Phones 4u extends ‘store-in-store’ trial at Currys

• Friday, 27 November 2009

Phones 4u and Currys are pleased to confirm that they will be extending their ‘store-in-store’ trial to include a Phones 4u area within the brand new Currys Megastore in Thurrock from 26th November 2009.

The store-in-store trial originally saw a Phones 4u area occupy the Currys Megastore in Wednesbury, Birmingham on 1st August 2009.

Phones 4u Retail Development Director, John Welsh commented: “The trial has so far been well-received by customers, with Phones 4u’s market leading mobile offering complementing Currys’ extensive product range. As a result, the decision to extend the trial to another location has been agreed.

“Our continued partnership will see both Phones 4u and Currys working closely together to deliver a Phones 4u presence in a prime location within the Currys Megastore in Thurrock.”

Continuing to offer customers an extensive range of mobile solutions, including contract, pre-pay, SIM only and SIM free propositions, the ‘Phones 4u at Currys’ area will also see the arrival of BlackBerry, Nokia and Samsung branded areas. Phones 4u is working with three of the UK’s leading handset manufacturers to develop customer focused concept stores that encourage hands on experience not only for customers but for staff also.

"Nokia are proud to support Phones 4u's extended trial within Curry's megastores. In the dedicated Nokia area, we'll be showcasing our unlimited music download service, Comes With Music on the new Nokia X6 and Ovi Maps on Nokia N97 mini White, both of which are exclusive to Phones 4u", said Richard Pattinson, Retail Manager for Nokia UK.

Kate McCutchen, Head of Retail Marketing for Samsung Electronics UK said; “We work closely with all our retail partners to ensure that customers benefit from the best in-store experience and are pleased at the success of this initiative and the decision to extend the trial”.

‘Phones 4u at Currys’ in Thurrock will begin trading as of Thursday 26th November 2009. At nearly 70,000 square foot, the Megastore is the UK’s biggest electrical store.

About Phones 4u:

Phones 4u is an independent mobile retailer, offering all networks and handset manufacturers' products. It is part of the Staffordshire-based 4u Group, and the Group CEO is Tim Whiting. Leading the way in the mobile industry through its excellent customer service, award-winning advertising and differentiated in-store experience, Phones 4u has over 450 stores and is still growing. Phones 4u employs circa 6,000 people.

In 2008, Phones 4u won the Mobile industry award for Best Retailer in the UK and came top in Harding and Yorke’s 2008 ERIC Customer Empathy Rating Index after it was recognised among the mobile industry players as demonstrating the most empathy and understanding towards its customers. It also ranked highly in the Harding and Yorke CXI League (Customer Experience Index) in December, which ranked in order the top 10 customer experiences across all industries of 2008. Phones 4u came in at 8th position and was the only mobile retailer to make it into the top 10.

Phones 4u recognises that buying a new phone can be a complex and confusing affair. Phones 4u cuts through this confusion with its unique consumer consultation process, resulting in accurate, impartial advice and a package that is right for each customer. As a result it sells more new contracts than anyone else on the High Street. http://www.phones4u.co.uk/

About Currys

Currys is the UK’s biggest electrical retailer with a network of over 500 stores nation-wide, including out of town superstores, high street Currys.digital stores and Currys Megastores.
The first Currys store opened in Leicester over 120 years ago in 1888 – selling bicycles.

Currys is a multi-channel retailer offering the widest selection of electricals in the UK in its stores and online at http://www.currys.co.uk/. Currys products are available at the same price whether bought in a store or online. Currys wants to offer its customers the lowest prices, so checks prices every week. If a customer finds the same product and offer at a cheaper price in another retail store, it will match it and refund the customer 10% of the difference. Currys offers customers a "hassle free" shopping experience with the convenience of next day delivery, seven-days a week and delivery slots from 7.00am to 10.00pm, as well as installation services and comprehensive after-sales support, including 24-hour helplines and a national team of engineers called the TechGuys. Currys also offers a simple ‘Reserve and Collect’ service. Customers can go online and secure items at a designated store, which will be ready for collection just one hour later, at a guaranteed low price. Currys customers have the option of a comprehensive product support service, whateverhappens™ which offers fast and convenient repairs and technical support. Currys WEEE recycling scheme was named Retail Week’s Customer Service Initiative 2008. Available free of charge, the service allows customers who are buying new electrical products to return their old ones to any of Currys stores across the country, even if the original product was not bought from Currys. Currys have now recycled over 1.3 million products including 450,000 fridges and 100,000 TVs.

-ENDS-

Contact Phones 4u Internal Press Office

Mark Webb
Tel: 01727 205019
M: 07766 883388
E: Mark.Webb@dsgiplc.com

This press release was distributed via SourceWire, a service from Daryl Willcox Publishing, on behalf of Phones4u. For more information visit http://www.dwpub.com/pressreleasewires