JAG Communications
Encyclopedia
JAG Communications was Britain
's third largest independent mobile phone
retailer. It was formed in 1989 in Cornwall
by owner John George
and the company's first 'store' was a disused 1920s railway carriage in the back garden of George's house at Par
.
JAG Communications grew to over 160 outlets in Cornwall, the South of England, and Wales. The company HQ was at Perranporth
Airfield, Cornwall and over 600 people were employed across the UK at its height.
In January 2009, JAG Communications underwent prepack administration following Lloyds Bank
withdrawing the company’s £2 million overdraft. The assets of the old company were taken over by a new company owned by JAG founder John George and continued to trade under the JAG brand in an attempt to save the bulk of the company and the jobs.
In order to save the company, JAG offered each store manager the chance to run the stores they worked in under licence. Very similar to a franchise program.
In July 2010, JAG agreed to enter a joint venture with Go Mobile, but John George exited in August 2010 and the JAG Brand ceasing to exist, with Go Mobile taking on 75 JAG stores which are currently run by franchise partners. George hopes to start a new venture in the air taxi industry and also has links to a chain of milk shake shops that are planned to be opened across the South west.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's third largest independent mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
retailer. It was formed in 1989 in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
by owner John George
John George (racing driver)
John George is a Cornish mobile phone entrepreneur and race car driver currently driving in the British Touring Car Championship.-Personal:...
and the company's first 'store' was a disused 1920s railway carriage in the back garden of George's house at Par
Par, Cornwall
Par is a town and fishing port with a harbour on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated in the civil parish of Tywardreath and Par and is approximately east of St Austell. Par has a population of around 1,400.....
.
JAG Communications grew to over 160 outlets in Cornwall, the South of England, and Wales. The company HQ was at Perranporth
Perranporth
Perranporth is a small seaside resort on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is southwest of Newquay and northwest of Truro. Perranporth and its long beach face the Atlantic Ocean....
Airfield, Cornwall and over 600 people were employed across the UK at its height.
In January 2009, JAG Communications underwent prepack administration following Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank Plc was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1765 until its merger into Lloyds TSB in 1995; it remains a registered company but is currently dormant. It expanded during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and took over a number of smaller banking companies...
withdrawing the company’s £2 million overdraft. The assets of the old company were taken over by a new company owned by JAG founder John George and continued to trade under the JAG brand in an attempt to save the bulk of the company and the jobs.
In order to save the company, JAG offered each store manager the chance to run the stores they worked in under licence. Very similar to a franchise program.
In July 2010, JAG agreed to enter a joint venture with Go Mobile, but John George exited in August 2010 and the JAG Brand ceasing to exist, with Go Mobile taking on 75 JAG stores which are currently run by franchise partners. George hopes to start a new venture in the air taxi industry and also has links to a chain of milk shake shops that are planned to be opened across the South west.