FLOW opens new digital retail store

In their continued efforts to upgrade the customer experience, telecommunications company FLOW on Monday opened the curtains on a state-of-the-art retail store at their headquarters at Halifax Street.

Acting country manager Andrea Liverpool, speaking at the relaunch, described the re-opening as, “a revolutionary change in the way we do retail at FLOW.”{{more}}

The store, which took about three weeks to redo, at a cost of EC$675,000, is the first ever fully digital store in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

On entering, one is greeted by two electronic bill payment machines that take cash or cards, taking away the need to line up to pay one’s bill. The store is now somewhat paperless, as according to Liverpool, “we intend to operate the store paperless as we build on our goal to have all citizens connected electronically.”

Persons are also greeted by digital signage, as all signage and advertising materials in the store are done using digital content across multiple screens.

Another innovation at the location is the digital store check-in and queue system. On entering, persons give their names and while waiting to be served may browse or sit and wait until they hear their names called or shown on a screen.

The waiting area is made up of a live home entertainment suite with a 65” television display and gaming system, while persons now have a live handset display with the ability to fully interact with all the products being displayed, from smartphones to bluetooth speakers.

There is also a free 100 megabyte Wi-Fi connection and a device charge station that has the ability to charge up to 18 customer phones and four tablets free of cost. One can lock one’s phone in the charge station and keep the key until one is ready to leave.

As usual, the store offers personalized help and advice services while a tech expert is now available in store to address all technology needs.

The location also boasts of international standards and best in class furniture and fixtures for the comfort of customers and staff.

“Our new store is built to deliver a superior digital experience using state-of-the-art technology and first-class customer service.

“As promised with the combining of the Columbus Communications and Cable & Wireless businesses, the benefits of the merger include additional investment in our telecommunications network and physical plant. This store is a living example of those benefits, with additional investment already in the pipeline for the upcoming months in this financial year,” said Liverpool at the opening.

The store was constructed by Fraser Construction Limited (Cauldric Fraser), while the overall implementation and project management of the store was done by Ian Jones, senior manager retail operations.

The reopening also heard from Minister of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Information and Labour Camillo Gonsalves, product executive Maria DeGrads and senior marketing executive Nikala Williams.