booksellers face today?
Clare: People buying everything online so many shops on high street shut down meaning it’s not that varied.
Jacqueline: Convincing people to buy from local places or different places.
Amelia: Lack of customers.
Jack: Lack of money.

What are the biggest opportunities for booksellers today?
Clare: Putting on events, providing opportunities not just products.
Jacqueline: The connections you can make which can provide a diverse stock.
Amelia: Unless you want to go and work for a company with questionable ethics and buy books on mass for them that narrows your opportunities, but opportunities are there... however small!
Jack: The priesthood.

Some bookstores are struggling, why or why not do you believe they will always be around?
Clare: Will always be around- people can gather here and it’s a place where people meet.
Jacqueline: Will always be around- buying books from bookstores feels like an experience- more delightful.
Amelia: Will always be around- people like bookshops.
Jack: Will always be around- in some form because they are shadows of the better world.

Fin.