Chris Reynolds owns and manages Fonehouse in Penarth and when he isn't setting up customers' email and mobile broadband or downloading apps, you'll find him cycling around the Vale (but he'll still be thinking about mobile phones).
THE LAST WORD
Please tell us about Fonehouse.
We're on Glebe Street in Penarth. We sell mobile phones, accessories and data solutions (internet on phone, mobile laptop) for private and business customers. I breathe, eat and sleep mobile phones - it's what I do.
How long has Fonehouse been in Penarth?
Two years. I really like it here.
What brands do you offer?
All the top brands: HTC, Samsung, Nokia, Apple iPhone, Blackberry plus a large range of accessories, chargers, incar chargers, cases, memory cards and sticks and a large range of Bluetooth from dongles to car kits.
Is there anything you don't know about phones?
I'd like to think I'm on top of the game. Come in and put us to the test.
What phone do you use?
It's an HTC Desire. It's an awesome piece of kit. It does everything. Simple to use. It has excellent internet access and uses the Android operating system which, personally, I think is the most user friendly. And it works as both a personal and business phone. It's brilliant - thousands of free games and applications (apps).
What do you like about Penarth?
People are friendly and it's by the sea.
What do you do when you're not at Fonehouse?
I love swimming with my son and I'm just getting into cycling.
How's business?
Business is okay - we're expanding into new areas. For example, we're doing more with business (b2b) and commercial customers. We've developed a great selection of tarrifs for business users. With this and the great deals we provide for personal customers, we think this is a very exciting time - lots of opportunities.
Why should people come to you and not directly to the larger mobile phone chains?
I believe we offer a much more personal service. We have the time to ensure customers have an excellent level of service that they expect and to find the right phone and package that suits them. All too often with the bigger chains, they're so busy that they just can't give you the quality of service mobile customers deserve. Also, we're completely impartial so we're not tied to a particular network.
Additionally, we provide a number of services such as setting up phones and email for our customers. It's that extra level of service that you just don't get from the big boys.
Where do you see Fonehouse in a few years?
Hopefully with more shops across the Vale - across South Wales even - providing the same standard of service we offer our customers in Penarth.
Where do your customers come from?
Right across the Vale and Cardiff. We also get quite a bit of business from tourists and visitors to the area.
What's your most popular seller at this moment?
HTC are extremely popular and are outselling every other phone here at Fonehouse - they're probably our biggest sellers. We're also seeing BlackBerry and Samsung selling quite well too.
What networks do you offer?
All the major mobile networks: Vodafone, T-Mobile, O2 - they're really our main ones. Quality of signal varies widely in the Vale. It's a rural reception so signal strength can literally vary from street to street.
Are you offering any incentives or promotions at present?
We always have great deals on but at the moment, anyone who comes in and signs up or takes out a new contract or upgrade before the 31st July will be entered into a free prize draw to win a 40inch LED HD TV with Freeview.
