BTC Seahorse Plaza Retail Experience Center to Open Saturday

Hundreds are expected to turn out for the opening of BTC's latest retail centre Saturday when officials cut the ribbon on the store in the Seahorse Plaza, Grand Bahama and reveal a major renovation that transformed dated administrative space into a bright and cheerful retail environment complete with original art work and packed with new smart phones and other products.

A full day's events with food and entertainment will mark the re-opening along with the highly-anticipated launch of 4G following the ceremony to which the public is invited with BTC Senior VP, Commercial and Family Islands Tellis Symonette and Grand Bahama Manager Michael Laing.

The re-opening follows a complete demolition and renovation, explained retail lead Bob Gill.

"Walls came down. Floors came out. Work included new utility connections, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting and more. Construction provided jobs for more than 50 persons. The result is a 1900-square foot store packed with vibrant colours, original art and dozens of the most sophisticated wireless products," said Gill.

But the dramatic differences between what was and what is lies in the approach to business, say BTC spokesmen. Newly trained staff members will now greet customers, creating an interactive experience with the company’s services, staff and products, including games, video, mobile apps and more and an array of plans for fixed line, broadband and mobile services.

"We have been told repeatedly by people in Grand Bahama that BTC's infusion is not only welcome as an immediate boost, but demonstrates our company's commitment to the future of Grand Bahama," said Jerome Sawyer, Manager, BTC Public Relations. "And the launch of 4G -- the fastest speed available for uploads and downloads -- at the same time makes Grand Bahama an even more attractive place to do business. When you consider how many places in the U.S. are years away from going 4G, it's really impressive for Grand Bahama to be fully blanketed with 4G."

Seahorse Plaza is the latest in a series of rebuilds and total transformations from administrative space to hands-on active centres packed with fixed line and wireless options and experiences across the country. The company has invested some $2 million rolling out new stores and expects that amount to reach $8 million by the time it completes 35 from one end of the archipelago to the other. Most recently, BTC opened retail experience stores in Exuma and on Shirley Street in Nassau where customers can experiment with downloads, games, video and other features on various handsets before they before select an instrument or plan. The leading telecom company has also launched 4G in Abaco, Bimini and the Berry Islands in recent weeks.

Seahorse Plaza is the third store to open in Grand Bahama. The first at Pioneers Way opened in February and has continued to exceed projections. A second store opened in High Rock.

The Seahorse Plaza store is among 11 that BTC has either opened or is in the process of completing since the first flagship store in the Mall at Marathon in Nassau was unveiled in December. Treasure Cay, Abaco, opened in May.