Location: Back cottage, 4206 Simcoe County Rd 124, Nottawa, ON L0M 1P0
Type: Permanent part-time
Hours: 20–25 hours per week
Pay: $18–22/hour, depending on experience
Schedule: Must be available weekends (Saturdays and/or Sundays); consistent weekly schedule. Peak availability needed during the Christmas season and summer months.
Nottawa Cottage Bookstore is a cozy, curated independent bookstore nestled in the quaint town of Nottawa, Ontario. We're a team of book nerds who hand-select every title on our shelves — our customers trust us for guaranteed good reads. At just 330 square feet, our cottage space creates an intimate, personal experience that keeps readers coming back.
We're looking for a permanent part-time bookseller who shares our love of books and knows how to make every customer feel at home.
- Welcome customers and create a warm, personal shopping experience in our cottage space
- Recommend books with confidence — help customers find their next great read based on their tastes
- Process sales and manage transactions using our Shopify POS system
- Receive, unpack, and shelve inventory (lifting boxes up to 30 lbs)
- Keep the shop tidy, organized, and inviting
- Support in-store events, author visits, and seasonal programming
- Stay current with new releases, bestsellers, and emerging titles to keep recommendations fresh
- A genuine love of books and reading across genres
- Strong customer service skills — friendly, approachable, and attentive
- Ability to sell with enthusiasm without being pushy — you're recommending to a friend, not closing a deal
- Reliable and available for a consistent weekly schedule including weekends
- Comfortable lifting and moving boxes up to 30 lbs
- Ability to work independently — you'll often be the only person in the shop, so you need to be comfortable managing the space, handling customer questions, and solving problems on your own
- Problem-solving mindset — you can think on your feet in a small retail environment
- Previous bookstore or independent retail experience
- Familiarity with Shopify POS or similar point-of-sale systems
- Sales experience in a customer-facing role
- Knowledge of the Canadian publishing landscape and CanLit
Our bookstore is a historic 330 sq ft cottage with stairs and uneven surfaces. The role requires the ability to navigate the space independently, stand for extended periods, and lift boxes up to 30 lbs.
- Work surrounded by books in a charming cottage setting
- Join a tight-knit team that genuinely geeks out about great reads
- Be part of a growing independent bookstore with a passionate community
- Generous staff discount on books and gifts
- Access to advance reading copies (ARCs) from publishers — read the good stuff before anyone else
- Help shape what goes on the shelves — your recommendations matter here
Nottawa Cottage Bookstore is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.
