High-brow high street retailer John Lewis will look to strengthen its technology range and join the mobile market when it opens in-store phone shops at two of its UK branches.
John Lewis will be the first UK chain to start selling phones since the fall of Phones4U last year and will attempt to become a contender to the likes of Dixons Carphone which formed when electrical retailer Dixons and Carphone Warehouse merged as one brand, also in 2015.
Also See: Dixons and Carphone Warehouse Partner as Dixons Carphone
It’s believed the classy department store will start by stocking the Apple iPhone range amongst its inventory from the start and the phone shops are due to open in the John Lewis store on Oxford Street, London and in Cheadle, Manchester in mid-August before expanding both its available range and its reach should the new direction go well. For idea of the potential scope for future growth, John Lewis currently runs over 40 stores nationwide.
To help in the setup of the new business venture network provider Vodafone will by supplying the line rental with two tariffs on offer – one for high data demands and another more modest plan for low data usage. Prices and allowances are yet to be announced.
Mobile products sold through John Lewis will also carry a two year warranty as standard from date of purchase.