What's It Like Working at Indigo? | Working in a Bookstore Q&A

I currently work as a Customer Experience Representative (CER), Operations at a large format, new concept Indigo (the largest Canadian book retailer). All opinions expressed in this video are entirely my own and based on 5 years of working as a CER both on the sales floor and in operations.
~RESOURCES~
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
Seji from The Artisan Geek created these two amazing resources I'm sharing below. You should watch her video on racism in the booktube community: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEIET...
Black Literature Compendium by Seji - The Artisan Geek. Broken up by marketing categories and genre and country, this is an incredibly detailed document and a huge resource for folks wanting to read Black voices in their favorite genres.
bit.do/blacklit
Diverse Reviewers by Seji - The Artisan Geek
theartisangeek.com/diverserev...
Anti-Racist Reading Resources:
caseythecanadianlesbrarian.co...
TRANS LIVES MATTER.
I have donated to The Trevor Project. You can follow the link for more information: www.thetrevorproject.org/
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[@bookbabble]

Loved hearing about your experience. Always great to see what other Indigo employees experience in their worlds!

[@dianaandthewrittenwords4060]

I have the exact same experience with finding books in my local libraries 🤣 always in stock, never to be found

[@EmilyCait]

It's so frustrating how they grow legs and disappear 😂

[@serenathompsons]

thank you for this! i just got a job offer from indigo and this was really insightful and helpful!

[@Addressa]

thanks for all this info! just got an interview to be a manager at my local indigo, which i'm super excited for, so this is part of my research before i go in for it! fingers crossed!

[@EmilyCait]

Best of luck! I hope your interview went well! :)

[@nocturnus009]

Illuminating... Definitely need to get a comfy chair & purchase a few when it’s safe to travel.

[@kayljones7454]

Interview on Sunday this really helps :)

[@ljh5588]

Oh my goodness... This brings back so many memories... And not all of them are great... Edit to add: the shout out to the book wizards made my day

[@ljh5588]

Also to add to the Indie book discussion: you are correct. In general, if the author is not there the books don't move. At all. Sometimes not even when the author is there. I only ever saw one exception to the rule and he was a well known figure in the local community. His books sold so well and he didn't actually care. His attitude was just "well, I did a lot so I wrote a book about it. It'd be okay if they sold, I guess"

[@krinamite7329]

Hey just a question. I've always really loved the ambience of Indigo/Chapters and bookstores in general: the smell, peaceful atmosphere, music etc. I've been looking for a music playlist that has some of the songs played at the store and was wondering if you know which music is played or if there's a certain playlist? Also, do you know how the jazz music is picked? I understand if you don't but thanks for your time!

[@ramblingsofgabby]

I've switched to local used bookstores near me, but I used to live near a Chapters. And even as a child I was the type of independent customer who does not want your help browsing the shelves.

[@EmilyCait]

I do like a good used bookstore! Or an indie! There is an indie near me that mostly stocks what the woman who owns it likes. So if you like top tier literary fiction, the store is a treasure trove!

[@ramblingsofgabby]

@@EmilyCait renaissance is a chain of thrift stores that at risk individuals and gives them job training. So they are a donation center. But the one near me specializes in selling books, dvds and music. Because it's donations it is much more representative of the local demographics. But I imagine that specializing in a genre could exclude a lot of customers.

[@edithm.3717]

that's the fun of working in a bookstore...there is not a dull moment when dealing with books and people... 😁😉

[@Wildjason888]

I started buying manga about eight months ago. very intensely I might add. I shopped at the Indigo at Sherway Gardens in Toronto.. Absolutely busy crazy packed with people- no way you talkin to a manager. Anyway ..I now order almost everything online.. I go to the store if I have to make a return.. But I must say the employees are great... The girls are pretty and friendly and the men wear nail polish☺️🥰🤣👍

[@truecrimejungle]

here's the deal - if you wanna do the whole "in-store vs. online pricing" in order to get yourself fired, stop placing the blame on customers for thinking it's ridiculous you'll argue it's cheaper to make us wait an hour for you to physically pick the item and bring it to the till for us to pick up that same day. Or, start advertising your in-store prices vs. online. Thank you.

[@brownsugar.pearls]

I have really really been eagerly wanting a job at Indigo. Being near books and helping customers and enhancing their experience is something close to my heart. So I want to be hired so bad😩😭any tips?

[@boris12709]

I just got hired as a seasonal worker but was hoping to continue working as a permanent worker after the term ends. Do you know if seasonal workers often get offered permanent roles?

[@EmilyCait]

That's how I was hired on. I went from seasonal to permanent, but COVID has changed everything. I don't think anyone can predict what 2021 will look like for retail.

[@fk8001]

hey, how was your interview? I received an email for a group interview I am just wondering what kind of questions or activities u had?

[@boris12709]

@@fk8001 It was nice. A few of the basic questions you would see at an interview like why you want to work there and why you would be a good fit and stuff. As for activities, one of them was to pick an item in the store to represent you. another was you were paired up with someone in the group and asked them questions, then had to go pick out 3 items you would recommend them if they were a customer

[@nazaninslife]

I have job interview for it, any tips?

[@purplealien7777]

i've got an interview tomorrow at indigo for the same position you have, do you have any tips on how to make a good first impression or answer the questions that will be asked?

[@lizls]

Hi! How did you interview go? I have mine next week and I'm nervous 😖

[@rebekahdrummond2818]

I went into a Coles last week after submitting my application online. I browsed the store until other customers left, then I introduced myself to the manager on shift. I must've made a good impression because I have an interview tomorrow, so maybe it was just like that during the height of Covid?

[@aleeshaa1788]

Do they only hire one person from the group interviews? And what did you do to excel and get yourself a permanent position 🥺

[@EmilyCait]

Full disclosure: the pandemic resulted in me looking for remote work. I am no longer an Indigo employee at this time. I wasn't in a hiring manager position, but typically they hired to fill however many positions they had available based on how folx performed in the group interviews. I was also hired very much pre-COVID -- I'm not sure what seasonal hiring retention will look like post-COVID with all businesses taking a loss. To stand out I learned my role and excelled at it and then opened myself up to being flexible within the teams in the store. For example, I was hired in Operations (early morning crew before the store opens), but left availability open to work the sales floor, agreed to cash training, etc. The more cross functional you are, the more appealing you are as an employee.

[@jayc5332]

I am super nervous because tomorrow I have an open interview for indigo :/ BUT I did laugh at the shit story omgggg

[@EmilyCait]

I'm sure you did great! The open interviews are usually pretty fun.

[@hananalbazaz8121]

@@EmilyCait do you hav any tips for the open interview? I have no idea what i’m walking into and it’s next Thursday LOL

[@cadence5446]

@@hananalbazaz8121 how did it go

[@mukeshrani8698]

Hi emily, i need your help ,i would appreciate if you can help me a little . I am a student and i am working on a group project about indigo company and my topic is about HR , can you help me in from where i can get more information about HR as at indigo chapters i just got a little information about management.

[@EmilyCait]

To be honest, I've never had any dealings with Indigo HR. I wouldn't even know where to begin.

[@henrygagnon2916]

What is the maximum age to be employed there?

[@dana7223]

Bibles?!?! Lol I would think the toy section or candy section would be the sections with the highest levels of theft🤣

[@EmilyCait]

Out of the book sections, it's Bibles. You're right that toy has a high theft rate too.

[@sparrows3232]

omg who’s stealing Bibles?? 😭😭 i’m a Christian but like i never would have expected that

[@ariannamaraj2971]

my first day is tomorrow what should i wear

[@EmilyCait]

For the sales floor: either all black (leggings and yoga pants are allowed by some managers, but I wouldn't wear them on your first day unless your black shirt/sweater/dress is long enough to cover your bum) or dress pants/skirt and a white, blue, or black collared shirt. The enforcement of the dress code varies from store to store, so you may find flexibility in that.

[@EmilyCait]

For operations, dress to get dirty and workout. You'll be breaking down skids, taking the trash out, cutting boxes, kneeling on the floor, potentially climbing ladders. I'd recommend cut proof gloves for working at the hub. Saves you from cardboard cuts and germs getting in.

[@fk8001]

hey, how was your interview? was it in a group setting? what kinda questions do they ask?

[@zubaerchaudhari8267]

Hey

[@literaturegeek1570]

To avoid the "we can't find it"-problem, if it is really important, I order it online to pick up in store. It can sometimes be ready the same day, when it is already available in the store. Is "Andenken" also a word in the English language? Ungh, dressing messy to avoid some men's attention... that that is even necessary makes me angry. That was really interesting. :) Sometimes I phantasize about working in a bookshop, but it is not super likely to ever happen. :D

[@PeterMacansky]

[@kittyyourock]

fellow CER here! Related a lot to all the creepy men stories.. overall it's a great place to work considering how insane retail can be

[@Wildjason888]

Creepy men☺️🤣= men I found unattractive and who showed me attention. This is why I make 0 eye contact with younger women 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️..

[@fk8001]

i don't read at all

[@bingbangdone497]

I was just refused service at Chapters because I cannot wear a mask. They refused to look at my Dr. Note or allow me to pay. As I patiently explained my physical disability and human rights, the police arrived. 4 cruisers and 4 police telling me to shop elsewhere because I have asthma and can’t wear a mask. My 8 year old was with me - crying.

[@Marie-gz2kr]

Stores have policies and especially in a global pandemic like the one we are in today that has killed over a million people who don't wear masks and who don't listen to rules to keep other people safe, are you really complaining that they refused service? You have an 8-year-old child with you for goodness sake so instead of making a big scene as you did and causing your kid to cry, how about you just leave the store? Sure you have human rights, but its their store to decide whether or not they want to provide you service... Imagine how worse it would be if you had covid AND asthma.... cmon now

[@bingbangdone497]

@@Marie-gz2kr I suggest you brush up on your human rights law. The Commission has accepted the complaint and those of 3 other people. God bless you for the lungs you were born with but I will teach my child to be strong and raise him to understand his inherent human rights. BTW - I was in Chapters because I needed Phonics books re his learning disability. Grade 3 and can’t read yet - gaps in his education. Also - I and the other 3 people with disabilities did not make any scene. None of us were aware police had been called until trying to pay. Get the facts and try some empathy before telling people your opinion. Please pick up my prescriptions and groceries on Sunday’s. (If I’m to stay home, I just assumed you would help me out. Single mother too.)

[@Wildjason888]

Me too darling..