News 2005
Virgin Mobile opens 12 new concessions in WHSmith High Street stores
18/11/2005
18.11.05: Virgin Mobile Holdings (UK) plc (“Virgin Mobile”) confirmed today that it is opening 12 further Virgin Mobile concessions in WHSmith High Street stores, creating 36 new jobs.
These 12 new concessions take Virgin Mobile’s presence in WHSmith High Street stores to 19, following a successful year-long trial of the shop-within-a-shop concept.
All the WHSmith Virgin Mobile Stores are identical in format to the 92 outlets within Virgin Megastores, and are staffed by dedicated Virgin Mobile employees.
The new concessions are located in some of WHSmith’s prime locations, including Brent Cross Shopping Centre in North London, Sheffield’s Meadowhall, Glasgow’s Braehead and Manchester’s Arndale Centre.
All 12 new Virgin Mobile Stores will be open by December 1st, and are located in WHSmith’s branches in:
Brent Cross
Chelmsford
Doncaster
Exeter
Glasgow Braehead
Kingston Upon Thames
Liverpool
Manchester Arndale
Sheffield Meadowhall
Preston
Swansea
Wolverhampton
The existing WHSmith Virgin Mobile Stores, which formed the trial, are based in:
Birmingham
Coventry
Croydon
Fosse Park
Leeds
York Monks Cross
Tunbridge Wells
Graeme Hutchinson, Sales and marketing Director at Virgin Mobile, said: “The trial of Virgin Mobile Stores within WHSmith went brilliantly and we’re getting great connections. We’re delighted to be expanding and opening 12 more stores together, as part of our next phase of growth. The new Virgin Mobile Stores are in some of WHSmith’s biggest and most successful outlets, and we’re excited about developing our relationship with WHSmith further in the future.”
Ian Sanders, Head of Commercial Development, WHSmith added, “The Virgin Mobile concessions are proving to be very popular with our customers. Following the trial, we have identified a second wave of stores where we believe the introduction of the concession will further enhance our customer offer and we look forward to working with Virgin Mobile to ensure these are a success.”
For further information contact:
| Virgin Mobile | Media |
| Steven Day, Corporate Affairs Director | |
| +44 (0)7931 777777 or | |
| +44 (0)20 7484 4300 | |
| Alison Bonny, Head of Public Relations | |
| +44 (0)7802 430276 or | |
| +44 (0)20 7484 4300 | |
| WHSmith | Sarah Hodson (Press Office) |
| +44 (0)1793 562545 |
About Virgin Mobile:
Virgin Mobile Holdings (UK) plc, the UK's largest mobile virtual network operator, is majority owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and uses T-Mobile's network. Since its launch in November 1999, Virgin Mobile has attracted more than 5.6 million customers.
In the UK, Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600; on the web at www.virginmobile.com or on the high street at approximately 5,000 outlets including Virgin Mobile Stores within Virgin Megastores and WHSmith, The Carphone Warehouse, The Link, Dixons, Phones 4 U, Curry's, Comet, Tesco, Asda, John Lewis, Argos, TOMO, Woolworths, Toys R Us and Ryman plus hundreds of independents mobile phones dealers and available via Shop Direct, Littlewoods, Grattan and Empire home shopping channels.
Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly (contract) is currently available in Virgin Mobile Stores, The Carphone Warehouse, The Link, at concessions in WHSmith and at www.virginmobile.com.
Virgin Mobile employs approximately 1,400 staff at three sites, Trowbridge, London and Daventry, and has an outsourced customer service centre operated by approximately 200 staff in Middlesbrough.
Virgin Mobile's customers were found to be the most-satisfied mobile consumers in the pre-pay sector for two years running in 2005 and 2004, according to the surveys by J.D. Power and Associates. Virgin Mobile is also featured in `The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For’ list 2005 and is part of the FTSE4Good Index.
About WHSmith
WHSmith PLC, one of the UK’s leading retail groups, is made up of two core businesses – WHSmith Retail and WHSmith News.
WHSmith Retail has 542 high street stores, 125 airport and station locations across the UK and WHSmith Direct - www.whsmith.co.uk - serving customers on the internet 24 hours a day.
The High Street business sells a wide range of newspapers, magazines, stationery, books and entertainment products. WHSmith Travel sells a tailored range of newspapers, magazines, books and confectionery products for people on the move.
