Westfield destinations become first shopping centres in UK to offer shoppers on-the-go phone charging following partnership with Up.co
From today, customers of Europe’s two largest shopping centres, Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City, will be able to shop till they drop comforted by the knowledge their mobile will still be fully charged even if their legs grow weary.
Up.co, the parent company behind Europe’s largest phone charging network, ChargedUp, and sister hand sanitiser business CleanedUp, has secured a five-year exclusive deal to supply Westfield Stratford City and Westfield London with the firm’s network of portable mobile power banks.
This is the first time consumers within a shopping centre will have access to on-the-go charging through the battery rental network - all powered by 100% renewable energy via a partnership with Octopus Energy, one of the leading providers of Renewable Energy in the UK.
The London-based startup, launched in April 2017 by Hugo Tilmouth (24) and Charlie Baron (26), supplied the Westfield centres with 600 portable power banks available to rent from 11 rental stations, providing consumers across its two UK shopping destinations the freedom to charge on-the-go.
“In a world where we live busy lives and need to be constantly connected - there’s no other feeling of instant blind panic than when you’re out and realise your phone battery is about to die,” said Hugo Tilmouth, CEO and co-founder of Up.co.
“Up until now, mobile charging options in shopping centres have been limited and static. You’ve either had to lock your phone away and leave it, or wait with it - often impatiently - as you watch the battery life creep towards 25%, in the hope it then lasts until the end of the day.
“With increasing numbers of us using our phones as payment devices, being fully-charged is more important than ever for shoppers.
“As a nation, we cherish socialising and shopping; to the point of religion. When the world was forced to stop, we innovated, developing a portfolio of upgraded solutions to deliver a better way of socialising, working and staying safe.
“And at a time where every shopping trip has taken on new meaning, we’re here to make the experience simpler, safer and more enjoyable - whether that’s through our hand sanitising stations or phone charging network.
“Westfield has always been a trailblazer in retail experience. At Up.co, we’re proud to be supporting them, helping them provide the same experience that people love; just upgraded.”
ChargedUp which provides mobile charging stations in public spaces has grown a network of 2500 charging points across 50 European cities and takes inspiration from bike-sharing, letting you rent a mobile charging pack from one destination and return it at a different location.
Jakub Skwarlo, Director of Operations UK at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield adds: “We’re delighted to partner with Up.co to bring ChargedUp to our visitors at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City. The new service brings great convenience to shoppers so they can remain connected whilst spending time in our centres, allowing them to experience more from our retail, dining and entertainment outlets.”
