New AT&T Store In West Hartford Features An Innovative Design That Mirrors Customers' Mobile Lifestyle

AT&T’s new store design focused on the customer’s mobile lifestyle is now a reality in West Hartford. The new store at 345 North Main St. transforms the entire shopping experience. The new store concept is the result of more than two years of exploration and research all centered on one design goal – to create a more interactive and inviting store environment.

Customers in West Hartford will be among the first toexperience the new store concept that is reinventing the retail business. This store is the latest example of the investment already made in Connecticut. AT&T invested more than $850 million in its Connecticut area wireless and wireline networks – and nearly $150 million in its Hartford area networks – from 2011 through 2013. This new location will serve the growing number of consumers relying on their wireless devices to manage their busy lives.

Many of the new store design and merchandising elements were first seen in AT&T’s award-winning flagship brand store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago and are now coming to other company-owned retail stores.

“As Connecticut businesses and consumers rely more and more on mobile technology to stay in touch, announcements like this become even more important to our economic growth. We’re proud  to support retailers like AT&T and others that are investing in our communities,” said Tim Phelan, President of the Connecticut Retail Merchants Associastion. “We’ve worked hard to build a business climate in Connecticut that works for businesses and creates job opportunities.”

“Customers visiting our West Hartford store will discover an interactive shopping experience built around their mobile lifestyle,” said Bryan Gonterman, Vice President and General Manager, AT&T New England.  “Our goal is to be America’s premier retailer by providing an exceptional experience in every interaction, and we’ve been working hard to exceed customer expectations by taking our stores and network to a new level here in West Hartford.”

Flexible Design

Everything about the store is designed for ultimate flexibility.  It brings to life AT&T’s mission, brand vision, and personality while encouraging self-discovery and satisfying curiosity.

The store layout will highlight AT&T’s products and services, devices and accessories across three unique “zones” – the Connected Experience Zone, the Community Zone, and the Explore Zone.

The new Connected Experience Zone features “lifestyle vignettes” that offer customers a glimpse of how products can be used in customers’ everyday lives. These lifestyle pavilions will highlight categories such as music, home security, entertainment and more.

Next is the Community Zone, featuring “community tables” that let customers shop and play in an open and interactive space.  This space has apps, accessories and devices on display to show customers how they can work together.

Finally, customers can check out the Explore Zone with “explore walls” that showcase AT&T’s diverse device line-up and accessories complemented by digital monitors with product information.

Enhanced service experience

What you won’t see in these new stores is almost as important as what you will see. Customers will no longer see the traditional retail “cash-register” counters. Instead, they’ll find round café-style “learning tables” that allow for side-by-side interactions with the AT&T retail consultant to ask questions or learn about a product or service. Allretail consultants carry a tablet supported by a new mobile point-of-sale system that allows them to help customers anywhere in the store.

Customers also won’t see the printed product brochures common in many stores. With digital signage, e-brochures and interactive video monitors, they can have the information literally at their finger tips while giving AT&T the flexibility of updating messaging faster and more efficiently.

Store information

Hours for the new West Hartford store are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. AT&T has 40 retail locations in Connecticut. To find the nearest AT&T store or Device Support Center near you, visit www.att.com/find-a-store or www.att.com/dsc.  Don’t forget you can also make an appointment before visiting your local AT&Tstore -https://www.att.com/storeappointment/.