Originally established in 1999, Envirofone has become one of the UK’s leading and longest-serving online trade-in brands, having traded almost 50,000 units and paid over £9 million back to customers in the previous 12 months (April 2019–April 2020).
The acquisition by SK tes, the global leader in information technology lifecycle services, will enhance SK tes's offer in the mobile retail space for consumer takebacks and e-commerce sales, currently operated under the TechSI (TSI) and Stock Must Go (SMG) brand names.
The acquisition further solidifies SK tes’s position as the leading global provider of IT lifecycle services and its dedication to closing the loop on e-waste throughout the IT asset value lifecycle. SK tes will re-establish the Envirofone brand and backend operations to support the millions of consumers who choose to trade in mobility products and further expand the portfolio to include computing, gaming, and consumer electronics products.
John Paul Doble, Director of Technology Supplies International Ltd, added: “Envirofone has a long-established history of being a premier brand that, coupled with SK tes’s infrastructure, will position SK tes to become a major player in the mobile retail space overnight for consumer take-backs and e-commerce sales in the United Kingdom.
By aligning Envirofone with our existing retail returns and trade-in business, TechSI, SK tes will be able to offer a wider range of consumer electronics products, including mobile phones, laptops, pads, and gaming products, in a single online platform, enhancing the customer experience and supporting SK tes core sustainability strategy.”
This acquisition highlights SK tes's ambition to solidify its value chain for its clients through the IT lifecycle management.