As part of the 2021 Industry Leaders Forum, Jordan Press, National Business Manager, Vodafone, told C&I that the company’s focus would continue to be making it easy for convenience stores to sell Vodafone.
C&I: Highlight one achievement at Vodafone that you’re particularly proud of over the past 12 months.
Press: It’s been a very exciting time for Vodafone following our merger with TPG, with the merged company to become a full-service telecommunications provider.
As a part of the TPG Telecom family of brands, it has allowed us to build new and strengthen existing relationships.
For the Prepaid Distribution Channel, Vodafone has aligned with Lebara to share the same field team that services the convenience channel.
We’ve built efficiencies between Vodafone and Lebara, leveraging off each other’s strengths, and have equipped the Sales Field Team with the fire power of two amazing telco brands.
It’s been great to see how amazing this field team is, they truly live and breathe telco and that’s reflective of their work.
C&I: What do you enjoy most about convenience and what is one challenge you’d like to see addressed in the industry?
Press: No two days are ever the same! The convenience channel has adapted and pivoted to match the customers’ changing needs during COVID-19.
Also, each convenience banner group is tailored to the audience. Whether it’s a tiny store servicing metro locations, regional outposts, or mini-market type set ups connected to a service station – no two retailers are the same.
So it’s important we make it easy for each of these stores to sell telco today, and set ourselves up for what telco may look like in the future with eSIM.
C&I: What is the primary focus for Vodafone in 2021?
Press: Our focus is to make it easy for convenience stores to sell Vodafone. We can do this by building closer relationships with banner groups at head office, and continued over servicing through our shared field team with Lebara.
Vodafone and Lebara will be well represented at the C&I Expo in August, and we can’t wait to catch up with these stores face to face!
And as always, Vodafone will ensure the customer is number one. Whether it’s amazing data inclusions, or offering the customer a $5 discount on every Prepaid Auto Recharge, Vodafone endeavours to offer amazing value to a customer, whether they’ve been with us for one month or 10 years.
C&I: How do you envision the next six months for convenience retail?
Press: The last 1.5 years have demonstrated how much the retail landscape has changed. Online shopping has accelerated and broadened its appeal to new categories. And there’s a chance for convenience to be part of this online acceleration, through Mail Lockers for customers to collect their packages or click and collect set ups.
‘Top up shops’ for grocery items continue to grow into other segments. We’ve seen the entry of higher end food retail enter the convenience channel.