Armidale’s Telstra store has been plagued by poor management and insufficient staff forcing it to close its doors frequently in recent years, but those days may be over with new owners taking over later this year.
Dubbo based business axxis, a well-respected name in regional telecommunications for over 35 years, is set to extend its services to Mudgee, Narrabri, and Armidale with the acquisition of Telstra Retail Stores in these key regional hubs. This marks a major milestone for the company, reinforcing its dedication to providing high-quality telecommunications solutions and exceptional customer service to communities across regional New South Wales.
Founder Mathew Dickerson expressed his excitement about the expansion, emphasising the strong reputation axxis has built in Dubbo and the opportunity to replicate that success in these new locations.
“I am enthusiastic about this growth after 35 years of building an excellent reputation in Dubbo.”
“Axxis will bring exceptional customer service to these 3 locations while maintaining access to the best network,” said Mr Dickerson.
To celebrate this exciting new chapter, Axxis will host a series of launch events in each of the three towns. These events will not only mark the official opening of the new locations but also serve as a way to engage with the local communities, featuring prizes, special guests, and exclusive promotions.
The launch dates are as follows:
- Mudgee: Saturday, 12 April
- Narrabri: Saturday, 3 May
- Armidale: Saturday, 14 June
The focus of Axxis’ expansion is clear: to ensure that local businesses and residents in Mudgee, Narrabri, and Armidale have access to the best telecommunications services available, enabling them to stay connected in an increasingly digital world. This commitment and change in attitude is expected to be strongly welcomed, with New Englanders frequently told to ‘visit the Telstra store’ for everything from service outages to the 3G switch off. Which is difficult to do when the store isn’t open.
Mr Dickerson, who is also a member of local council in Dubbo, says he is committed to delivering what locals need and understands how important connectivity is in rural areas. Upfront about the operational challenges at the Armidale store, he is reassuring customers that the company is committed to addressing it promptly.
“They just haven’t had enough staff, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
“In a centre the size of Armidale, you’d expect to be open 7 days a week, and that’s what we intend to do.”
To ensure the Armidale store is fully staffed and up to the high standards axxis prides itself on, the re-opening of the Armidale store will take place last, after the launches in Mudgee and Narrabri. This delay will provide the time needed to recruit and train the right team for the store.
The acquisition also continues the steady stream of Dubbo based businesses investing in the New England since Michael Adams and partners made the decision to close their Dubbo dealership and buy Hardman Automotive and most of Grant McCarroll to form the Armidale Automotive Group in early 2022.
Top image: Founder Mathew Dickerson (L) with axxis Area Manager Xander Peters at the Armidale store.
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