What changes for Public 50% of iRepair

By George Lampiris

The Public group is building a specialized team of technicians that will consist of 350 people with a presence in more than 100 physical points nationwide, after the strategic cooperation it signed for the acquisition of 50% of the after sales support company, iRepair, as reported in Capital.gr Robbie Bourlas, CEO of Public Group.

“Our goal is to offer to all Public visitors by 2024 the quality and speed of technological device repair services, for which iRepair stands out. Together with iRepair we create the largest specialized after sales support team of 350 people in total in more than 100 natural points nationwide “, points out Mr. Bourlas.

At the same time, within 2022, the cooperation between the two sides is expected to be reflected in the Public Cyprus stores, according to the head of Public.

The perspective and investments in the after sales service market

We will remind you that the pre-existing cooperation, before the acquisition of 50% by the Public group in iRepair, concerned the repair of smart phones, tablets, laptops, desktops. The cooperation that is going to expand significantly in the near future up to this moment is reflected through the stores of Glyfada, Piraeus, Syntagma and Athens Mall.

Evenly distributed the percentage at 50-50

Asked if there is a possibility of acquiring more than 50% of the Public Group already acquired in iRepair, Robbie Bourlas states that the agreement provides for an equal share of the two sides in the second. In particular, he notes that: “the partnership agreement concerns the acquisition by Public Group of a 50% stake in iRepair, while Chris Humbert, founder and major shareholder of iRepair, retains the remaining 50% and will lead the development of the new group as CEO” .

There will be no changes to the signage or operation of your existing iRepair network

As to whether changes are likely to take place in the near future that will affect the operation and signage of iRepair’s existing branch network, the CEO of Public Group clearly states that “nothing is changing in terms of signage or operation of the existing iRepair network “.

Regarding the planning that will follow and concerns the development of the iRepair network, Mr. Bourlas points out that “the goal is the continuous strategic development of the iRepair network, according to the needs of the market and the service of our customers. The creative synergies will be the basis of our plan “.

“There is no cannibalism of iRepair stores, but synergies at multiple levels”

To the question whether there is a possibility of cannibalism of the already existing physical store network from the simultaneous provision of iRepair services through the stores of the Public network, he answers: “We do not consider it necessary to comment on such fabrications.”