Virgin launching latest outlet in Bullring shopping centre, showcasing its range of products using touchscreen wall technology in a more interactive retail setting
Virgin Media is opening a new flagship store in Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre tomorrow in a move it said will “combine the latest digital technology” to create a “fun retail environment”.
It mirrors a move the company made last December, when it opened its first new concept store at the Westfield Shopping Centre in West London.
The shop, which is furnished to resemble a living room, study, lounge and garden, showcases Virgin’s mobile, fibre broadband and TiVo products, and sees customers greeted by either Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, fellow gold medalist Mo Farah, a house cat or a bullring bull via a full HD digital door.
One wall features a large touchscreen displaying images of all handsets ranged by the company. Customers touching one will be presented with the product’s specifications and tariff options.
They can also compare devices and build their own mobile packages by selecting what amount of minutes, text messages and data they would require each month.
The opposite side of the store features a large interactive screen for staff to demonstrate the company’s fibre broadband products by showcasing speeds when downloading files, as well as TiVo lounges to take customers through the benefits of the set-top box product.
To celebrate the launch, Virgin is hosting a party tomorrow from 11am until 6pm, complete with sofa-based DJ and giant versions of games such as Jenga, Twister and Connect Four for customers to play. Visitors are asked to bring a housewarming gift, with £50 Amazon vouchers given away to the first 50 people with presents and a £1,000 entertainment system for the person bringing the most inventive gift.
Shoppers will also be asked to find the store’s 30 missing garden gnomes, which are hidden around the Bullring and can be redeemed for exclusive consumer electronics prizes when returned to the store.
Virgin Media retail director Paul Williams said: “We want people to feel at home in our stores, so what better way to celebrate the opening of our new flagship store in the Bullring than with a housewarming party? We can’t wait to welcome people through the doors and show them how we’re using the latest technology to make the shopping experience as immersive and fun as possible.”