Sales Assistant

Sourcebooks; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

Sourcebooks in Naperville, IL, seeks a Sales Assistant to support our Independent Sales Team. This full-time, in-office role focuses on operational, analytical, and administrative tasks to build partnerships with independent bookstores nationwide.

You will prepare weekly and monthly sales reports, respond to requests via email and Teams, coordinate samples, and manage Edelweiss catalogs and preorder campaigns to ensure timely order submissions and accurate promotions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• 1+ years of experience in sales support, sales operations, customer service, publishing, retail, or a related field.
• Exceptional organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and communicate insights clearly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• A proactive, collaborative approach and a passion for providing exceptional internal and external customer service.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Prepare weekly and monthly sales reports and analysis for field and inside sales representatives, including frontlist, backlist, reorder activity, promotional participation, and sales trends.
• Respond promptly to requests from sales representatives and independent bookstore customers via email and Microsoft Teams.
• Order monthly new release samples for field representatives.
• Maintain field representative contact information and seasonal ARC allocations.
• Produce weekly sales roundups featuring national and regional bestseller lists and upcoming releases.
• Assist in preparing customer presentations and sales materials for key accounts.
• Coordinate onboarding for new independent bookstore accounts.
• Track event orders from submission through warehouse fulfillment and communicate updates.
• Monitor Edelweiss catalogs, seasonal title metadata, and promotional assets.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Time management

Collaborative

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Microsoft Office

Job description

If spreadsheets, bookstores, and bestsellers all make you smile, we should talk!

We're looking for a Sales Assistantto support our sales team that works with Independent bookstores. If you’re someone who loves supporting Indie bookstores, staying organized, solving problems, and joining a fast-moving sales team then we’d love to meet you!

In this highly collaborative role, you'll provide operational, analytical, and administrative support that helps our sales team build successful partnerships with independent bookstores across the country.

From preparing sales reports and coordinating author events to managing Edelweiss catalogs and supporting preorder campaigns, you'll be an essential part of ensuring our books reach readers through one of the publishing industry's most important channels.

This is an hourly non-exempt position with a pay range of $22.00/hourly. We determine starting pay based on a thorough evaluation of job-related factors, including geographic location, market conditions, relevant experience, training, and education. This process ensures a fair and competitive salary that aligns with both the company and the candidate’s qualifications.

This position is based full-time in our Naperville, Illinois office. Remote or hybrid work is not available for this role.

What you’ll do:

Support the Independent Sales Team

• Prepare weekly and monthly sales reports and analysis for field and inside sales representatives, including frontlist, backlist, reorder activity, promotional participation, and sales trends.
• Respond promptly to requests from sales representatives and independent bookstore customers via email and Microsoft Teams.
• Order monthly new release samples for field representatives.
• Maintain field representative contact information and seasonal ARC allocations.

Create Sales Communications & Materials

• Produce the weekly sales roundup for the sales team featuring:
• National and regional bestseller lists
• Frontlist and backlist sales opportunities
• Upcoming releases
• Starred reviews
• Curated Edelweiss collections
• Assist in preparing customer presentations and sales materials, including presentations for key accounts.

Coordinate Author Events & Preorder Campaigns

• Serve as the primary sales contact for author events, partnering with Marketing, Customer Experience, IT, and Operations.
• Track event orders from submission through warehouse fulfillment.
• Communicate order updates and shipping information to bookstores and internal teams.
• Follow up with participating stores to ensure timely order submission.
• Help manage preorder campaign workflows and maintain tracking systems across departments.

Support New Account Setup & Promotional Programs

• Coordinate onboarding for new independent bookstore accounts.
• Ensure all required account documentation is submitted and processed.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to ensure book club orders and promotional materials are processed accurately and on schedule.

Manage Edelweiss & Sales Metadata

• Build and maintain seasonal Edelweiss catalogs and themed collections.
• Coordinate seasonal title markups across the sales team.
• Monitor title metadata, comparative titles, covers, catalog copy, and marketing assets.
• Identify incomplete title records and communicate updates to the sales organization.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• 1+ years of experience in sales support, sales operations, customer service, publishing, retail, or a related field.
• Exceptional organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and communicate insights clearly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• A proactive, collaborative approach and a passion for providing exceptional internal and external customer service.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Office.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in publishing, bookselling, or retail sales.
• Familiarity with Edelweiss and Edelweiss Analytics.

Why Sourcebooks?

As Newsweek’s #2 Most Loved Workplace in 2024 and a recognized leader in innovation by Fast Company (2024 Most Innovative Companies, 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators), we use a mission-driven, data-centered approach to drive success for our authors and their books. We’re a thriving entrepreneurial company that creates books that transcend categories and defy odds, and we’ve been honored with hundreds of national bestsellers and awards. We are passionate book lovers dedicated to connecting books to readers in innovative ways. Story by story, book by book, we have changed more than 300 million lives. Join us as we change 300 million more!

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription drug insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care, Dependent Care, Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account 401(k), Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&D Insurance, & generous paid time off.

Sourcebooks values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.