second-hand books | peace and quiet | ponsonby

Part-time bookshop assistants wanted

Do you love books and the thrill of a great second-hand find? Do you have a bucket-list of bookshops that you want to visit one day? Do you harbour dreams of selling books for a living? Then we want to hear from you!

About The Open Book

Over six years, The Open Book has become the home of beautiful second-hand books in Ponsonby. We sell quality pre-loved books of all kinds. Housed inside a character-filled villa, The Open Book sprawls across multiple rooms and offers a cozy escape from the hustle and bustle of the world outside. 

Role description

We’re looking for part-time shop assistants who share our love of books, book selling, and creating a space for our local community. The Open Book is open 7 days a week, 10am-5pm. We’re currently looking to fill two half day shifts (around 4 hours each) on Saturday and Sunday. This could be filled by one person or two people. Part-time shop assistants receive $22 per hour and help with:

  • Opening and closing the store, staffing the counter, processing sales and fulfilling online orders

  • Fielding customer queries, both online and in person

  • Sorting, cleaning and processing books

  • Keeping the store and exterior tidy and welcoming

  • Occasionally assisting with events

Working in a bookshop is often quite active, and sometimes involves repetitive or physically demanding tasks (books can weigh a lot!). However, there’s plenty of satisfaction to be had in processing books and keeping the store in tip-top shape for the right person.

There are also other areas that you can contribute to depending on your skills, experience and interest.

Ideal candidate

  • Has a genuine interest in books and the art of book-selling

  • Experience in retail and/or customer service (bonus if it’s in the second-hand book trade)

  • Confident using common apps and software (e.g. Google Drive)

  • Trustworthy and able to work independently 

  • Takes direction well

  • Entitled to work in New Zealand

Please let us know if you have any other specialist skills or experience relevant to the job, such as social media, content creation, or event management.

How to apply

Send a CV and a brief cover letter in PDF format no later than Monday 13 June to: info@theopenbook.co.nz

If you have any questions, please feel free to message our manager, Kim at 027 335 3673.