New manager for Waterstones Piccadilly

03.07.12 | Lisa Campbell - The Bookseller

Waterstones has appointed a new manager to run its Piccadilly store as part of a plan to distinguish it as the chain’s flagship outlet.
Luke Taylor, currently manager of the Nottingham and Manchester Deansgate Waterstones stores, will run the Piccadilly shop from 16th July, reporting directly to Waterstones operations director Steve Clark.
Simon Bristowe, currently general manager of Piccadilly, has been appointed as Waterstones’ retail development project manager, whose job it is to support shops during the chain’s upcoming digital roll-out, refurbishment programme and expansion of the Waterstones stores with Café Ws. 

Clark told Waterstones employees yesterday through an internal memo: “Due to its strategic importance to our brand I have decided to make some changes to the way that we manage Piccadilly as a business. Piccadilly should be viewed by our customers, by the publishing industry and by our business as Waterstones flagship shop.
"It should be a showcase for the brand and needs to be treated differently from the rest of the estate. For these reasons, I have decided to remove Piccadilly from the divisional and regional structure so that, as our flagship, it can be supported by the entire business.”
Waterstones head office will also be based at its Piccadilly store, with staff expected to move in late October.

• RELATED STORIES

• Babatunde wins Caine PrizeNigerian author Rotimi Baba...
• Sales higher in bookshops with cafésAs Independent Booksellers ...
• Kobo to launch in JapanKobo will launch in Japan l...
• Waterstones picks next 12 Book Club readsWaterstones has today annou...
• Vaizey announces £6m library fundCulture Minister Ed Vaizey ...