Pop-Up & Event Bookseller(s) Baltimore Read Aloud

Pop-up and Event Bookseller(s)

Duration:  August 2023 to Ongoing 

Position Type:  Part-time, hourly, non-exempt

Budgeted rate: $14.75 per hour

Overview.  Baltimore Read Aloud, a pop-up independent bookstore, seeks Pop-up and Event Booksellers for their offsite events.  This part-time, hourly position reports directly to the store owner and founder.  This position involves working offsite during events on days, nights, and weekends.  You should expect to work 24 events yearly, generally lasting 5-10 hours, including set-up.

Pop-up and Event Booksellers are important in conducting book sales at all offsite customer events. They also serve as ambassadors of Baltimore Read Aloud in the greater Baltimore-Washington community. Such events include house parties, school book fairs, retail pop-ups, festivals, conferences, etc. These events range from 50 people to hundreds of attendees at festivals and conferences.  Depending upon the size of the pop-up or event, you may work alone or with another bookseller. 

Responsibilities. We are looking for someone to:

• Set up and organize book displays at offsite event venues.  

• Pitch tent and tables to support book displays, if needed. 

• Use tablets and the Square system to conduct credit card and cash transactions at events.  

• Resolve customer issues and handle any book-sale-related problems at events with the store owner as a backup if necessary.  

• Perform post-event sales and inventory reconciliations, if needed. 

Requirements.  The ideal person has:

• Love books and promoting books to others

• Excellent customer service skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills  

• Highly organized and detail-oriented  

• Creative problem-solving skills  

• Ability to remain calm under pressure, think on one’s feet and feel comfortable going to new places, often solo.  

• Team-oriented with a can-do, pitch-in attitude  

• Working knowledge of Outlook, Google Docs, Trello, and Square is a plus  

• Ability to lift and move multiple boxes of books weighing between 20-40 pounds

• Ability to stand or be mobile for long periods 

How to Apply. Submit your resume and a cover letter to contact@baltimorereadaloud.shop.  Place “Application for Pop-up and Event Bookseller” in the subject line.   Your cover letter should briefly describe your relevant work experience and answer the following questions: 

• What do you look forward to when you think about being a bookseller? 

• What is your best skill or quality that will help you in this job? 

• What book(s) have influenced you? How? 

Equal Employment Opportunity.  Baltimore Read Aloud is an equal opportunity and equitable employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, military or veteran status, religion, disability, sexual identity, marital status, medical condition, gender identity, gender expression, hairstyle, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, reproductive health decisions, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.

Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for or perform your job.  Examples of reasonable accommodation include changing the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. 

Contact contact@baltimorereadaloud.shop.