AT&T opening Store of the Future in Tampa April 1

TAMPA — AT&T* will open a new store with a design focused on the customer's mobile lifestyle on April 1. The store, at 1812 N. Westshore Blvd. in Tampa, transforms the entire shopping experience for customers.

The 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. This unique store design blends cutting edge technology with a warm and comfortable interior. The result is an inviting, yet forward-looking, shopping experience

 “Customers visiting our Tampa store will discover a design that is built around their experiences and delivers an interactive shopping experience that mirrors their mobile lifestyle,” said Carlos Blanco-Sposito, vice president and general manager, AT&T Florida.  “Our goal is to become 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 Tampa.”

The Tampa store will be AT&T’s fourth Store of the Future in Florida; other sites opened in Miami, Orlando and Jupiter in the past year. The 3,950-square-foot store 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 now are coming to other company-owned retail stores.

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 cafe-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. All retail 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 fingertips while giving AT&T the flexibility of updating messaging faster and more efficiently.