Ottakar's recruit to seek out exclusive lines

Bookseller Ottakar's is to appoint a business development manager responsible for tying up deals with overseas retailers. Finance director Edward Knighton said the new recruit would help the retailer pursue its strategy of creating a point of difference through exclusive products.

He said: 'It would be a senior appointment and be responsible for exclusive product, generally reporting to James (Heneage, Ottakar's managing director).'

Knighton said product ideas already circulating include exclusive encyclopedias, which would be too expensive for Ottakar's to produce on its own. The cost would be shared with one or more retailers from other English-speaking countries.