AT&T Opens New Store In Newport Featuring Modern Design That Mirrors Its Customers' Mobile Lifestyle

NEWPORT, Ky., Sept. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As the lines between the physical and digital retail worlds blur and consumers turn to their mobile devices and apps to enhance their mobile lifestyle, AT&T* is transforming its retail stores in Kentucky and Ohio to enhance the shopping experience for its customers.  Many of the new store design and merchandising elements were first seen in AT&T's award-winning flagship brand store on the famed Michigan Avenue and are now scaling across its other company-owned retail stores.

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The new store concept was a result of more than two years of exploration and research all centered around one design goal --to create a more interactive and inviting store environment, a shopping experience like no other.  

"We've worked hard to build a business climate in northern Kentucky that works for businesses and helps expand job opportunities," said Steve Stevens, President, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. "As Kentucky businesses and consumers rely more and more on mobile technology to communicate, announcements like this become even more important to our economic growth."

Customers in Newport and the greater Cincinnati area will be among the first to experience the new store concept that is reinventing how the retail business is done. This store is the latest example of the investment already made in Kentucky and Ohio. Through the first half of 2013, AT&T has invested $110 million in its wireless and wired networks in Kentucky, and more than $225 million in its wireless and wired networks in Ohio. The 2013 year-to-date network investment builds on the nearly $650 million that AT&T has invested in its Kentucky wireless and wired networks, and the more than $1.5 billion in its Ohio wireless and wired networks, from 2010 through 2012. This new location will serve the growing number of consumers relying on their wireless devices to manage their busy lives. The new store is located at 140 Pavilion Parkway, Newport, Ky., 41071.

"Any time you can celebrate the opening of a new store, especially one with a cutting-edge new retail concept in Newport, it's a great day," said Newport City Manager Thomas J. Fromme. "Bringing job opportunities and new goods and services to Kentucky consumers is the kind of investment that we want to celebrate as we continue to grow our local economy."

"Customers visiting our Newport store will discover a design that is built around their experiences and delivers an interactive shopping experience that mirrors their mobile lifestyle," said Larry Evans, vice president and general manager for AT&T in Ohio.  "Our goal is to become America's premier retailer by providing an exceptional experience in every interaction, and we've been working hard to exceed customer expectations by taking our stores and network to a new level here in the Cincinnati area."

Flexible Design
Everything about the store is designed for ultimate flexibility.  It brings to life  AT&T's mission, brand vision, and personality while encouraging self discovery and satisfying curiosity.

The store layout will highlight AT&T's products and services, devices and accessories across three unique "zones" -the Connected Experience Zone, the Community Zone, and the Explore Zone.

The new Connected Experience Zone features "lifestyle vignettes" that offer customers a glimpse of how solutions can be used in customers' everyday lives. These lifestyle pavilions will highlight categories such as music, home security and entertainment and more.

Next is the Community Zone, featuring "community tables" that encourage customers to shop and play in an open and interactive space.  This space merchandises apps, accessories and devices to show customers how they can work together.

Finally, customers can check out the Explore Zone with "explore walls" that highlight AT&T's diverse device line-up and accessories complemented by digital monitors with product information.

Enhanced service experience
What you won't see in these new stores is almost as important as what you will see. Customers will no longer see the traditional retail "cash-register" counters. Instead, they'll find round café-style "learning tables" that allow for side-by-side interactions with the AT&T retail consultant to ask questions or learn about a product or service. All retail consultants are equipped with a tablet supported by a new mobile point-of-sale system that gives ultimate flexibility for helping customers anywhere in the store.

Customers also won't see the printed product brochures common in many stores. With digital signage, e-brochures and interactive video monitors, they can have the information literally at their finger tips while giving AT&T the flexibility of updating messaging faster and more efficiently.

From the initial purchase to ongoing service interactions, AT&T is focused on providing an unparalleled customer experience.  AT&T was recently recognized with two significant achievements, outperforming competitors for customer service and wireless purchase experience.  J.D. Power awarded AT&T the "Highest Ranked Customer Service Performance Among Full-Service Wireless Providers"  and "Highest Satisfaction with the Purchase Experience among Full Service Wireless Providers" in their 2013, Volume 2 studies. 

Store information
Newport store hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. AT&T has more than 100 retail locations in Kentucky and Ohio. To find the nearest AT&T store or Device Support Center near you, visit www.att.com/find-a-store or www.att.com/dsc.  Don't forget you can also make an appointment before visiting your local AT&T store -https://www.att.com/storeappointment/.

* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

** Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available. Deployment ongoing. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

AT&T received the highest numerical score among full service wireless providers in the proprietary J.D. Power 2013 Wireless Customer Care Full Service and Full Service Wireless Purchase Experience Studies^SM – Vol. 2. Study based on 7,373 (Customer Care) and 8,693 (Purchase Experience) consumer responses measuring 4 full service wireless providers and measures opinions of consumers who purchased a wireless product or service within last 6 months.  Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed January-June 2013.  Your experiences may vary.  Visit jdpower.com

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.  This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

© 2013 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 4G not available everywhere. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.