NEW SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Media Contact: Ted Benoit
Managing Director
BuyCell Wireless Group
Phone:425-736-1079
E-mail:buycellwg@comcast.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATION’S FIRST WIRELESS BUYING GROUP
IS ANNOUNCED
LAS VEGAS, NV, January 4th 2005 --The formation of the nation’s first wireless retailer buying group for wireless accessories, related products and phones, named BuyCell Wireless Group (BWG), was announced at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) by the group’s Managing Director, Ted Benoit.
BWG has started with five wireless retailers from across the country that have combined sales of more than 200 million dollars and represent over 3000 storefronts in 21 states.
“Independent wireless retailers need buying power in order to offer consumers better choices at competitive prices in today’s marketplace,” says Benoit. In Ted’s most recent position as National Account Manager for AT&T Wireless, he experienced the difficulties that dependent wireless retailers face first hand. “I clearly see the need for this buying group. Buying groups are not new, they exist in almost every mature industry. This group is long overdue and increasingly necessary for the long-term viability of independent wireless dealers of almost any size.
”BWG plans to help its dealers by researching wireless products and accessories that the group buys today, as well as emerging products the group would benefit from.
“We can help our group members by providing them with superior products at more competitive prices. Our goal is to help vendors and distributors by consolidating distribution and forecasting orders through a single point of contact, while at the same time increasing volume,” Benoit added. BWG plans to add dealers in 2005.
BWG offices are located in Seattle, Washington and offer additional information on their website, www.buycellwireless.com.
BuyCell Wireless Group Company Profiles
Celluphone®
Founded in 1983, Celluphone was appointed the first authorized agent for Verizon Wireless (then AT&T AMPS), 13 months before cellular service launched in the Los Angeles area. For the last 21 years, Celluphone has supported Verizon Wireless and its predecessors in Southern California, and has methodically grown its business to other regions in the country. Today, Celluphone activates subscribers exclusively for Verizon Wireless in seven markets, and exclusively for Cingular Wireless in three markets.
As America’s Premier Master Agent, Celluphone serves its carriers as an out-sourced indirect distribution channel focused on the difficult-to-support small-to medium-sized dealer segment. This is accomplished by providing a full range of value-added services to independent wireless retailers. These services include, but are not limited to; an experienced and large local field support team, a 100-seat modern call center that activates postpay and prepay customers, commissions paid twice each month, local warehousing of wireless handsets and accessories, creation and provision of unique marketing materials, consistent training programs, and innovative technologies that are developed and maintained internally and that make selling wireless products and services easier.
The company now serves retailers through Celluphone offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Chicago and St. Louis. More than 3,000 dealers currently activate subscribers through Celluphone every month.
Wireless Zone®
Russell Weldon founded Wireless Zone in 1988 with one store in Wethersfield, Connecticut then called the The Car Phone Store®. In March of 2000, it was renamed Wireless Zone to reflect the wide range of services available at the stores including the latest cellular phones, accessories for all makes and models, wireless Internet, and prepaid cellular services. Today, Wireless Zone is the largest independent, carrier exclusive, cellular retailer in the country with over 225 stores throughout the Northeast, Mid Atlantic and Florida regions. In 1998, Wireless Zone was named “Wireless Communications Franchise of the Year” by Entrepreneur magazine.
All stores are independently owned and work under the Wireless Zone nationally registered trademark and name. They are exclusive authorized retailers for Verizon Wireless and operate as franchises of parent company Automotive Technologies, Inc (ATI) located at 34 Industrial Park Place in Middletown, Connecticut. Wireless Zone stores are ensured a strong support system by ATI which includes among other things; a dedicated in-house, full service advertising agency, Directors of Stores who serve a personal advisors in the field to help increase sales and profit opportunities, accounting and finance expertise available on call, franchise training and use of the Central Warehouse for purchasing of all the best brand-name equipment.
The ATI corporate office is located at 34 Industrial Park Place in Middletown, CT, phone number 860-613-9494. Additional information can be found on their website, www.wirelesszone.com.
Cellular Plus
Cellular Plus is an exclusive authorized agent for Verizon Wireless in Montana and Wyoming. Adam Kimmet, President, who has 15 years of experience in the cellular industry, started the company in 1998. They are a full service provider of Globalstar USA satellite services and a level 2 repair facility for LG, Nokia and Motorola. Today, Cellular Plus has 17 stores, 70 employees and is the largest Verizon Wireless authorized agent in Montana.
Mountain State Wireless
Mountain State Wireless, Inc. (MSWI) was established in 1993 by Mark Urness in Boise, Idaho. As of 2004, MSWI offers 18+ locations across Idaho, Nevada and Utah. MSWI is one of the largest and most progressive wireless dealers in the western United States. They are exclusive Verizon Wireless authorized agents offering accessories for all carriers, Globalstar Satellite Phones, vehicle installs, in-building signal enhancement, data services and business solutions. Their main focus is to provide customers with the best value and service available in the wireless industry. Innovative and technologically advanced products combined with advice and direction from the most professional and knowledgeable sales force in the industry, has helped MSWI achieve a reputation for quality products and service. Much of their business is based on repeat customers, referrals and developing long-term relationships with the people they serve.
MSWI’s corporate office is located at 5571 Glenwood St., Boise, ID, phone number 208-472-3410. Additional information is available on their website, www.mountainstatecellular.com.
Wireless World
Wireless World now has 15 stores in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. They are the largest, exclusive authorized agent for Verizon Wireless in the Great Plains Region. Eleven of their stores are located in strip malls and four are in regular malls. They have been operating stores since 1999 with wireless industry experience of more than eleven years.
Managing Director Bio
Ted Benoit-Managing Director
Ted has an extensive career in multi-distribution channels within the wireless industry. He is a seasoned sales and marketing executive with 15+ years of senior level experience in wireless applications and equipment distribution. Ted brings strengths in new business development, sales strategies, equipment procurement and contract negotiation.
Prior to founding BuyCell Wireless Group, Ted most recently was National Account Manager for AT&T Wireless. He was responsible for managing national sales, services and equipment marketing programs for some of the carrier’s largest national retail and indirect agent accounts.
Ted’s business development skills were fine-tuned while he served both as a Consultant and Director at Cellstar, developing strategies to launch national activation programs and managing handset and accessory distribution programs for the nation’s largest wireless operators.
Earlier in his career, he directed distribution and master agency programs for Nextel, Airtouch, US Cellular and MCI agents. As Vice President for the entire Eastern U.S., he held full responsibility for sales, marketing, operations and logistics... servicing over 1,500 wireless points of sale in a 37 state region.
With Ted’s extensive knowledge of the wireless industry, a lot of his focus has been on expanding revenue opportunities while driving increased equipment margins. Wireless accessories have been a mainstay of that focus, early identified as critical to a retailer’s bottom line and to a customer’s ultimate satisfaction with their purchase.
However, with the category being historically so fragmented, an inordinate amount of time was spent sourcing products, many times without the desired end result…quality products at good prices. Ted saw a need for a unified buying group that could free up individual retailers to focus on driving profitability while delivering consistent, quality products at the best value to end consumers, resulting with the formation of BuyCell Wireless Group.