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Dealers - Paul Lipscombe
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A1 Comms shifts focus to drive its digital consumer business
A1 Comms has confirmed the sale of its Go Mobile high street business to KTM Online as the company looks to focus on its digital consumer business.
KTM Online, which trades as Fonehouse after acquiring the business in 2017, takes ownership of the Go Mobile high street estate, which A1 Comms acquired in 2012.
The sale of the Go Mobile franchise to KTM Online is effective from April 30.
Despite the sale of Go Mobile, A1 Comms will still own and focus on its portfolio of online brands Affordable Mobiles, Buymobiles and Phones.co.uk, plus its nationwide B2B operation Yappl.
The acquisition of Go Mobile will boost KTM’s high-street offering with an additional 31 stores, taking the total footprint for KTM Online to 52 across the UK.
Commenting on the sale of the Go Mobile brand, A1 Comms managing director of digital Bobbie Bhogal said: “The agreement will no doubt help further Go Mobile, its franchisees, employees, and partners included.
“A1 Comms’ primary objective is now focussing on our rapidly growing digital consumer business, having generated a 62 per cent increase in sales year- on-year, resulting in our best ever year as a business.”
KTM Online CEO Ben Branson added: “The Go Mobile business fits neatly into our strategy of growing a retail estate that is complementary to our network partners alongside our increasingly popular websites.
“From a commercial we’re delighted to bring on a retail estate that has boomed in between lockdowns and even happier to be able to secure jobs and support the retail sector in such uncertain times.”
