Vodafone and Dick Smith announce retail agreement
Vodafone together with Dick Smith, Australia’s largest consumer electronics retailer, today announced a partnership to offer Vodafone postpaid products and services in more than 276 Dick Smith locations across Australia, giving more Australians the opportunity to readily access Vodafone’s impressive line up of affordable 4G smartphones and best value data.
Building on Vodafone’s significant investment in its 4G network and Australian-based customer care operations, the retail agreement to offer a full suite of Vodafone products and services in more than 276 Dick Smith, David Jones Electronics Powered by Dick Smith and Move stores across Australia, commences today with a nationwide rollout.
The partnership expands Dick Smith’s postpaid services offering and enables Dick Smith to offer its customers an extensive selection of the latest smartphones and mobile broadband devices available on 12 and 24 month contracts and SIM Only plans, which complements Dick Smith’s successful unlocked phone business. For Vodafone, the agreement more than doubles the number of retail destinations nationally offering its postpaid products and services.
Nick Abboud, Dick Smith Managing Director and CEO, said “We look forward to offering mobile phone customers unparalleled access to the Vodafone network through our extensive and growing store network. Whether you shop at Dick Smith, David Jones or Move, our dedicated technology specialists and more than 2,300 Dick Smith/Vodafone trained sales consultants will be able to assist you in selecting the right plan for your needs.”
“Our customers are the clear winners from our partnership with Vodafone. Customers look to Dick Smith to provide great service, unmatched convenience and exceptional value. Vodafone has the same philosophy. Its lightning fast 4G network, expanding network coverage and competitively priced network plans complement our strategy of providing customers with unrivalled value and make Vodafone the logical partner to grow our mobility business over the long term.
“Dick Smith is already a major retailer in mobility, with over 25 per cent of the unlocked handset market in Australia. Combined with our long-term partnership with Vodafone, we believe we can grow our mobility sales by over 50% to approximately 20 per cent of group revenue within three years,” said Mr Abboud.
Iñaki Berroeta chief executive officer said, “We have a great story to tell. We have been working hard on our turnaround to become the company that can deliver Vodafone 4G – which is today one of Australia’s fastest and most reliable 4G networks, enjoyed by over one million Australians. Our partnership with Dick Smith signifies our readiness to tell this story to bring the best of 4G, including the best prices for data and smartphones, to more customers around Australia.”
“We are proud to partner with Dick Smith as Vodafone grows again. Dick Smith’s expansive retail network, its success as a mobility business and its position as a provider of exceptional value and uncompromising customer service are critical to us telling the Vodafone 4G story.”
“We know when people walk into Dick Smith they will receive a superior hands-on experience that will show how Vodafone products and services can make it easier for them to work and play.
“With the power of Australia’s largest consumer electronics retailer behind us, we’ll be in an even stronger position to bring the power of Vodafone 4G to the next million,” said Mr Berroeta.
Vodafone’s 4G network, launched in major capital cities, powers over one million Australians. Vodafone’s 4G network continues to rapidly expand with the addition of 100 4G sites per month and is set to increase to 300 per month later in 2014.
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About Dick Smith:
Dick Smith is Australasia’s largest consumer electronics retailer (by store) with over 376 stores in Australia and New Zealand. It is a major retailer of unlocked mobile phones, computers and accessories. Dick Smith is listed on ASX under the code DSH.