Sales & Marketing

When Aerial Communications decided to go retail with its wireless phone services, it didn’t simply open its own stores or launch a franchise. Instead, it turned to a 24-year-old Upper St. Clair native with a telecommunications dream.

Matt Curti, wanting to launch a wireless phone business, researched his options and eventually approached Aerial. Together, they worked to launch the first-ever branded Aerial store. The pilot program, called Clear Choice, recently opened for business on Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon.

Unlike a franchise operation, many of Curti’s start-up costs were funded by Aerial, giving Curti fewer up-front costs and risks. Aerial shoulders fewer risks in the long term because Curti hires his own employees, rents the space and owns the business. Still, Aerial provides training, signage, store displays, fixtures and advertising support.

If the branded store concept works, Aerial reportedly plans to roll it out in other markets across the country.

Clear Choice, open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., carries Arch pagers.