If you have a Vodafone or Three SIM card tucked inside your phone, the next time you pop into one of the high street stores of either brand, expect a dramatic shake-up. VodafoneThree is now the UK's largest mobile operator following the £15billion merger between these once-rival brands last summer.
And its approximately 29 million customers will now be treated to a complete overhaul of its high street stores.
VodafoneThree CEO Max Taylor at the launch of the newly-merged £15bn mobile network
| VODAFONETHREE PRESS OFFICEVodafoneThree has stressed that it's committed to the Great British high street following the pricey merger and will remain in every town where it already has a presence.
However, it is understood there could be some consolidation as part of this revamp, leading to a small number of store closures where both networks run neighbouring shops.
It is not clear which locations will be affected, and is likely to take place over several years.
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No redundancies are planned as part of this retail transformation, which will see Vodafone and Three stores shift into new dual-branded locations. New investment will increase the amount of support and advice available at its stores, including new services such as Fix & Go by Vodafone, offering additional repair services for customers.
The transformation will include flagship stores in major cities, including sites across London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Cardiff. VodafoneThree has already pledged to pour £11 billion into building the UK's largest 5G network by 2034.
Discussing the upcoming plans for its high street stores, VodafoneThree Consumer Operations Director, Jon Shaw said: "We know how important stores like ours are to the health of the high street and the communities which rely on them.
"From shopping devices, seeking support from our experts or getting their phone repaired, we are proud to serve our customers where they are and reaffirm our commitment to the UK high street. The stores will help bring our brands to more people, offering customers more choice and greater value, as we build the UK’s best network.”
Additional Reporting By Henry Saker-Clark, Press Association Deputy Business Editor