Field of Activity
Training is provided in one of three specialist areas:
- retail book trade
- publishing trade
- antiquarian book trade
Booksellers are employed in retail bookstores, publishing houses, antiquarian bookstores, and in the wholesale book trade.
Booksellers’ duties are commercial, though their work acquires a cultural and educational significance through the products distributed. The main areas of activity include sales, procurement and marketing.
Occupational Skills
Booksellers:
- select an assortment of books and other media appropriate to the market,
- present their product range,
- advise customers on books, magazines and electronic media,
- sell products and services,
- monitor the market and assist in the development of marketing concepts,
- implement marketing concepts using public relations and advertizing tools,
- carry out accounting procedures,
- use work and organization media,
- compile bibliographies and carry out research.
Specialized Skills
Booksellers specializing in the retail book trade:
- compile a selection of products appropriate to the market from the wide range of publication products available,
- plan and implement product procurement,
- calculate prices for products not subject to fixed pricing arrangements,
- manage stocks,
- conduct counselling and sales meetings.
Booksellers specializing in the publishing trade:
- develop projects in association with authors and publishers,
- draw up publishing contracts and assist in the purchase and awarding of licences,
- appraise and process manuscripts,
- attend to the design and production of books and other media,
- calculate production costs, number of copies, and retail prices,
- supply information and goods to the retail trade.
Booksellers specializing in the antiquarian book trade:
- appraise and purchase antiquarian print products,
- carry out searches on behalf of customers,
- draw up catalogues of titles,
- store print products and manage stocks,
- sell antiquarian print products in retail outlets, through their own catalogues or at trade fairs and auctions.
