F贸nua News - Pages 4-5
Industry News - Pages 6-8
Retail Achievements - Page 22
Introducing the new corporate website
Stay up to date
Who's doing what
ISSUE 10
Divoom Speakers
Quality sound, aesthetics, simplicity and usability Page 19
Store of the Quarter Find out who won
Page 23
Competition
Reviews
Win a Platronics RIG Headphones
Latest Smartphones
Page 14
Pages 15-17
F贸nua Elements and Young Social Innovators Page 9
www.fonua.com
The style you want,
the protection you need.
In this Issue First Word Hi Everyone, Welcome to another edition of the Fónua Magazine. This issue, as always, is jam packed with the latest news, reviews and products so plenty to keep you entertained! We were very excited to launch our new corporate website in recent months – and within this issue you will find a two page spread featuring all the new updates and features including screen shots of all these changes. Also on page 16 you will find an important update on the Fónua Customer Portal and the recent changes that have been made. In this edition we review the newest handsets to market and recommend some perfect partners – reviews start on page 10! Our product guru has been very busy lately reviewing the latest and greatest in the world of technology, this issue she takes a look
Summary at the newest releases to our audio category and the Sony Cyber Shot lens. We have another great competition for you guys this quarter – to be in with a chance of winning one of three Plantronics RIG Stereo Gaming Headsets turn to page 18 now! Finally our retail executive team have been very busy out and about with you guys in store – check inside and see if you can spot yourself in one of our pictures! That’s all for this quarter but be sure to watch out for another edition coming soon! Warm Regards, Edel Ronan
Congratulations Vodafone, Wilton Page 23
Fónua News
Pages 4-5
Industry News
Pages 6-8
Fónua Elements and Young Social Innovators
Page 9
Trade Show Highlights
Pages 10-11
Product Guru
Pages 12-13
Competition
Page 14
Review Samsung Galaxy S5 Page 15 Review Sony Xperia Z2
Page 16
Review Nokia Lumia 1520
Page 17
Fónua Customer Portal
Page 18
NEW Accessories
Page 19
Nokia Sales Day
Page 21
Retail Achievements
Page 22
Store of the Quarter
Page 23
The latest and greatest in the world of tech
Product Guru Pages 12-13 New Products Reviewed Pages 15-17 Congratulations to our previous issue contest winner Page 14 Page 3
Fónua News
Introducing our new corporate website Fónua is pleased to announce the release of our new company website, designed with a fresh new look and userfriendly navigation, updated with the latest information about our services and company news. Our updated site contains information about our extensive range of services, promoting the wide range of value added services we offer to you the customer. Within the “Life at Fónua” section you will gain insight of what it’s like to be part of the Fónua team. You may also see some familiar faces throughout the section! One of our main goals with the launch of the new site was to build a user-friendly and simple to navigate site. The new design allows the users to quickly find the content relevant to them. We hope that you will enjoy browsing our new site, finding more options and information each time, and that it will be yet another tool for strengthening our business relations.
fonua.com - Homepage
Page 4
fonua.com - About Us
fonua.com - Company News
fonua.com - Life at F贸nua
fonua.com - Vacancies
fonua.com - Our Services
fonua.com - Business Partners
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Stay up to date
Industry News Wearable Technology The trend of making technology as much a part of our everyday fashion as it is a necessity to stay connected has emerged in recent years. We are all familiar with the developments including Smartwatchs and fitness trackers. Currently Fitbit, Pebble, Samsung Gear and many others now clutter the market and provide a nice array of choice for consumers who want options on build, quality and price. The trend is expanding at an alarming rate as we can see head mounted devices becoming far more common, and heavy investments have been made to get a similar wearable technology to Google glasses. Lumus Meta Pro glasses, while not cheap, are hoping to become a contender for the first commercial smart glasses and similarly the advancements to the Oculus Rift are making it a rising star among communities focused upon a completely immersive gaming device. As the technology becomes more available we are likely to see more surprising combinations of wearable technology. Currently we already have the Sensoria Fitness, a pair of Smartsocks which help to track the progress of runners, Motor cycle helmets which offer a HUD (Heads up display), and the Mighty Purse a handbag which can charge a mobile.
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Unfortunately though it seems we are still a few years away from being able to leave our handsets at home, as practically all of the wearable technology on the market will require a connection to it to be completely useful.
user experience, allowing users to switch and sign into separate accounts, validate purchases and open up encrypted files.
Biometrics
Instant messaging has been popular since its first integration of open source instant messaging on “Jabber”. Rampant development over recent years with software and devices means that new software seems to be available each month. Currently a rising contender in this market is Telegram which aims to combine the best features of Snapchat and Viber.
Security is always important and to have a strong password it has to be different from every other password you have and nearly completely random to stop any vigilant individuals from guessing it. Biometrics serves as the most comprehensive measure to ensure your device remains in your control. Apple have introduced this option in their most recent handset, the iPhone 5S, by offering a finger print scanner. While this is the first integration in a popular handset, we are already seeing the trend emerge in popular laptop manufacturer Fujitsu and it is a confirmed feature for the Samsung Galaxy S5. Commercially you could always get fingerprint and ocular scanners, but the drastic cost and unreliability of the software stopped the expansion of this market. In developing its fingerprint sensor, Apple by acquiring ‘Authentec’ the company which initially developed the finger print scanners software, created the need for other companies to essentially reinvent the system. Microsoft aims to use this technology to the fullest and allow a heightened
Mobile Messengers
The value of this software is up for serious debate as the variance in the quantifiable amount is drastic. Social media giant Facebook is currently buying up mobile software, with their recent acquisition of Instagram for $1 Billion and their rejected offer to acquire Snapchat for $3 Billion setting the industry price for this software. Recently however, Facebook acquired WhatsApp the instant messenger service for a staggering $19 Billion, the acquisition of WhatsApp turned many heads due to the sheer cost involved as its rival software was recently acquired by Japanese company Rakuten for only $900 million.
Industry interest relates to the monetization of these mobile software’s in terms of the vast amount of user’s (upwards of 450 million users) and the increased possibility for generating ad revenue.
CortanaMicrosoft’s answer to Siri Microsoft’s answer to Siri, ‘Cortana’ is becoming the most eagerly anticipated feature in the new Windows 8.1 mobile phones. Its name is an obvious nod to the Halo series famous learning A.I., however this software will assuredly be a leap in digital personal assistants and knowledge navigators. Utilizing Tellme natural language processing, Microsoft's enormous cloud processing power, and Satori (the software which makes Bing searches so intuitive) this software is a powerhouse in terms of digital resources. The software aims to correct all the issues with its main competitor Siri and offer a vastly increased user experience, including a preference mapping system, which allows for it to understand the user. This system is customised on start-up, with ‘Cortana’ accessing your Microsoft accounts and asking a multitude of wide branching questions, to map and understand the type of user you are and things you may wish to see. Most exciting is the quiet mode
feature, which once set up allows for a pre-set block of time where all messages and phone calls will be screened, giving the user some much needed solitude whilst still remaining connected.
Intel’s move to Smartwatchs Basis Science a company which specialises in the development of sensors for tracking heart rate, sleep patterns and perspiration was recently acquired by the premium semiconductor chip manufacturer Intel. Intel acquired Basis Science for $100million, in a bid to create an Intel smart watch similar to Basis’ branded one due to its superior build quality. Competition within this market is becoming increasingly tougher due to the increasing number of brands entering the market.
Microsoft acquire Nokia’s mobile capabilities The European Union recently finalised the acquirement of Nokia’s mobile patents and services by Microsoft, the deal was struck at $7.35 billion. This effectively now gives Microsoft an incredible amount of resources from the finish company in terms of handset manufacturing and complementary patents. Recent reports reveal that the proposed acquisition initially split
Microsoft’s board of directors into two separate groups, those who approved the decision and those who thought the acquisition would be unnecessary. Microsoft’s current CEO Satya Nadella was initially opposed to the acquisition but was eventually swayed by Microsoft’s former CEO Steve Ballmer, who recently abdicated his position after 13 years. The Nokia acquisition, which was originally put forward by Ballmer, will essentially serve as the final component to his illustrious legacy. The acquisition is rather timely, as it runs in conjunction with Google’s sale of the Motorola Mobility to Lenovo for $2.9 Billion, which according to Google CEO Larry Page, can make it ‘a major player in the Android ecosystem’.
Vodafone Foundation The Vodafone Foundation recently announced its newest innovation, an 11 kilogram backpack which creates a 100 metre radius network access. The instant mini network is designed to be operated by ‘non-technical staff ‘and being the size of a suitcase means it is highly transportable, as such it will prove to be a valuable asset to humanitarian aid workers and victims prior to a disaster situation. The system as proportioned by Vodafone ‘can provide up to five concurrent calls within a radius of 100 metres and enable text messages to Page 7
Stay up to date
Industry News be sent to thousands of people’. The previous incarnations of this device provided vital assistance prior to the Philippines being struck by Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013. It is reported that the deployment enabled 1.4 million text messages and 443,288 calls to be made within 29 days.
Wi-Fi access anywhere on earth Iridium Communications has recently launched its Iridium GO, a device that uses satellite communication technology to give smartphone users Wi-Fi anywhere on Earth. The Iridium GO! aims to make huge strides in the communication industry by using technology that allows up to five people connect to the internet, receive text messages and make phone calls from some of the most hostile environments imaginable. Satellite communication has existed for some time, but it was only available through large and bulky satellite phones which could only transmit voice calls and basic messaging. The device is being aimed mostly at people involved in search-andrescue missions in remote locations and dedicated adventurers. The device delivers a coverage radius of 100 feet and users can connect devices wirelessly without any special adapters. The device was designed so it is super easy to use, working by simply raising the antenna which then automatically connects to the Iridium network and establishes a Wi-Fi connection. Once the
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connection has been made the user can then log on to an Iridium GO! APP on his or her device and use his or her phone or tablet.
One Charger Fits All Tired of having different chargers for your electronic devices? One for your phone, one for your tablet and one for your camera – this may no longer be the case. At the beginning of March, members of the European Parliament voted in favour of introducing a regulation to force manufacturers to use only one type of charger for mobile phones and other portable devices such as tablets, digital cameras and music players. The next step for this potential law is the Europe’s Council of Ministers where it requires final approval before implementation. If approved, which it’s expected to be, European member states must then turn the regulation into national law by 2016, with manufacturers having an additional 12 months to convert to the new design. “The current incompatibility of chargers is a nightmare and a real inconvenience for consumers” stated Barbara Weiler, Member of the European Parliament. Welcoming the introduction of this initiative she also stated, “This new directive ends this nightmare and is also good news for the environment as it will result in a reduction of electronic waste.” The majority of mobile phones
distributed in the EU already use a standard charger, but if introduced this new law could mean trouble for Apple and any other company with chargers that do not conform to the standard at the moment. This all means that Apple may have to deal with something it has always tried to avoid - easier switching between different platforms.
Windows – Fastest Growing OS
Software giant Microsoft has recently hailed 2013 as a “great year” for Windows Phone, branding it the fastest growing OS in the world and also committing to maintaining the momentum in the coming years. Based on IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker forecasts, adoption of the Windows Phone OS was up 91%, with global market share rising from 2.6% to 3.3% last year. Meaning it has overtaken BlackBerry as the third largest OS. IDC have also forecast that Windows may be the only OS to actually grow in global market share over the coming years as all others are currently in decline. Windows Phone are now tasked with catching up to Apple, the 2nd biggest OS, and according to Windows Phone director Greg Sullivan it can be done: “If you are in a race and want to pass third place, you have to go faster. As long as we keep doing what we are doing we will pass them.”
Fónua Elements and Young Social Innovators
Last year Fónua and The Vodafone Ireland Foundation teamed up to gather valuable funds for their nominated charity partner - Young Social Innovators. In the beginning of last year Fónua and Vodafone unveiled a major campaign to drive funds and create awareness of YSI through the Fónua Elements brand. 10% of every purchase of the Fónua Elements range, available exclusively
in all Vodafone Stores, went to the YSI fund. We recently had the pleasure of presenting the fruits of our labour to the charity with a cheque of over €7,600. These funds will be used to support YSI projects throughout the country which have a massive impact in local communities throughout Ireland. YSI encourages, motivates and creates new opportunities for young people to actively participate in the world around them. It seeks to engage young people wherever they are to prepare them to fully take part in civic action whether through volunteerism, community service, service-learning, citizenship education, social entrepreneurship and innovation. The donation target that was set last year was smashed thanks to the fantastic efforts of the Vodafone and Fónua sales teams. Fónua recently presented the €7,600 donation along with the Vodafone Foundation to
Rachel Collier, CEO of the YSI. Rachel expressed her delight at such a sizeable donation stating; “So far the guys have raised a huge amount for the social innovation fund, all of which will support young people to make a positive impact in their local communities. A big thank you to all in Fónua and the Vodafone team for making this happen” Check out the Fónua Elements Range in your nearest Vodafone store today!
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Highlights from this year's
Tradeshows January - CES Vegas
1) Samsung’s Galaxy 12.2 Pro Think Big! This 12” tablet really bridges the gap between home entertainment and productivity while having all the horse power to replace your traditional desktop PC.
3) Fitness Trackers & Smart watches This was the biggest growth area with all manufacturers having products available including: Sony, LG, Archos, Garmin and Polar.
4) Everything is going curved - from phones to TVs LG are feeling curvaceous with the new additions to their range including the LG Flex G2 and LG 77” 4K TV.
2) Juice Space Pack
5) Sony’s 4K TV
Space pack is the world’s first rechargeable battery case with builtin storage, coming with an additional 16GB or 32GB.
You can now watch a football match viewing both halves of the pitch at the same time, making you feel as if you are in the actual stadium.
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February & March - WMC Barcelona and Cebit Germany
1) Samsung Gear Fit Samsung stole the show with their Smartwatch and fitness range, setting a new standard within the category!
3) Nokia goes Android Nokia announced it’s joining the Android party with the newest additions to their range - the Nokia X and X+ handsets.
4) Memory gets a bigger brain Sandisk unveiled the new next generation 128GB SD Card.
5) Best Affordable Tablets Alcatel announced its ONETOUCH PIXI range of tablets which come in both 7” and 8”!
6) Making the impossible; possible 2) Samsung Galaxy S5 The Samsung Galaxy S5 got its official launch, the device includes loads of new features including a finger print sensor.
PowerTrekk is a revolutionary portable charger that creates electricity using water, allowing you to charge your mobile phone or tablet at the turn of a tap.
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Product Guru
The latest and greatest in the world of technology
Sony Cyber Shot DSC-QX10
The Sony QX10 "lens camera" is a must-have accessory for any serious smartphone photographer. One has to commend Sony for managing to pack a 1/2.3" 18-Megapixel sensor and a 10x zoom lens (25-250 mm) into such a compact device. This ultra-portable, clip-on camera can be attached to a smartphone and tethered to the device over Wi-Fi. Or if you’re an Android user, simply tap the devices together and connect via NFC. The idea behind the Cyber Shot DSC-QX10 is simple - compact digital camera quality images with the advantages of smartphone photography, ie. the ability to upload and share pictures instantly The QX-10 lens is controlled via the PlayMemories Mobile app, which is Page 12
The QX-10 lens is controlled via the PlayMemories Mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android
available for iOS and Android but unfortunately not for Windows Phone or BlackBerry. Photos will automatically save to your smartphone or tablet however users can save directly to the camera via the memory card slot for a microSD card (up to 64 GB) or a Memory Stick Micro (up to 16 GB). Controls are kept to a simplistic minimum ensuring day-to-day smartphone users shouldn’t find things too complicated. The QX10 is a winner for those who have always been disappointed with the quality of the camera on their smartphone but for those who are more serious about taking pictures, you might want to stick to a digital camera for the same price.
Sol Republic Deck Speaker
The Deck by Sol Republic is one of the most exciting Bluetooth speakers to hit the shelves recently. It offers big and bold sound for its compact size. It has a built-in speakerphone and comes with a unique carrying case but the most exciting feature for me is the very cool "multiuser" Heist mode. After you flip the switch on the side of the speaker to multiuser mode, you and your friends can pair up to five devices at a time, each of which is assigned a different LED colour. Music can only be streamed from one device at a time, however if you don’t like the song your friend is playing just hit play on a device that's connected and the SOL logo on the top of the speaker changes colour and you
become the DJ! Hence, the subtly clever name, Heist. Another cool aspect is the multiple pairing option available. The speaker has both audio input and audio output, so you can connect the Deck to another device that isn't Bluetoothenabled or daisy-chain multiple Decks together to get ear bursting sound. Users can also connect the speaker to a home stereo system via AUX cable and use it as a Bluetooth receiver. Another attractive feature is the incredible range on the Deck. Users can stream music from up to 300 feet away, an incredible 10 times further than your average Bluetooth speaker. With a battery life estimated at 10 hours and a special boost mode for outdoor use, this is a must for all indoor and outdoor party enthusiasts!
ZAGG Caliber Advantage iPhone 5 Gaming Controller Typically IOS touch based gaming controls never control as well as their console counter-parts but ZAGG seem to have found the remedy to this with the Caliber Advantage, an iPhone 5 and fifth-generation iPod touch accessory. Out of all the iPhone gaming products I’ve tried, this one is by far the best. Its dual analog sticks give gamers crisp and responsive controls, the same kind of precision as the PlayStation Vita or Nintendo 3DS. When not in use the Caliber Advantage controls collapse into what looks like an expandable battery case. When they’re extended, users get two analog thumbsticks, a D-pad, four face buttons, and two shoulder buttons. The Caliber connects to the iPhone via low-power Bluetooth 4.0, allowing users an impressive 150 hours of gameplay.
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Competition
Win a Plantronics RIG Stereo Headset PLAY MORE. PAUSE LESS. Connect your phone to the RIG mixer and never stop when you get a call – just punch the paddle to answer. EPIC AUDIO. Feel the game and boost your music with serious gaming gear from Plantronics. Precision stereo, crystal-clear voice quality, and three EQ profiles: Pure. Intense. Explosive. GAME ON. Two mics – one to game, one to go. Swap out the boom mic/cable and jack in the stealth inline mic with mute and call control – for music or gaming on the go. PLAY ANYWHERE. Connect to your gaming and mobile devices: PC/Mac, Xbox 360, PS3, smartphones, and tablets.
To be in with a chance of winning one of three Plantronics RIG Stereo Gaming Headsets simply answer the following question: Q: Can you name 4 devices that the RIG is designed to connect to for gaming or audio?
Email your answers to editor@fonua.com Parrot ASTEROID Mini Winner
Congratulations Congratulations Ciarán Flood from Carphone Warehouse, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Ciarán is the lucky winner of a Parrot ASTEROID Mini!
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Review
Samsung Galaxy S5 Features:
Heart Rate Sensor:
5.1� Full HD Super AMOLED Display, 16mp main camera, Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat) and 2GB of RAM
Built-in Heart Rate Sensor enables you to measure your heart rate directly on your phone
Download Booster: Allows use of LTE and Wi-Fi simultaneously to give you an unrivalled network experience
Finger Scanner: You can now unlock your phone and make faster and more secure payments via PayPal with the swipe of your finger
OtterBox Cases
Samsung Portable Battery
Samsung Gear Fit
PERFECT PARTNER PERFECT PARTNER
PERFECT PARTNER
FOR SAMSUNG GALAXY S5
FOR SAMSUNG GALAXY S5
FOR SAMSUNG GALAXY S5
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Review
Sony Xperia Z2 Display:
Camera:
High-resolution 5.2� Full HD screen that features the world’s first Live Colour LED display
With a 20.7mp camera and a larger sensor, taking pictures on this device can only lead to amazing results
Design:
Dust & Water Resistant:
Delivers the best of Sony craftsmanship, with a sleek onepiece aluminium frame and glass panels providing a natural feel when held in your hand
IP55/IP58 certification making the device both waterproof and resistant to the tiniest dust particles
Sony QX10 NFC Lens
Roxfit Book Case
Muvit Ultra-Slim Case
PERFECT PARTNER
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FOR Sony Xperia Z2
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Review
Nokia Lumia 1520 Camera: Take amazing quality photos with the 20MP PureView camera
Performance: A powerhouse of productivity with built-in Microsoft Office meaning you can view and edit Word, Excel and Powerpoint files without losing any original formatting
ZAGG InvisibleSHIELD
Colour: Available in four striking colours which might make it hard for you to decide which one suits your taste!
Nokia BH112 BT Headset
Fitbit Zip
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Announcement
Fónua Customer Portal... We’re changing for the better! We are proud to announce the release of our new and improved Online Ordering Portal. Using your feedback on previous versions of the ordering tool we set about implementing various changes to improve the aesthetics, the navigation and functionality of the application which will be evident in the new version. With the new release you will see some welcome additions including: • Better stock visibility • Improved product information • Easy online ordering facility
- Easy and quick reorder facility - Fast order creation - Ability to create draft orders - Enhanced security for order creation
• Better order tracking • Copy invoice facility • Enhanced returns /DOA logging and status check facility • Greater repair logging and status check functionality • NEW- Image bank • NEW - Look and feel • NEW - Sales express area • NEW - Recommended products feature • NEW - Perfect partners feature
The main development to the application is the overall look and feel, in this version we promote better search functionality reducing the number of clicks for more convenient ordering for you the customer. The new version also gives you better visibility of your available products. Along with this, our portal also has improved the integration of accessories promoting perfect partners throughout the ordering process. Check the screenshots out yourself to see our newest improvements!
Through feedback Fónua constantly endeavour to better our systems to improve our customers’ experience and increase the efficiency of your business processes, we look forward to hearing your thoughts on our new portal. Page 18
Accessories
Divoom Speakers The Background
There is no limitation for Divoom designers to realise their dream and union of true product design. Divoom is now making more stylish speakers for your use anywhere, anytime, going the extra mile to exceed your expectation and enriching your everyday life.
The Range Bluetune Bean
RRP: €24.99
Bluetune Onbeat 200
RRP: €59.99
Bluetune Pop
RRP: €29.99
Onbeat X1
RRP: €34.99
Bluetune Solo
RRP: €39.99
Onbeat-500
RRP: €99.99 Page 19
F贸nua News
F贸nfix offer a wide range of services including: Handset and tablet repair Reverse solutions Management of trade-in schemes Handset refurbishment
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Promotion
Nokia Sales Day As always our retail executives were very busy in the past couple of months out in Vodafone stores running a Nokia promotion! They were in the biggest and busiest Vodafone stores for sales days and were promoting both the sale of Nokia handsets and accessories! The campaign was a huge success, here are some images of you guys during the recent promotion.
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Retail Achievements
Who is doing what
Well done!
Congratulations
It's a boy!
Congratulations!
Carphone Warehouse Navan - in the days leading up to Christmas the guys here raised â‚Ź316 for the Simon Community!
Congratulations to Thomas Geraghty manager of Vodafone Tullamore and his wife Fiona who recently had a gorgeous baby Sean!
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To Jonathan Kelly from Vodafone Dundrum and Susan Bermingham from Vodafone Omni who recently got engaged!
To Lyndsey Doyle from Vodafone Dundrum and Patrick Black from Vodafone Liffey Valley, who recently got engaged in New York!
Store of the Quarter Congratulations Vodafone, Wilton Hi F贸nua,
I really feel Wilton Vodafone deserve the Store of the Quarter award this quarter. They have achieved their accessory target every quarter throughout the year. They have a very pro-active accessory ambassador, Karl Burns, who is always on top of sales, displays and offers. They also have 2 extremely competitive team members David Ahern and Yvonne Duffy who are always competing for the top 20 position in the overall company ranking. Accessories are always at the forefront off all their minds and it is driven very well by James and all the team! Kind Regards, Deirdre Naughton - Retail Area Manager, Vodafone
If you would like to see your store receive the award next quarter please send in your nomination. Winners are chosen on the nomination supplied so please include as much information as possible. Please send the nomination to editor@fonua.com
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Broaden your life.