We recently connected with Cäri Hamoui and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Cäri with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
First off, my name is Cäri Hamoui and I’m a bookstore manager at Chamblin’s Uptown. I’ve lived in Jacksonville my entire life, but that hasn’t stopped me from traveling around the globe. I’m a UNF Cum Laude alumna with two B.A.’s in International Relations and Spanish. In my spare time I love to read, draw, play guitar, mess around with synthesizer/midi/drum machines, and spend time with my dog & bf.
At my job, I’m a one (wo)man band – I can do it all. One of my main contributions at Chamblin’s is listing items on the our website, as well as researching and pricing books, misc. media, ephemera and vinyls. Aside from that, I often shelve the incoming stock and upkeep the many sections in store. Additionally, I’m responsible for making schedules, doing stock checks, event planning, social media posts and handling customer service related tasks.
Everyday we get hundreds (or more!) of used books from people who trade them in, so I often see exceptional titles and rarities on the daily. For example, we recently acquired a signed autobiography by U.S. Olympian champion, Simone Biles. Other autographs I’ve seen were Martin Luther King Jr., Andy Warhol and Amelia Earhart, just to name a few. Chamblin’s has a profound collection of books and related items that even some museums might feel envious of.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Cäri Hamoui and I’m a bookstore manager at Chamblin’s Uptown. I’ve lived in Jacksonville my entire life, but that hasn’t stopped me from traveling around the globe. I’m a UNF Cum Laude alumna with two B.A.’s in International Relations and Spanish. In my spare time I love to read, draw, play guitar, mess around with synthesizer/midi/drum machines, and spend time with my dog & bf.
At my job, I’m a one (wo)man band – I can do it all. One of my main contributions is listing items on the Chamblin’s website as well as researching and pricing books. Aside from that, I often shelve the incoming stock and upkeep the many sections in store. I’m also responsible for making the schedules, doing stock checks, event planning, social media posts and handling all customer service related tasks.
My job is very exciting because everyday we get in hundreds of books from people who trade them in, so I often see exceptional titles and rarities on the daily. For example, we just got in a signed autobiography by U.S. Olympian champion, Simone Biles. Other signed books we’ve had come in are Martin Luther King Jr., Andy Warhol and Amelia Earhart just to name a few. The company I work for has a profound collection that even some museums might feel envious of.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
There are so many important skills and qualities that have impacted my professional journey. Myself and many others struggle with self confidence, so one of my tricks is to ‘fake it til you make it.” Sometimes I can psyche myself out with this attitude and I’ll feel like a CEO boss. When you feel confident, it shows in your work and performance.
Another important quality is patience and listening. Sometimes a customer/co-worker doesn’t need anything except a lending ear to hear them out. I’ve solved many situations without having any real resolution per say, just by listening.
Finally, communication. It’s so underrated but so important. I’m a timid person by nature, but I am able to break out of that shell and be a different person with the power of direct communication and transparency when I’m at work.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
First off, I am so blessed to have both of my parents in my life, and the fact that they are still together. My parents raised me with love, empathy, and acceptance for others. They always made sure I knew where my roots come from, and raised me with universal morals and values.
They deeply appreciate music and art, which gave me an alternate lens to view and understand the world. That helped me to develop my own skills and passions. No matter what weird phase I was going through in my life, my parents allowed me to be myself and celebrated my individuality. When times were difficult, my parents somehow persevered and always kept our family afloat.
To Risë and Chris (if you’re reading this): Thank you for saving money to help put me through college. I’m forever grateful that you both gave me such a meaningful childhood full of fond memories. You both mean the world to me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chamblinbookmine.com
- Instagram: @chamblinsbooks
- Facebook: Chamblin Bookmine / Chamblin Uptown
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chamblins-uptown-jacksonville
Image Credits
All photos by Cari Hamoui and Abby Bell. Photo #5 features local author, Cori Hart, showcasing his newest release from Seven Story Hotel.
