VodafoneThree is transforming its retail estate following the successful merger of Vodafone and Three, as customers continue to value in person advice and support in high streets up and down the country.
VodafoneThree is injecting millions of pounds into its retail locations and plans to remain in every town it currently has a presence. From 14th April onwards, stores will start offering products and support for Vodafone and Three customers under one roof, as it establishes the largest retail footprint of any mobile network operator in the UK, supporting more than 4,500 jobs.
The commitment to the high street follows modelling from the Centre of Retail Research which finds that despite the growing popularity of online shopping, Brits still want to visit a store to browse, purchase, or get support for products and services, benefitting local communities and businesses.
The research shows 28.9% of people say that Vodafone and Three stores are the single biggest sources of information on new phone models, ahead of social media (20.4%) and online articles and websites (14.8%) for customers.
With a fifth of visits to Vodafone and Three stores coming from customers who would not otherwise have visited the high street, the Centre for Retail Research calculates that retail spending associated with visiting the stores and surrounding retailers generates £168.5 million per year for the UK economy, plus another £61.2m from local hospitality.
Customers also still prefer to see, touch and feel phones on display (28.7%) before purchasing, as well as discussing plans and contracts with our in-store experts (24.6%).
For older age groups, human support whilst shopping is still crucial. Those aged 30-65 years made up just over 54% of total visits, with 42.1% of the over-65 age group choosing to visit a store to upgrade their devices. This is particularly important as VodafoneThree continues to commit to supporting better digital inclusion across the UK. Indeed, the ability to get help with setting up a new phone, transferring files and having it ready to use, is the most common reason for customers to visit a store in person.
VodafoneThree plans to evolve its stores from purely retail spaces to hubs for support and advice with the introduction of services like ‘Fix & Go’ by Vodafone*, with 55.4% of people saying that technical advice from a human reduces stress and anxiety and 68.7% saying it would be beneficial for the stores to repair phones as well as sell them. This also helps to stimulate the circular economy, supporting sustainability and ethical markets for re-cycling second-hand devices.
The transformation will include flagship stores in major cities, with the first of those expected to be in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Cardiff.
Jon Shaw, consumer operations director, VodafoneThree, said: “We know how important stores like ours are to the health of the high street and the communities which rely on them. From shopping devices, seeking support from our experts or getting their phone repaired, we are proud to serve our customers where they are and reaffirm our commitment to the UK high street. The stores will help bring our brands to more people, offering customers more choice and greater value, as we build the UK’s best network.”
Professor Joshua Bamfield, Centre for Retail Research, said: “The UK high street is facing challenges, with 18,937 store closures and void rates of around 13.7% in 2025. Whilst other sectors like banks are withdrawing from the high street, it’s very encouraging to see retailers like VodafoneThree acknowledge the importance of retail presence to local communities and economies. We’ve seen the impact a successful retail sector can have in towns and communities, not only for stores like VodafoneThree’s brands, but for surrounding businesses and industries like hospitality.”
