The Tribune

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) latest revamped retail store opened in Marsh Harbour on Saturday.

Customers braved unsettled weather, lining up as early as 7am to get their hands on iPhone 4s, the Blackberry Jazz and Samsung Y’s.

Located on Don MaKay Boulevard, the Marsh Harbour store is the second new BTC Retail Centre to open on Abaco, the first being Treasure Cay this summer.

The Marsh Harbour store is also the first BTC retail location with a new colour-coded design, which will allow customers to navigate stores easier.

“We are redefining the retail footprint of BTC” said Gershan Major, its vice-president of sales, channels and business development.

“The new layout will provide BTC customers with a more engaging retail experience. Each area is colour coded. The landline services area is painted in a vibrant lime green, turquoise is for mobile services and fuchsia is for Internet services. This will allow easier navigation and customers know exactly where to go for what they want.”

Like other BTC locations, Marsh Harbour’s interior will be defined by its original artwork, a wall-length mural depicting a window opening to a vibrant view of Abaco’s shore, which was created by Bahamian Allen Wallace.

Bob Gill, BTC’s retail lead, who has served as project manager for the company’s entire retail expansion, said more than $300,000 was invested in constructing the new Abaco location.

“This store took about four months to complete. It was a completely new location, and everything is brand new” said Mr Gill.

Closely following Marsh Harbour’s opening will be the unveiling of BTC’s new Carmichael Road location, which is scheduled to open in mid-December.

BTC also hopes to expand via several franchise locations, following the opening of its first franchise store in Grand Bahama last month.

“In the next year or so, we hope to have upwards of 50 franchise locations around the country where customers will be able to enjoy all of the products and services of other BTC locations” said Tellis Symonette, senior vice-president of commercial and Family Islands.

Cutting the ribbon and declaring the Marsh Harbour store officially open were BTC retirees, Marilyn Albury and Warren Albury. The Alburys were BTC employees for several decades and worked on a number of the Family Islands when there was limited infrastructure and only telegraph services, in some instances.