early today NWIDA heard the news “most if not all” Territory managers at T-Mobile were being let go. The report shared that this may be the case “Another step at T-Mobile is going to the (vast) majority of corporate stores and eliminating the dealer network.”
After a few minutes, the report was ready confirmed T-Mobile has announced its decision to let go of Territory Managers. The layoffs also affected Metro by T-Mobile Area Managers.
It was the third update was released which explains that it is “Part of a major restructuring at T-Mobile – and there’s more to come.”
NWIDA also shared that they asked the affected Area Managers what they wanted “Apply to your old work, which will have a new name.”
The report was supported by Metro by a T-Mobile employee Twitterwho said:
“I am currently working at the Metro corporate store in New York. I was informed today that all Metro Corporate locations in the northeast are closing. Store managers and assistants have the option to downgrade to mobile experts or receive a severance package. But yes, it’s true.”
Shortly thereafter, T-Mobile Consumer Group President Jon Freier released a statement on his website explaining how they were doing. “Reshaping Retail in a Digital-First World.”
In the announcement, Freier brought up how people prefer to shop online and how it happened “A constant talking point.” The executive also shared that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need to adapt to the way customers shop these days. This is supported by data collected by NeilsenIQ.
That’s why T-Mobile believes “The way we know it [brick-and-mortar retail] is dead” since “Physical shopping is changing.” And T-Mobile wants to meet its customers “Where they want us to be.”
The report further explains the new distribution changes that will take place:
- Signature stores – Perhaps you have already visited one of several T-Mobile brand showrooms located in different parts of the country. These stores impress customers and employees with the latest Un-carrier experiences, such as exciting events and product launches.
- Practice stores – These company-owned Experience stores already exist today, but will evolve to deliver the latest and widest range of T-Mobile products and services – within 30 minutes of most customers. Like Signature, these stores will be staffed by our customer-focused Mobile Specialists with the expertise to handle every issue from A to Z. Clients will also have access to full service capabilities through our Expert Group customer service model. Soon to be our fastest growing format, these store openings will provide new jobs across the country.
- Neighboring shops – At Neighborhood stores offering our most popular products and services, customers will experience a blend of convenience and service for their everyday needs. These company-owned and Authorized Retailer-operated stores will be located in locations large and small across America, opening new business opportunities in their communities.
- Express stores – Branded as Metro by T-Mobile and operated by Authorized Retailers, our new Express format will offer quick ways to select prepaid and postpaid products. Express will also create new jobs for the entrepreneurs (often living in the communities) who run them.
T-Mobile also plans to bring retail directly to its customers in these ways:
- Mobile Shops (aka Mobile Trucks) – Our fleet of mobile trucks will deliver retail services where they need them – at brand launches, in unserved rural areas to get customers up and running when T-Mobile’s network is available in their area (and even before brick-and-mortar). and mortar storage is open) or deployed to disaster-affected communities.
- A shop in a shop – We will continue to offer customers the convenience of purchasing T-Mobile products and services where they already shop. Small kiosks at mass merchants and big box retailers at Costco, Walmart, Best Buy and elsewhere will be staffed by our T-Mobile team or trained store staff.
You can read more about the announcement here.
Source: NWIDA, T-Mobile