
Will Carmichael
Bookstore Clerk
Matching readers to the books they'll love
Knowledgeable bookstore clerk with five years on the floor of an independent bookshop in Edinburgh. Serves customers, runs the till, recommends and hand-sells books across genres, and keeps the shop well-stocked, tidy and welcoming. Built a staff-recommendations display and reading section that became a reliable driver of sales. Handles stock, ordering and returns, manages the till and daily reconciliation, organises author events and book groups, and helps customers track down exactly what they're after. Genuinely well-read, warm with customers, and happy to spend time finding the right book for someone. Reliable on opening, closing and busy weekends. Looking for a bookseller or retail role with an independent or specialist bookshop that values real knowledge and good service.
Old Town Books, Edinburgh - Edinburgh, UK
Bookstore Clerk April 2019 to Present 7 years & 4 months
Built a staff-recommendations display and a reading section that became a reliable driver of sales.
Help the customers track down the specific titles and recommend the books to suit their tastes.
Manage the stock, ordering, returns and shelving to keep the shop well-stocked and tidy.
Handle all the till operation and the daily reconciliation accurately at both the open and close.
Organise and run all the author events, the signings and the shop's regular book groups.
Edinburgh High Street Retail - Edinburgh, UK
Retail Assistant August 2018 to March 2019 8 months
Managed the stock, the displays and the replenishment day to day.
Built up solid customer-service and cash-handling skills on the shop floor.
Then moved into a full bookselling role at an independent bookshop.
Edinburgh High Street Retail - Edinburgh, UK
Library Assistant June 2016 to July 2018 2 years & 2 months
Shelved, issued and recommended the books and helped run library events.
Built a real love of books and helping readers find them.
Then earned a move into a retail role and then into bookselling.
University of Edinburgh
BA (Hons) English Literature (September 2015 to June 2018)
Edinburgh College
Retail Skills & Customer Service Certificate (January 2019 to April 2019)
Recommendations that sell
The right book for the reader
Reader Advisory & Genre Knowledge
Booksellers Association (May 2020 to Present)
Bookshop Events & Community
Booksellers Association (June 2021 to Present)
Retail Skills & Customer Service
Edinburgh College (April 2019 to Present)
Bookselling & Stock Management
Booksellers Association (March 2020 to Present)
- Bookselling
- Customer Service
- Book Knowledge
- Hand-Selling & Recommendations
- Till Operation
- Stock & Ordering
- Merchandising & Displays
- Events & Book Groups
- Cash Reconciliation
- Inventory