The Dutch telecom retail market is still on the move. Operators continue to open new shops and transform shops they took over from independent retailers. Despite the take-overs the number of independent retailer shops increased again. For the future Telecompaper expects the number of operator shops to increase further, at the expense of small independent telecom retailers.
Over the past two years the overall marketing spending of independent retailers decreased. However, the Dutch consumers still prefer buying handsets in telecom shops. With regards to SIM only purchases, buying online is more popular. When bought at a shop, separate handsets are sold more via non-specialised telecom shops, like electronics retailers.
This research brief also discusses other relevant developments of the past two years. Lately several new retail concepts were introduced, from a vending machine to multi-brand shops. Operators as well as independent retailers started these new concepts. While handset manufacturer Apple wants to open a second Apple store in the Netherlands, software producer Microsoft announced that they are not opening Microsoft shops in the Benelux.