500 Sprint retail stores follow last year’s pilot program, set to roll out across ‘multiple’ markets
Sprint and Dixons Carphone announced a joint venture to open 500 new Sprint-branded stores following a pilot program launched last year.
The latest deal calls for European-based Dixons Carphone to partner with the domestic market’s No. 4 wireless carrier on operating the stores across “multiple U.S. markets.” Both firms will split funding of the venture and each control 50% of partnership. Sprint said the pilot program showed “strong sales performance and increased customer satisfaction ratings,” and continues the wireless carrier’s push to expand its retail presence.
“We have seen incredible results from our pilot program, and I’m confident that expanding our partnership will accelerate Sprint’s distribution expansion and ongoing retail transformation,” explained Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure, in a statement.
The initial program, which was announced last July, called for Sprint and Dixons’ Connected World Services division to build and operate approximately 20 new stores, which operated similar to third-party retailers. Sprint “owned” and staffed the stores with CWS managing the locations and providing its “expertise and best practices across all of Sprint’s sales channels.” Both companies equally funded the venture.
The pilot program followed Sprint’s closing on a deal with General Wireless to convert 1,440 former RadioShack retail locations into Sprint-branded outlets. Sprint noted that deal pushed its branded retail presence to approximately 4,500 locations across the country and includes plans to add nearly 3,500 new full- and part-time jobs.
Dixons has a bit of history in the U.S. retail market, having previously formed a venture with big-box retailer Best Buy in the launch of Best Buy Mobile and the Geek Squad program.
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