Sprint retail expansion to begin with 20 locations as part of JV
Sprint’s retail expansion plans are set to continue as the carrier announced a deal with U.S.-based Dixons Carphone to own and operate Sprint stores in a handful of U.S. markets.
The deal calls for Sprint and Dixons’ Connected World Services division to build and operate approximately 20 new Sprint stores, which will operate similar to third-party retailers. Sprint will own and staff the stores with CWS managing the locations and providing its “expertise and best practices across all of Sprint’s sales channels.” Both companies will equally fund the venture and have a 50% ownership interest.
For Sprint, the retail expansion is the continuation of its plans to get out in front of more customers in an attempt to drive gross customer additions. The carrier recently closed on a deal with General Wireless to convert 1,440 former RadioShack retail locations into Sprint-branded outlets. Sprint noted that deal pushed its branded retail presence to approximately 4,500 locations across the country.
Sprint earlier this year also rolled out its Direct 2 You program that calls for a “Sprint-trained expert” to bring a device of the customers’ choice to their preferred location, where they will set up the new device, including transferring all content and providing a tutorial on how the device works. Sprint recently expanded the service to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver.
Carphone was also part of big-box retailer Best Buy’s expansion of its mobile-centric retail push under the Best Buy Mobile brand. Best Buy now offers a branded mobile service using Sprint’s network.
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