Redeem Mena, a unit of the leading mobile phone recommerce and recycling company in Europe, has signed partnerships with three of the key electronics retailers in the UAE for recycling of mobile phones.

The partnerships include cooperation with Virgin Megastore, iStyle, an Apple Premium Reseller and Plug Ins.

Under the terms of the partnerships, retailers are able to offer consumers vouchers (to be spent in store or online) in return for their used mobile phones. Redeem provides full support to the retailers, for instance by tailoring the scheme to the retailer, advising on marketing, training staff, and taking the used mobile phones from the retailers in return for appropriate payment.

Together Virgin Megastore, iStyle and Plug Ins have over 40 retail outlets in the UAE, and Redeem expects to agree partnerships shortly with two further major retailers, which will bring the total number of UAE outlets where a mobile phone trade-in offer is supported by Redeem to 70.

In addition the team are already developing relationships with new partners in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt.

El Assi said: “Redeem provides a unique new service for retailers. Working with us, retailers are able to make an exciting offer to their customers – vouchers in return for the customers’ used phones – which helps to cement the customer relationship and sell further products and services. In addition, Redeem makes payment to the retailers and takes the used phones, and provides experienced and knowledgeable support.”

Earlier this year Redeem officially opened its Mena office in Dubai’s Airport Free Zone. The new office is headed by Husni El Assi – a 25-year veteran of the mobile communications industry in the region.

El Assi said: “Redeem is proud of its world-beating experience in the field of mobile phone recommerce and recycling. We look forward to working with more partners across the Middle East and North Africa. Those partners may be retailers, major network operators, distributors, or others – including corporates who wish to dispose of used mobile phones in a secure manner which is respectful of the environment.”

Redeem has over fifteen years of industry experience in recommerce, recycling and trade-in services. It is a global leader in the provision of recommerce and recycling solutions for hand-held technology, operating in 26 countries.

Redeem has paid customers over GBP300 million ($459 million) through its market leading consumer brand, Envirofone, and partnerships with major European mobile network operators such Telefonica, Telia Sonera, and Vodafone.

Mark Chambers, chief commercial officer of Redeem, said: “Establishing our operations in the Middle East represents a significant milestone in the growth of the Redeem Group.”

“The Middle East region will benefit from Redeem’s 15 years of experience in delivering scalable, innovative and market-leading solutions at both a global and local level. With solutions tailored to each client requirement providing maximum simplicity and flexibility, we’re confident we can replicate our successful tried-and-tested processes from Europe, South East Asia and North America in this new and exciting territory,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service