The new store is the latest step in the group's quest to expand its retail presence and reflects the growing need for consumers to interact face-to-face with their service providers.
Natalie Thayer, GM of MWEB Home, says that the establishment of these stores is an extension of the company's existing ability to reach the consumer and small business owner. “It complements our existing retail model where we resell via department stores and allows us to increase our footprint and our reach. The Soweto store was the first to open and we have seen how positively our customers are responding to the concept – this is definitely something that has been missing and has filled a gap in the market as far as our customers are concerned.”
Thayer says that many consumers and small business owners prefer to purchase from a person rather than over the phone, and with the expanding choices available when it comes to Internet access, this face-to-face interaction will become more important. “Furthermore, as technologies converge, the store will give us a showcase for our data, voice and video solutions that can be experienced and purchased there and then. It also gives us control over our brand in the retail space, which is important in the current competitive environment.”
The store is highly interactive and tactile. Visitors to the modern, high-tech store will be able to experience technologies in action and compare for instance ADSL, iBurst and 3G/ HSDPA Internet connections and get an understanding of what they are, how they work, the hardware required and what the benefits are. Partnerships with a range of local and international suppliers will also see consumers being able to test out these products in a home-style environment as well as being the first to try out some new international products not yet widely available in South Africa.
The store also has a section for small business owners, where visitors can view and try out demos of business products.
