In July, 2degrees began a drive to recruit owner-operators for its first wave of retail stores (the carrier will also run its own stores in big city centres).Store operators had to pay for their own fit-out, and stock, but otherwise would have free run of
In July, 2degrees began a drive to recruit owner-operators for its first wave of retail stores (the carrier will also run its own stores in big city centres).
Store operators had to pay for their own fit-out, and stock, but otherwise would have free run of the show, with no sales commissions, royalties or other kickbacks, 2degrees promised.
Now, 2degree's first authorised dealer has has opened for business – or at least its website has.
ChoiceMobile has offices on Auckland’s Dominion Road and Wellington Lambton Quay, with Christchurch and Queenstown branches promised soon (that is, ChoiceMobile will be in all four centres where 2degrees has its own network and can offer 3G service).
With retail stores “coming soon”, ChoiceMobile promises it will come to your business in the mean time.
Telecom and Vodafone dealers
Telecom - which had a major retail makeover last year as it launched XT - has recently opened four stores, taking its total of directly owned outlets to 32. The telco also has 86 partner stores through Orb and Leading Edge, five kiosks in high-traffic malls.
Vodafone owns 18 stores, with the balance of tis 130 branded outlets run by DigiMobile and First Mobile. Both telcos also sell through multi-channel retail partners.
While 2degrees looks primarily to recruit owner-operators, Vodafone is heading in the opposite direction.
Vodafone already owns 25% of DigiMobile and recently announced a deal to buy the 77-store FirstMobile - which will be run as a Vodafone operation by a returning Russell Hewitt.
