PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
Carphone Warehouse has confirmed that up to 30 stores may close in the coming months, but the retailer has said that the move is part of a normal review of operations and part of its move to larger premises.
That figure was lower than the 100-store figure bounded about earlier this year.
Sources speaking to Mobile confirmed that the firm was looking to dispose of its smallest stores on a piecemeal basis, as part of the retailer’s move to larger footprint stores.
It was confirmed that the retailer’s chief executive Andrew Harrison, who added that the firm had put £19m to the side for store disposal, but stressed that there would be no wholesale reduction in stores.
Harrison said the move had been promoted by the shift in the retailer’s focus away from just selling mobile solutions, into everything from laptops to games consoles.
"We’re looking at converting 50 stores into the format we have in White City, and on top of that we will open 12 to 25 new stores in the same larger format," he told Mobile. "Most of those have already been relocated."
"Every year we review our portfolio based around performance, lease expiries etc. In 2008 we closed 30 UK stores on this basis." he added. "It’s business as usual. We do not see any major changes in this approach."
