New Mobile PC merchandise retailer, Bibi, is pleased to announce that it is planting firm roots on the high street. Following a successful pilot during May, which trialled a simple shopping centre aisle display unit, Bibi founder Bobby Watkins determined the mobile computing store concept prosperous and has put the wheels in motion for a full shop roll-out.
The first store opens in Guildford’s high footfall Tunsgate Square this week, and will be followed by further store locations in the South in the future. Bibi is a stylish showcase of modern mobile technology from leading brands such as Sony, Samsung and Lenovo, and a one-stop accessory shop for fashion conscious mobile device users. Whilst other high street stores are shutting up shop having lost the battle with the economic down turn, Bibi is bucking the trend and breathing new life onto the high street thanks to the inspiration of industry personality Bobby Watkins.
Having previously held top level positions at some of the UK’s most successful technology companies, including Sony and Acer, and now an established business development consultant within the sector, Bobby is perfectly skilled to introduce a new high street store brand. By drawing upon his experience and relationships within the industry Bobby is positive that his new venture will be a success.
“Nowadays technology is top of most people’s wish lists, and the affordability of modern devices such as Tablets PCs and Mobile Phones makes buying off of the shelf on the high street a reality. It has also created a huge potential for the retail of mobile tech accessories”, says Bobby Watkins, Founder, Bibi. “The high street needs to evolve to respond to changes in consumer spending. Technology has become such a big part of our lifestyle that we now want to give our gadgets an identity to reflect our individuality, hence why mobile phone accessories are so popular and readily available almost everywhere you look. Bibi will serve the fast growing population of mobile tech users, providing a high street walk in that will enable shoppers to get hands on with devices before they buy, to get advice from trained staff and personalise their mobile devices from a wealth of accessories.”
Bibi will provide welcome long term career prospects for a handful of eager unemployed locals. Despite the latest labour market statistics released by the UK’s Office for National Statistics reporting that the unemployment rate fell slightly last quarter, it was also a reminder that 2.61 million remain jobless in the UK. A number of out of work young people have already been employed by Bibi’s first store via the Job Centre employment process and have been promised both on and off the job training.
Bobby Watkins comments, “We felt that it was important to employ our shop’s staff from the large pool of untrained unemployed, and are proud to be able provide them with an opportunity to establish a career that may not otherwise be obtainable in the current climate. The individuals we chose demonstrated an eagerness to learn the business and to improve their life perspective, hence we have implemented a training programme that will provide the Bibi team members the means to develop a business or technology career.”
In addition to creating employment and supporting the UK high street, Bibi is also committed to supporting home grown business and manufacturing, so many of the products available from Bibi are sourced from exciting UK brands.