It was loud and frequent complaints-“I’d rather make a trip to the dentist than shop for a wireless phone”-that ultimately led to the creation of Best Buy Mobile, a joint venture between the mammoth U.S. electronics retailer and European cellphone vendor Carphone Warehouse. In an exclusive interview with RCR Wireless News, Best Buy Mobile CEO David Sprosty discusses the retailer’s efforts on the cellphone front, and explains how Best Buy Mobile will fit into a market currently dominated by the nation’s carriers.
“The customers have come to expect a less-than-acceptable experience, so our job really is to take it up a level,” Sprosty says.
In this complete audio interview with RCR Wireless News, Sprosty explains Best Buy Mobile’s expansion plans, its unique take on cellphone retailing, and its outlook on the future of the wireless industry.
This podcast is the first in a new, monthly series of audio interview from RCR Wireless News: Dialing in Distribution. RCR Wireless News will be investigating the distribution landscape for handsets; we’ll be interviewing executives from carriers, handset makers, retailers and others on their cellphone distribution strategies to see what works-and what doesn’t. How do carriers manage their inventories? How do retailers allocate precious shelf space? And how can new entrants take advantage of the situation?
Check back every month for the latest installment of RCR Wireless News’ Podcast series, Dialing in Distribution.