Two years back, Glentel made an unexpected bold move by a buying a controlling stake in Diamond Wireless, a major third-party reseller of Verizon Wireless cellphone and smartphone products. Given Verizon’s supremacy in the US wireless market, it was expected that acquiring a “premium retailer” would do a world of good to Glentel’s cross-border fortunes.
The multi-carrier mobile phone retailer is back in the news due its cross-border connections. Glentel yesterday announced that it has partnered with Target Canada to offer a choice of network carriers and an array of wireless devices to guests at the majority of Target locations set to open across Canada in 2013.
The deal assumes significance as Target is on a major expansion spree in Canada. The retail giant plans to open 124 stores across Canada starting in March and April, 2013. The retailer reported strong net sales figures for the month of September with a 2.6 per cent to $6.07 billion. The company however plans to discontinue monthly sales reporting beginning fiscal year 2013.
On the other hand, Glentel is by far Canada’s largest multi-carrier mobile phone retailer operating at more than 330 locations in Canada in retail malls, Costco Wholesale stores and business centres. It also has more than 210 retail locations in the United States.
“We are proud to be selected by Target as the exclusive operator of its mobile communications products and services display fixtures at the majority of store locations across Canada,” said Tom Skidmore, president and CEO, GLENTEL. “As Canada’s largest independent multi-carrier mobile phone retailer, GLENTEL is well positioned and committed to delivering its premium wireless retail experience to Target’s valued guests across Canada.”
As part of the deal, Target will license mobile communication sales and services within its stores to Glentel under the brand Target Mobile.
Overall, this deal is further likely to boost Canada’s wireless retail distribution segment. Last month, Mobilicity announced a deal with Loblaw to sell its products at almost 50 Prepaid Cell Phones Express kiosks located at select locations across Canada.
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Written by: Gaurav Kheterpal. www.digitcom.ca. Follow TheTelecomBlog.comby:RSS,Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube.
