Verizon opens its first Smart Store in Central Indiana
HopeLine from Verizon grant also announced as part of today’s celebration;
Domestic Violence Network will use it to expand healthy teen dating programs at area schools
WESTFIELD-CARMEL, Ind. – Verizon Wireless opened its first Smart Store in Central Indiana today bringing with it an innovative and immersive shopping experience. The Smart Store, located at 1950 Greyhound Pass, provides customers exciting and interactive ways to experience the latest smartphones, tablets, accessories and connected devices in four distinct lifestyle zones throughout its 4,095 square feet of retail space.
The consumer-focused lifestyle zones include Get Fit zone, which provides health and fitness products and solutions; Amplify It zone, featuring mobile music and entertainment devices; Home and On The Go zone, for home automation and monitoring with products such as the Nest and hum; and Power On zone, for portable power and charging solutions.
“Our Smart Store located in Hamilton County, one of the fastest growing counties in Indiana, showcases content, applications and connected devices that all deliver a cohesive, complete mobile lifestyle for consumers,” said Pat Lewis, director of retail sales for Verizon Wireless. “And this new store will have more space for interaction, as it’s more than doubled in size from our prior location.”
As part of today’s celebration, Lewis also announced a $20,000 HopeLine grant dedicated to expanding healthy teen dating programs for the Domestic Violence Network, a local nonprofit that serves 18 high schools in Central Indiana.
“Teen dating abuse is a pervasive and devastating issue,” said Lewis. “The more we can do to raise awareness at an earlier age, the better. Customers and visitors to the new store can donate their no-longer-used wireless devices and accessories for HopeLine, which then generates grants for non-profit organizations.”
Kelly McBride, executive director of DVN, said the organization plans to educate 100 staff in Central Indiana youth organizations and hopes to reach as many as 4,000 students in the 2016-2017 school year. “Young people are learning to navigate through relationships and may not know the warning signs of a controlling relationship,” McBride said. “With this grant, we’ll be able to engage students and empower them to share information in their schools and in their community.”