Waterstone's on expansion trail

Bookseller Waterstone's is re-igniting its expansion programme this July, with its first store opening since 1999.

The 620 sq m store at Manchester's Trafford Centre will be the showpiece for all the work done to revitalise the chain, according to retail operations director Martin Carr. 'We are looking to expand,' he said. Many more locations are planned, Carr said, but he refused to be drawn on specific figures.

Work has also been done to tailor existing stores to different environments.

For example, lighting in shopping centre stores will be brighter than in high street stores.