Retail shake-up at Virgin Mobile

The mobile virtual network operator will rationalise its full-service retail stores to eight key outlets around the country.

Added by Editor on 31 July 2012.
Saved under News
Tags: , ,

Soon after inking a deal to sell a stake in Virgin Mobile SA to Middle Eastern mobile virtual network operator, the Friendi Group, a shake-up is on the cards at the local company. Virgin Mobile SA plans to reduce its store footprint to stores in key locations in each region, it says.

Over the next 18 months, it will roll out additional physical points of sale across SA that will be manned by customer service personnel.

Virgin Mobile, which piggybacks on Cell C’s network, plans to convert eight key stores from sales-focused franchise stores into full-service stores offering a full range of products and services, including sales, renewals, upgrades and customer service and advice. It will also offer online sales and service through a new website and is exploring alternative sales channels that “make sense for customers”.

The eight key store locations identified are Eastgate, Southgate, Key West and Cedar Square in Gauteng; Canal Walk in the Western Cape; Pavilion and Galleria in KwaZulu-Natal; and Mall of the North in Limpopo.

“Our company recently became part of the larger Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa (VMMEA) group,” Virgin says in a statement. “An important benefit of this change for Virgin Mobile in South Africa is a renewed focus on delivering a true Virgin customer experience at every customer touch point.”

The aim, it says, is to deliver an “improved and differentiated customer experience by leveraging VMMEA best practice and investment in improved systems and processes across all aspects of Virgin Mobile SA’s operations”.

“This initiative has already kicked off and is expected to conclude during the first half of 2013 and all activity is geared towards delivering a brilliant experience — in store, online or over the phone.”  — (c) 2012 NewsCentral Media

Share this article

Why TechCentral?

We know that as a prospective advertiser, you are spoilt for choice. Our job is to demonstrate why TechCentral delivers the best return for your advertising spend.

TechCentral is South Africa’s online technology news leader. We don’t say that lightly. We believe we produce the country’s best and most insightful online tech news aimed at industry professionals and those interested in the fast-changing world of technology.

We provide news, reviews and comment, without fear or favour, that is of direct relevance to our fast-expanding audience. Proportionately, we provide the largest local audience of all technology-focused online publishers.

We do not constantly regurgitate press releases to draw in search engine traffic — we believe websites that do so are doing their readers and advertisers a disservice. Nor do we sell “editorial features”, offer advertising “press offices” or rely on online bulletin-board forums of questionable value to advertisers to bolster our traffic.

TechCentral, which is edited and written by award-winning South African journalists, cares about delivering top-quality content to draw in the business and consumer readers that are of most interest to technology advertisers.

We’d like the opportunity to demonstrate the value of directing a portion of your advertising budget to TechCentral, whether your company is in the technology field or not. Numerous opportunities exist for companies interested in reaching our audience of key decision-makers in South Africa’s dynamic information and communications technology sector. We offer packages that will deliver among the best returns on investment available in the online technology news space.

For more information about advertising opportunities, and how your organisation can benefit by publicising itself on TechCentral, please call us on 011-792-0449 during office hours. Or send us an e-mail and ask for our latest rate card and brochure.