I assume all bookstores of comparable size are organized roughly the same way. There was a store manager, assistant manager, two 2nd assistants, 3-4 full-time employees, and a handful of part-time staff. The store manager spent most of the time checking payroll, making schedules, reviewing orders, and general bureaucratic things. She didn't spent too much time on the floor and worked a pretty standard 8-4 schedule. The assistant manager was basically in charge of tracking the inventory and also managed to avoid customers and keep a fixed schedule.

The two 2nd assistants, which included me, did most of employee supervision and customer resolution. We also were the ones responsible for closing the store which involved counting down money and making sure everything was put back in order. It was basically what I did at Electronics Boutique/Waldensoftware only bigger. Each of us 2nd assistants were also responsible for one section of the store. The assistant manager handled most of the inventory but we were each given one section to manage. It ended up being two for me, computer books and something called "remainders".

Remainder books were a mix of dusty old hardcovers, overstock, and books by discount publishers. Basically it was the clearance section. Go to any Borders or Barnes & Nobles today and you'll see this mess towards the front of the store. I suppose it was better than working in a shoe store but was still painfully dull. About once a month I'd have to go through a catalog of remainder books and place orders. It was something of a balancing act because there were restrictions on what you could order. If you wanted remainder books that would fly off the shelf you'd also have to order ones that would collect dust for a while. Want 20 copies of Tom Clancy's "Executive Orders"? Guess what, you have to buy 40 copies of "It Takes a Village" to get them.