EE has opened its second Experience Store in London after opening its flagship Studio in Westfield London last June. The new store at Westfield Stratford City will help the local East London community make the most of connected technology. The opening comes after EE research revealed that Londoners are the biggest users of smart home devices and the UK's biggest smart kitchen technology enthusiasts. The new store is one of 10 Experience Stores set to open this year as part of EE's £6 million investment in the UK's high street. The Stratford Experience Store opened at 11am on Wednesday 17th July at Westfield Stratford City with an exclusive appearance by actor, comedian and rapper, London native Michael Dapaah.
On Wednesday 17th July, actor, comedian and rapper Michael Dapaah made a special appearance at the opening of EE's newest Experience Store in the UK's most popular shopping centre, Westfield Stratford City. Dapaah, who started out creating comedy on his mobile phone, cut the ribbon and welcomed customers into the new space. The state-of-the-art Experience Store is the next of its kind to open in London, following EE's flagship Studio which opened in Westfield London last June.
The new opening comes as EE's research into the UK's tech habits revealed that smart home technology is essential for almost half of Londoners (45%), with 47% admitting to using smart home devices to manage household bills and other everyday chores. When it comes to the type of smart technology preferred, Londoners (35%) prefer smart kitchen gadgets more than any other population in the country.
The survey also reveals that smartphones play a key role in Londoners' lives, both at home and on the go, with three-fifths (58%) saying they use their smartphone to manage their social media accounts and 28% saying it helps them catch up on reading. It's no wonder Londoners spend 49 days a year using their smartphone, almost a week more than the national average of 45 days.
Londoners are among those leading the way in adopting innovative smart home technology, but EE research has found that over half (52%) tech users believe they need more support to get the most out of their connected tech. With a lack of easily accessible support tailored to their personal needs, two-fifths (40%) of Londoners are currently hesitant to invest in new gadgets for fear of spending money on products that don't suit their needs.
EE's new Stratford Experience store aims to fill this gap by giving customers access to EE Guides who can offer advice and support, giving them confidence in their technology choices. In its dedicated experience zone and Tech Home area, the store showcases the latest and greatest immersive technology specially designed to guide customers through their connected lives across four key areas: home, work, learn and game.
The experience zones include:
Welcome Zone: An inviting and dynamic storefront with a digital window canvas where customers can check out the latest product releases and in-store offers before stepping inside. Gaming Zone: With the latest games and consoles, customers can level up their gaming experience in-store. EE Guides offer expert advice on bundles and plans to help customers unleash their gamer talents. Base Camp: An inviting area where customers can sit down at workbenches and collaborative workstations, enjoy complimentary coffee, check emails and chat with EE Guides about products, services and repairs. Tech Live: Customers can try out tech before they buy, allowing them to shop with confidence. The latest technology is on display and updated regularly. Visitors can browse, get personalized product recommendations from EE Guides and buy online.
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The Stratford Experience Store also brings the future of the connected home to life, allowing shoppers to visualise their smart home set-up in a curated Tech Home area, where superfast broadband solutions, smart TVs and connected speakers will also be on display, allowing shoppers to explore the latest connected technology and online security tools to enhance their working from home experience.
Actor, comedian and rapper Michael Dapaah (aka Big Shaq) said: “Technology has been a big part of my life, especially since it became a social media phenomenon in 2017. As someone who started his career on a smartphone, I can't wait to check out the latest tech at the new EE Experience store in Westfield Stratford City and find out what tech the next generation will be using. I'd like to thank the EE team for inviting me to the official launch and I look forward to being there and meeting the local community.”
Asif Aziz OBE, retail director at EE, said: “A year after opening our flagship Studio, we are opening our second London experience store in Westfield Stratford City, one of London's busiest shopping centres and a vibrant area where technology plays a key role in everyday life. Our new store breaks the mold for retail in the telecom industry and is one of our seven new stores bringing experiential retail to communities across the UK.”
“The Stratford Experience Store is an important addition to our retail range and we look forward to welcoming East London residents to our new store, where they can expect the most personal customer service, expert support from EE Guides and the latest connected technology.”
Chris Betts, general manager of Westfield Stratford City, said: “Following the successful opening of EE's flagship studio at Westfield London last year, we're delighted that EE has chosen Westfield Stratford City for their second London location. Our customers are avid tech enthusiasts and this new store will bring great products and personalised customer service to their doorstep. We can't wait for local people to experience the new EE store and experience the latest connected technology first-hand.”
For more information, visit www.ee.co.uk
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