Carphone Warehouse
Carphone Warehouse is mobile phone retailer based in London, United Kingdom. In August 2014 the company became a subsidiary of Currys plc (previously named "Dixons Carphone"), which was formed by the merger of its former parent Carphone Warehouse Group with Dixons Retail. Prior to this merger, Carphone Warehouse Group was listed on the London Stock Exchange, and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. Following the closure of all stand-alone UK stores in April 2020, all remaining Carphone Warehouse UK outlets were within branches of Currys PC World.[3] In April 2021, the Carphone Warehouse business in Ireland (including all stand-alone and co-located branches and the website) was closed with immediate effect.[4] Currys continued to use the Carphone Warehouse brand in the United Kingdom, online and, until 2021, inside Currys stores.
For Carphone Warehouse in Ireland, see Dixons Carphone § United Kingdom and Ireland.Founded
1989
Charles Dunstone and Julian Brownlie
2020 (stores)
Trades only online
London, England, UK
over 11,500[2]
History[edit]
Early years[edit]
The company was co-founded in 1989 by Sir Charles Dunstone and Julian Brownlie, who put £6,000 into the company from their savings.[5][6] Guy Johnson of NEC UK became the second partner at the company, later taking up the role of Logistics and Distribution director.[7][8] In 1990, Dunstone brought in his school friend David Ross, a chartered accountant,[6][9] who became Chief Operating Officer in the same year.[10]
1999 to 2009[edit]
In January 1999, the company bought Tandy's operations in the United Kingdom for £9 million.[11][12] In July 2000, Carphone Warehouse issued an IPO.[13] In July 2001, Johnson sold the majority of his stake and retired.[7] Carphone Warehouse bought Opal Telecom in November 2002.[14]
In 2003, Ross started to step down from the COO role.[13] In July 2005, he became deputy chairman.[15] On 10 October 2006, the Carphone Warehouse announced that it would purchase the Internet access business of AOL in the United Kingdom for £370m.[16][17] Also in that month, it was announced that Geek Squad would be launching in the United Kingdom, in a 50/50 joint venture between Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy.[18]
In May 2008, Best Buy agreed to buy a 50% share in Carphone Warehouse's retail business for £1.1 billion, to launch the Best Buy Europe joint venture, named CPW Europe.[19][20] Best Buy and Carphone Warehouse also opened joint venture stores in the United States.[21]
Ross, by now a non-executive director, resigned from the board in December 2008.[22]
2010 to 2021[edit]
In 2010, the broadband and home phone business was spun off as TalkTalk.[23]
In May 2014, Carphone Warehouse Group and Dixons Retail announced their merger to create Dixons Carphone. The merger completed on 7 August 2014.[24] The Dixons Group staff moved into 1 Portal Way, the original home of Carphone Warehouse in West London, in May 2015.[25]
In May 2015, Carphone Warehouse launched iD Mobile, a mobile virtual network operator using Three's network.[26]
In April 2020, products and services from the O2 network ceased to be available from Carphone Warehouse after the companies were unable to reach a contractual agreement.[27]
Marketing and sponsorship[edit]
The X Factor[edit]
On 19 June 2007, Carphone Warehouse became the official sponsor of the fourth series of The X Factor. The sponsorship deal was to last for three years. Carphone Warehouse also became the sponsor of its spin off show, The Xtra Factor. After Carphone Warehouse and TalkTalk split, TalkTalk took over the sole sponsorship of The X Factor.[44]
Big Brother[edit]
The company were the sponsors for the United Kingdom's version of Big Brother from 2004 to 2007. In 2006, they also sponsored Celebrity Big Brother and related Celebrity Big Brother shows on Channel 4.[45]
On 17 January 2007, in response to alleged racism in Celebrity Big Brother, Charles Dunstone said: "We are talking to Channel 4. The sponsorship is constantly under review. Clearly we are against racism. Most people understand that the person who has their name associated with the programme does not necessarily condone the content."[46][47]
On 18 January 2007, Carphone Warehouse announced that it had suspended its sponsorship of the show as Channel 4 had not taken sufficient action in response to the alleged racism in the show.[45] On 8 March 2007, the company permanently dropped its sponsorship of the show.[48]
Appy Awards[edit]
In April 2011, Carphone Warehouse sponsored the Appy Awards, calling them "the United Kingdom’s first major app awards ceremony designed to recognise innovation and development in app technology".[49]
Charity support[edit]
In October 2001, Carphone Warehouse established a corporate partnership with Get Connected UK, a confidential helpline service for young people, that continues today as "The Mix".[50] Carphone Warehouse supplies Get Connected with office and helpline equipment and has been instrumental in ensuring it is free to call from all landlines and mobiles.[51] This partnership won the Charity Times Corporate Partnership Award in 2003 and the Third Sector Excellence Award for Corporate Partnership in 2006.[52]
