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Now Hiring: Dispatch + Retail Assistant

Perimeter is a specialised bookstore, award-winning publisher, distribution house, and platform for various art publishing endeavours in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 2011, Perimeter stocks a selective range of independently published books, editions, and zines spanning photography, art, theory, text, and the more lateral ends of design and architecture. Perimeter Distribution, the store’s wholesale arm, represents some of the world’s leading independent photography, art, design, and theory publishers. Perimeter Editions, the store’s publishing imprint, has released more than one hundred titles made in collaboration with artists, photographers, designers, writers, and institutions from Australia and around the world. The company currently comprises a small, friendly, hardworking team of four – plus a wider community of collaborators and freelancers – all of whom are dedicated to foregrounding the art of the book.

Perimeter is seeking a friendly, reliable, and highly organised individual to join the team as our DISPATCH & RETAIL ASSISTANT, commencing in early July 2025. Working on a part-time basis in our Thornbury store – and reporting to the Retail & Program Coordinator and Associate Director & Editor – the successful applicant will be responsible for processing and packing retail and wholesale orders; inputting information for shipping labels and coordinating shipment logistics; receiving and processing new stock; and providing retail support, including offering excellent in-store and online customer service.

This busy role will also include assisting the team with running onsite and offsite programming and events, such as book launches, talks, exhibitions, book fairs, and pop-ups. This is a position for a hardworking and efficient individual who displays a genuine interest and willingness to learn about the independent publishing ecosystem, and who possesses an unerring eye for detail and understands the crucial interrelation between small tasks and overall strategy. 

Please be aware that this is a relatively active role that requires standing for long periods, lifting boxes up to 25kg, using step ladders, and reasonably repetitive physical tasks such as packing books in cardboard mailers.

Hours:

This is a part-time position commencing in early July 2025. Two weekdays, Tuesday and Thursday, 10am–6pm; and one Saturday (11am–5pm) occurring once a month. Extra shifts and hours may be required for major programmed events and offsite book fairs and launches.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Compiling and despatching online and wholesale orders, including meticulously packing books to avoid damages
  • Creating shipping labels via Australia Post eParcel or other courier broker services, using a high attention to detail to ensure all information is correct
  • In-store sales and customer service, assisting customers with finding books and recommending titles
  • Unpacking and processing stock deliveries
  • Maintaining stock inventory
  • Ensuring warehouse is tidy, organised, and that books are shelved correctly
  • Assisting with some Perimeter events, including books launches, talks and local fairs

Your professional qualities:

  • A polite and friendly demeanour
  • A meticulous attention to detail
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Experience in customer service or working with the general public
  • An aptitude to follow our systems of operation with care and accuracy
  • The ability to work independently and as part of a small team
  • An enthusiasm to learn in-depth about the books, publishers, and artists we represent
  • Pride in a job well done, even with the more ‘mundane’ tasks
  • A passion for art, photography and design, and a general knowledge of these fields
  • Familiarity with Perimeter and our philosophy
  • The ability to understand how small talks relate to the broader strategy of the business (and vice versa)

Other favourable skills:

  • Basic admin skills, including using Google Docs, Sheets and shared calendars
  • Experience using Shopify or other ecommerce platforms (although not a requirement)
  • A valid drivers license (although not a requirement)

What we offer:

  • A fun, friendly, and respectful work environment
  • The opportunity to work with and alongside some of the world’s leading publishers and some of Australia’s leading artists
  • Training and ongoing support
  • Staff discounts 
  • The opportunity to learn about and engage with the arts through books
  • The opportunity for professional development and growth

To be as upfront as possible, this is not an editorial, design, or publishing role, and experience within the publishing world is not a necessity (although an interest in art, photography and design books is paramount). We’re more interested in your customer service skills, work ethic, and personality.

Remuneration:

$27.50 per hour, plus super and leave entitlements.

TO APPLY:

To apply, please send a cover letter detailing your experience and interest in the position, along with your resume, to ash@perimeterbooks.com.

Please include Application: Dispatch & Retail Assistant in the subject line and combine all documents into a single PDF file.

Applications close on Friday June 13 and will be reviewed by the Perimeter team in the days following. The position will be active from early July.