Retailer plans further growth in store numbers following 27 per cent rise in contract sales in the last year
Phones 4U will create 500 new jobs in 2013 as it continues to open new stores.
Phones 4U group chief executive Tim Whiting said he expects his firm to continue its expansion strategy – focusing particularly on parts of the country where he feels the firm is under-represented.
In the last year the retailer has opened over 100 new stores, taking its high street presence to 681, including 150 concession stores in Currys and PC World.
Whiting is targeting new stores in areas such as London and the South East where he feels there is unserved demand for the chain.
“We’re looking at areas where we have a relatively small footprint and will be trying to rectify that this year,” he told Mobile News. “We have high expectations for 2013 and I would be
disappointed if we didn’t create 500 jobs this year.
“While it is undoubtedly sad to see some big names disappear from the high street, I’m not worried at all about mobile. The experience is very different when people are looking to buy a mobile, it’s more service-led than just retail and people want to come into store.”
The retailer has added 1.6 million contracts in the past 12 months, which represents a year-on-year increase of 27 per cent.
It will also launch its own MVNO in March on the EE network with plans to roll out a 4G version of its tariffs by the end of the year.
The LIFE Mobile tariffs will be sold in-store and online and will be priced competitively, the retailer says.
Although specific details of the contract tariffs are yet to be announced, Phones 4U has confirmed all deals will include data as standard.
Whiting said: “It’s a very exciting time, and with the widespread launch of 4G we expect another excellent year. With the launch of LIFE in 3G in March and 4G later in the year we feel we are giving customers something extra which will drive future growth for the business.”
