Comet to sell BT Broadband
Retail push for new services
June 10 2003
Comet will be the first UK retailer to sell a new range of BT products and services, starting with BT Broadband.
The move marks a new focus on retail from BT in the face of increasing competition. Comet will sell BT Broadband through its network of over 250 shops along with other PC hardware and software solutions.
Customers can sign up to BT Broadband in-store and leave with all the equipment needed to get on-line, or pick up in-store leaflets and demonstration CDs, as well as getting advice from Comet sales staff on how to install BT Broadband and the kind of benefits to expect.
It marks the first step to bring BT Broadband to consumers through retail outlets and is the latest move in BT’s retail sales channel strategy. This follows the successful introduction of BT’s Home Monitoring products, already available through retailers, with plans to introduce further new products across retail chains.
Angus Porter, managing director of BT Retail’s consumer division said: “This is an important partnership for us. For the first time, it makes BT Broadband available to consumers via the high street. Customers will now be able to buy their BT Broadband connection along with other IT products and services.
“This means they will be able to get high speed, always-on internet access and all the products they need to get connected, as well as the specialist consumer products and services that broadband enables – such as home networking, monitoring and security.”
“The deal with Comet underlines BT’s commitment to developing relationships with third party channels to build the portfolio of ‘new wave’ BT products and services that are available through retail outlets.”
Harpreet Sohal, computer department marketing manager at Comet said: “Our relationship with BT is an important one. The retail environment is highly competitive and we believe that partnerships with organisations like BT will enable us to continue to provide our customers with high quality, competitively priced products and services all under one roof.”
