Community Bookseller & Guest Experience Associate

Part-Time | Approximately 10–20 Hours Per Week

Community Booksellers are the face of Long Dark House, helping guests discover books, connect with events, and enjoy the broader experience offered throughout our shared retail destination with Madame Coco Emporium.

Responsibilities

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  Welcome and assist guests
  
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  Recommend books and merchandise
  
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  Operate the point-of-sale system
  
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  Shelf books and restock merchandise throughout store
  
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  Support  events and community programming
  
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  Assist guests with selecting books, gifts, chocolates, fragrance, and other specialty merchandise
  
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  Assist with inventory and receiving shipments
  
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  Maintain displays and store appearance
  
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  Help create a welcoming environment for all visitors
  
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  Support general retail operations as needed
  

Reports To

Lead Storykeeper & Community Coordinator, Store Manager, and/or Owner-Operator (General Manager)

Minimum Qualifications

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  Must be at least 18 years of age
  
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  High School Diploma or GED required
  
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  Minimum 1 year of customer-facing experience preferred
  
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  Strong customer service skills
  
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  Ability to work evenings, weekends, and special events
  
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  Ability to pass a background check
  

Preferred Qualifications

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  Retail, hospitality, bookstore, library, museum, or event experience
  
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  Interest in books, storytelling, and community-building
  
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  Experience with point-of-sale systems
  
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  Experience working in team environments
  

Lead Storykeeper & Community Coordinator

Part-Time | Approximately 20–30 Hours Per Week

The Lead Storykeeper serves as a key representative of Long Dark House & Madam coco Emporium and helps ensure a seamless guest experience throughout our shared retail destination

This position supports daily operations, customer service, off site events, merchandising, inventory management, and team development. The Lead Storykeeper may serve as supervisor-on-duty when management is not present and helps maintain the welcoming atmosphere and operational standards that define the share retail space experience.

Responsibilities

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  Open and/or close the store
  
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  Serve as supervisor-on-duty during assigned shifts
  
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  Respond to author, vendor, and community partner inquiries
  
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  Coordinate event logistics and support programming & book selection & display
  
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  Provide basic coaching, guidance, and day-to-day support to Community Booksellers & Guest Experience Associates
  
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  Assist with training new team members
  
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  Welcome and assist guests throughout the store
  
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  Recommend books and merchandise
  
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  Assist guests with books, gifts, and specialty merchandise ( candles, fragrance, ect )
  
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  Receive and process inventory shipments
  
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  Maintain merchandising, displays, and store presentation
  
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  Support book clubs, workshops, author events, and community gatherings
  
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  Resolve customer concerns professionally
  
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  Monitor store cleanliness and organization
  
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  Escalate operational concerns to the Store Manager and/or Owner-Operator (General Manager)
  

Reports To

Store Manager and/or Owner-Operator (General Manager)

Minimum Qualifications

• 
  Must be at least 18 years of age
  
• 
  High School Diploma or GED required
  
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  Minimum 5 years of customer-facing experience in retail, hospitality, events, libraries, museums, bookstores, or related industries
  
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  Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  
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  Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment
  
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  Ability to pass a background check
  

Preferred Qualifications

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  Previous leadership, supervisory, keyholder, or management experience
  
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  Experience coordinating events or community programs
  
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  Experience training or mentoring team members
  
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  Familiarity with bookselling, specialty retail, hospitality, or community-focused businesses
  

How To Apply

Please submit:

• Resume
• Availability , Desired rate , and Position(s) to which you are applying
• Brief responses (250 words or less) to the questions below to longdarkhouse@gmail.com - Subject: Application – [Position] – [Full Name]
   
  

Question 1

Why would you like to work at Long Dark House?

Tell us what excites you about the store, our mission, or independent bookstores in general.

Question 2

Tell us about a time you provided excellent customer service or helped create a welcoming experience for someone.

This can come from retail, hospitality, volunteer work, events, school, or any other setting.

Question 3

Long Dark House shares its home with Madame Coco Emporium, a curator of artisan chocolates , gifts, and other thoughtfully selected goods. What interests you most about Madam Coco Emporium & helping create a unique retail and community experience for our visitors?

Question 4

As our retail destination grows, we hope to expand our offerings through additional events, specialty beverages, workshops, and other guest experiences. Would you be comfortable obtaining a Virginia Food Handler or ServSafe certification in the future if required for your role?

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  Yes
  
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  No
  
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  Maybe, I'd like more information
  

Optional: Please share any previous experience you have with food service, beverage service, hospitality, tea service, catering, or event operations.

Applicant Acknowledgments

☐ I understand this position involves assisting customers with books, gifts, candles, tea, chocolates, fragrance, and other merchandise.

☐ I understand evening, weekend, and event availability may be required.

☐ I understand store hours, schedules, and available hours may change based on business needs.

☐ I am able to perform the physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

☐ I understand employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

☐ I understand Long Dark House/ Madam Coco may require additional training or certifications, including food safety certifications such as ServSafe or Virginia Food Handler training, should future business needs require them.

☐ I understand employment is at-will in accordance with Virginia law.

Benefits & Perks

While we are a small independent business, we believe in creating meaningful benefits for our team.

Eligible team members may receive:

• Employee discount on eligible merchandise
  
• Complimentary annual Long Dark Society Membership for yourself
  
• Complimentary annual Long Dark Society Memberships for up to two additional people of your choosing
  
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  Early access to select events and programs and ARC library 
  
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  Opportunities to attend author events, book clubs, workshops, and community gatherings
  
• Opportunities for professional growth & benefits as we expand
  

Benefits, discounts, schedules, and hours are subject to change based on business needs and eligibility requirements.