Verizon Wireless Opens First Retail Store in Boulder

BOULDER, Colo. — No one can deny the popularity of shopping on the Internet, but there's still no shortage of the old fashioned bricks and mortar retail shops that erupt, seemingly overnight, along major cross streets. It may not be visible to the consumer, but times have changed for owners of such stores and for their employees.

At the new Verizon Wireless store on 28th and Pearl, for instance, six out of seven employees are part-time and five are University of Colorado students. Similarly, in the Verizon Wireless location at the FlatIron Crossing Shopping Center, seven of the 10 employees are students and seven are part-time employees. But being a part-time employee and a student, doesn't necessarily mean salaries and benefits that pale in comparison to a full-time employee. Verizon Wireless offers employees a competitive base salary as well as the opportunity for significant sales commission.

"We're excited about offering high quality, wireless products and services at a retail location in Boulder and being able to offer Boulder residents flexible employment that compliments their lifestyles," said Marni Walden, president of the Mountain Region for Verizon Wireless.

In addition to higher than average wages, Verizon Wireless offers a stellar benefits package that includes 100 percent tuition reimbursement when attending an accredited institution of higher education, 401K savings plan, medical and dental plans and something every student could use, discounted wireless phone service.

The new Verizon Wireless Communications Store, in Boulder, which celebrated its grand opening this past weekend, offers a variety of products and services, including the company's popular all-inclusive SingleRatesm service and a premier line of digital wireless phones, data products and accessories. The staff of trained wireless professionals at the store can assist individuals in selecting equipment, making decisions on calling plans or setting up Mobile Web service, Verizon Wireless' popular wireless Internet access service.

Lynn Tidd is the manager of the new Communications Store. The store is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The FlatIron Crossing store is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with 26.3 million wireless voice and data customers and 3.5 million paging customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp - now Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) -- and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 32,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company in its Media Center on the Web at: http://www.verizonwireless.com/mediacenter/index.shtml

####