Retech Days News - 19th of September

urBusiness unveils innovative portal for refurbished tech

Ur.co.uk, an innovator in the tech and refurbished devices marketplace, proudly announces the launch of urBusiness. This groundbreaking proposition aims to revolutionise the refurbished handset sector for Telecoms and IT channels. By introducing the Business Premium+ range and an intuitive portal, urBusiness addresses long-standing issues of quality, consistency, reliability, and trust in the B2B refurbished market.

The newly designed urPortal offers a streamlined and seamless experience, enabling stakeholders to confidently manage their product portfolios. Users can easily navigate the platform to purchase, trade-in, and repair refurbished handsets, with full transparency and control over product, stock and pricing. This ensures a superior service and empowers users to make informed sales decisions.

Barry Poke, CEO of ur.co.uk stated that “We’re excited to unveil a game-changing solution that tackles the biggest challenges telecoms and IT partners face when buying refurbished devices and embracing the circular economy.” He added that their “… portal empowers partners to buy, trade-in, and offer repairs with total confidence—delivering premium devices at competitive prices, without compromise. This has taken years in the planning to empower the telecoms industry to have more confidence in making the right steps towards a more sustainable future.”

With 14 years of stringent quality control and rigorous testing, ur.co.uk guarantees that every device meets the highest standards. urBusiness further commits to sustainability by planting a tree for every handset purchased and five for each traded in, reducing e-waste and extending the life cycle of smartphones. This initiative not only provides a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative to new devices but also reinforces trust and reliability for business customers.

Angie Ablard, former Head of Sales for Small & Medium Business at Virgin Media O2 and now currently the Director of Channel Development for urBusiness emphasised that: “Breaking the stigma around refurbished phones and devices for business is smart and essential for driving a more sustainable future, but most people know this and that has not necessarily been the problem that needed solving. Historically, the inconsistency of supply and quality has made opting for the sustainable choice unnerving in the past, with confidence of the experience for the B2B customer being low. It’s time to shift that confidence—in our case refurbished doesn’t mean second-rate; it means commercially smarter, greener, and just as reliable.”

Breezy and RTV EURO AGD announce exciting new partnership

Breezy’s Trade-In program is now available in all stores of Poland’s leading electronics and home appliances retailer, RTV EURO AGD. This partnership marks a significant step for Breezy, a prominent player in the sustainable electronics market, as it collaborates with Poland’s top retail chain for electronics and household appliances.

RTV EURO AGD, a pioneer in the Polish retail electronics market since 1990, has been a trendsetter for over 30 years. The company operates through an omnichannel model, offering advanced technological products via more than 330 physical stores, 16 logistics centres, an online store (euro.com.pl), and a hotline. Each store is staffed with experts who assist customers in making informed purchasing decisions. Additionally, RTV EURO AGD provides a comprehensive range of services, including 0% instalment plans, insurance, and various support services related to product use.

The Trade-In program allows customers to exchange their devices and use the value towards purchasing any product from RTV EURO AGD’s extensive range. Eligible brands for the Trade-In include Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Vivo, Oppo, Realme, and Honor. Breezy ensures a transparent and fully automated assessment of the device’s condition, which takes just three minutes. Customers then receive an EURO gift certificate for the trade-in value, which can be used to buy any tech in-store, with the option to pay the difference if needed.

Andrii Kosar, CEO of Breezy, stated that this partnership “…is an important stage in the expansion of our business on the European market. We see great potential for the development of Trade-In in the region. Our experience in implementing the service in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Georgia, where we have achieved a leading position, shows its high demand. We believe the same results can be achieved in other countries of Eastern Europe and the CEE region”.

Likewise, Andrzej Krzysztofowicz, Commercial Leader of Breezy Poland, emphasised that: “Over the years, Breezy has introduced a number of innovations that have made the Trade-In service convenient for our partners’ sellers and customers. Key features include a mobile app for device evaluation, an AI-based evaluation by photos tool, and process optimisation to minimise the time spent on a single device. All our partners in Poland have full access to the comprehensive Trade-In service, and we are constantly striving to increase the number of our partners.”

Vinted adds electronics to its marketplace

The popular secondhand marketplace, Vinted, has introduced a dedicated electronics category to its app, expanding beyond its primary focus on preloved fashion. Previously, users could buy and sell a limited range of used electronics, such as video games. This new category now allows for a broader selection of items, including gaming consoles, audio devices, wearables, e-readers, virtual-reality devices and various accessories.

The decision to launch this new category comes after the success of the initial small selection of electronics, which proved popular among users. Vinted continues to prioritise fashion but is always exploring new ways to engage its customer base. The platform has also added a new seller dashboard feature, offering users a clear view of their total earnings and potential income from current listings.

Vinted remains committed to fashion but is also dedicated to promoting sustainability through the resale of electronics. This new category not only engages the customer base but also supports eco-friendly practices by extending the life cycle of electronic devices.

EE’s new eSIM service aims to cut waste and enhance sustainability

EE has introduced an eSIM service for monthly SIM-only mobile users, allowing them to select and download their eSIM directly from the EE website or app. This new service provides customers with the option to choose an eSIM-compatible device at the point of purchase, enhancing convenience and flexibility.

Upon selecting an eSIM, customers receive a QR code for immediate activation or can opt to download it later via the EE app. This flexibility ensures users can decide how and when to activate their eSIM, offering greater control over their mobile experience.

An EE spokesperson highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting new technologies, noting that EE was among the first UK networks to adopt eSIM. The recent launch of their Instant Download eSIM service is part of EE’s strategy to enhance the eSIM customer experience on their network. Additionally, by choosing eSIMs, customers contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing the need for physical SIM cards, thereby minimizing waste and pollution.