Currys PC World stores launch kerbside collection service

Dixons Carphone is now offering a contactless kerbside collection service at 20 of its Currys PC World stores in England.

The electricals retailer is gearing up to reopen its UK stores using lessons learned from its Scandinavian operation, where locations have continued trading throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

It is permanently closing its more than 500 smaller Carphone Warehouse stores in the UK with the loss of up to 2,900 jobs. This is due to changes in the mobile retail market that were accelerated by the lockdown. There are no plans, however, to reduce the estate of more than 300 larger Currys and PC World stores.

The contactless kerbside collection service is “the start of a phased re-opening that we hope to extend gradually. Safety is our priority, both for colleagues and customers, so we’ve provided our store teams with training in hygiene and social distancing,” the company says.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone back in-store, as soon as the government says it’s safe to do so.”

Go Instore

Earlier this month, we reported on a Dixons Carphone initiative which involves livestreaming its sales assistants during the coronavirus pandemic.

The ShopLive service, developed with Go Instore, connects customers with employees at Currys PC World via a video link.

Initially, customers browsing the Currys website will be invited to chat to store staff via a pop-up video link beside a limited range of products such as laptops, TVs, washing machines and fridges. The plan is to expand the service and enable live demonstrations of products, during which customers can ask questions.

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