News 2006
Virgin Mobile to launch its own-brand stores
10/07/2006
- Virgin Mobile to roll out standalone Virgin Mobile stores
- First store to open at Lakeside Shopping Centre, Thurrock
10.07.06: Virgin Mobile today announced its ambitious plans to hit Britain’s high streets with its own-brand stores – an entirely new concept in mobile retailing. The stores will showcase all of Virgin Mobile’s products and services in an interactive and entertaining environment with a bold, youthful and interactive design.
Virgin Mobile will open its first store at the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock at the end of July. The company is planning to open another two standalone Virgin Mobile stores later in the year and is planning a significant wave of new store openings throughout 2007. Virgin Mobile is recruiting 20 people to staff the first three new stores to give expert customer service and advice. Hundreds of new jobs will be created as the store expansion continues through into 2007.
Virgin Mobile already has 119 specialist stores within Virgin Megastores and WH Smith, these stores-within-stores will continue to be a key part of the company’s retail presence and future plans with five new concessions opening this year.
The new retail strategy focuses on bringing technology to life and making it meaningful and fun. Emphasis will be put on enabling customers to `try before you buy’ and taking all of the hassle out of buying and setting up a new phone. Virgin Mobile is already known for setting benchmarks for customer service within the mobile industry and it will be taking this to a new level within its own stores. There will also be non-Virgin branded items and products associated with a mobile lifestyle on offer. Customers can also print photos and download ringtones and games.
Graeme Hutchinson, trading director at Virgin Mobile, said: “When Virgin Mobile launched we started selling phones in Virgin Megastores and our competitors said we’d never sell mobiles in record shops, but how wrong they were. We’ve always found that combining mobile phones with music and entertainment is a perfect way to engage Virgin Mobile customers. Our new stores will not only showcase the latest and greatest phones and technology but will also celebrate Virgin’s associations with music and entertainment.
“On the back of our recent deal with ntl:telewest the stores will also provide an excellent opportunity for the roll-out of our unique `quadruple play’ offer. We aim to provide outstanding customer service delivered in a truly different and engaging mobile lifestyle environment.”
The design concept is to create an urban, entertainment focussed destination that embraces the Virgin Mobile brand. It has been created by an in-house team of people from Virgin Mobile, with the help of Start Design and Judge Gill as Interior Design consultants.
Virgin Mobile Press Office: 0845 600 6272 or press.office@virginmobile.com
Jo Baker: 07941 233300 or jo.baker@virginmobile.com
About Virgin Mobile:
Virgin Mobile is the UK’s largest mobile virtual network operator and uses T-Mobile's network. Since its launch in November 1999, Virgin Mobile has attracted more than 4 million customers.
Virgin Mobile is part of the ntl:telewest group. The Group is the first to be able to offer `quadruple play’ to customers: mobile and fixed line telephony, broadband internet and television.
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 selected WHSmiths, The Carphone Warehouse, The Link, Phones 4 U, Currys.digital, Comet, Tesco, Asda, John Lewis, Argos, Woolworths, Toys R Us, Ryman, web retailer Dial-a-phone plus hundreds of independent mobile phone 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, Phones 4u, at concessions in WHSmith and from www.virginmobile.com.
Virgin Mobile employs approximately 1,700 staff at three sites, Trowbridge, London and Daventry, and has an outsourced customer service centre operated by approximately 200 staff in Middlesbrough.
Virgin Mobile was voted 22nd Best Workplaces in the UK in the Financial Times survey for 2006.
