Sprint said move will involve 1,435 locations, add nearly 3,500 jobs
Sprint’s oft-discussed plans to tap into RadioShack retail locations in order to expand distribution is set for reality as the carrier plans to more than double its company-owned retail footprint starting April 10.
The move will see Sprint eventually combine its retail efforts with RadioShack at 1,435 locations that will exclusively offer wireless services from Sprint and its sub-brands Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile. Those locations will be co-branded with both Sprint and RadioShack, with plans to complete the “store-within-a-store” concept in the coming months as Sprint expects to occupy around one-third of the retail space at these locations.
As part of the move, Sprint said it plans to add nearly 3,500 new full- and part-time jobs. Sprint announced late last month plans to add 300 jobs in Chicago and a total of 540 jobs in the Chicago area tied to the rollout of LTE-Advanced services in that market.
The move into RadioShack locations is part of a bankruptcy proceeding that will see its largest shareholder Standard General acquire 1,743 RadioShack locations, in which Sprint has signed up to be a co-tenant at 1,435 locations. RadioShack sold 1,100 stores last year, leaving it with a total of 4,000 locations. About 900 of those were operated as franchises.
Sprint was reported to initially be interested in more than 1,500 locations as it looked to build on its approximately 1,100 company-owned stores.
“Customers value the ability to walk into a neighborhood Sprint store near where they live and work,” explained Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure. “With more stores, and including Boost and Virgin Mobile, we’re providing additional shopping opportunities and making it easier and more convenient for consumers to do business with us.”
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