{{Short description|Greek consumer electronics retailer owned by British Currys plc}} {{Infobox company | name = Kotsovolos (Κωτσόβολος) | logo = Kotsovolos logo.svg | type = Subsidiary | foundation = {{Start date and age|1950}} | location = Athens, Greece | area_served = Greece and Cyprus | locations = 96 (including 3 in Cyprus) | key_people = | industry = Retail | products = Electronics | num_employees = 5,600 | parent = Public Power Corporation<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.protothema.gr/economy/article/1431537/dei-kotsovolos-oi-leptomereies-oi-prooptikes-kai-i-simasia-tis-exagoras/ | title=ΔΕΗ – Κωτσόβολος: Οι λεπτομέρειες, οι προοπτικές και η σημασία της εξαγοράς | date=3 November 2023 }}</ref> | homepage = {{unbulleted list | {{URL|https://www.kotsovolos.gr}} (Greece) | {{URL|https://www.kotsovolos.cy}} (Cyprus) }} }} '''Kotsovolos''' ({{langx|el|Κωτσόβολος}}) is one of the leading electrical and electronics retailers in Greece and Cyprus. It started as a small neighborhood store in downtown Athens in 1950<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Global Sustain : Dixons South-East Europe S.A.|url=http://globalsustain.org/en/member/216|access-date=2020-10-05|website=globalsustain.org}}</ref> and today has a network of over 90 stores,<ref name=":0" /> in Greece and Cyprus, both corporate and franchise, as well as two online stores, kotsovolos.gr and kotsovolos.cy.
Before Public Power Corporation completed its acquisition in 2024,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ppcgroup.com/en/investor-relations/announcements/stock-news/stock-news-2024/ppc-completion-of-the-acquisition-of-kotsovolos/|title=PPC announces the completion of the acquisition of Kotsovolos|work=PPC|access-date=2025-09-20|language=en}}</ref> Kotsovolos was part of Dixons for two decades.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kotsovolos Dixons uses Relational expertise to add value to retail sales|url=https://www.relationalfs.com/our_news/kotsovolos-dixons-uses-relational-expertise-add-value-retail-sales/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Relational|date=6 June 2004 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=UK retailer Dixons acquires majority stake in Kotsovolos, Fotis Kollias|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/24193/article/ekathimerini/business/uk-retailer-dixons-acquires-majority-stake-in-kotsovolos|date=2004-07-09|access-date=2020-10-05|website=www.ekathimerini.com|language=English}}</ref> In addition to retail, it provides after-sales support,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mavrakis|first=Lefteris|title=Kotsovolos|url=https://bndbco.com/projects/66-kotsovolos|access-date=2020-10-12|website=BNDB|language=en-gb}}</ref> installation, warranty and repair services, together with business-to-business services.
The company's headquarters are located in New Heraklion, Attica.
== History ==
Kotsovolos started in 1950 in a regional, small shop downtown Athens.<ref name=":0" />
In 1993 Kotsovolos was bought out by "Fourlis Trade S.A.".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=History - fourlis.gr|url=https://www.fourlis.gr/group/fourlis/history/?lang=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-12|website=www.fourlis.gr}}</ref>
In 1998 Kotsovolos bought out the "Radio Athinai" chain, expanding its network even further.<ref>{{Cite web|title=In Brief {{!}} Kathimerini|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/9322/article/ekathimerini/business/in-brief|access-date=2020-10-12|website=www.ekathimerini.com|language=English}}</ref>
Kotsovolos expanded into markets outside Greece and in May 2000 embarked on a strategic cooperation with the British multinational, Dixons Carphone plc.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Investegate {{!}}Dixons Group PLC Announcements {{!}} Dixons Group PLC: 15% of Leading Greek Electricals Retailer Acquired|url=https://www.investegate.co.uk/dixons-group-plc--dxns-/rns/15--of-leading-greek-electricals-retailer-acquired/200004190702053337J/|access-date=2020-10-12|website=www.investegate.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
In 2004 it joined forces with the Dixons Group with new privately owned stores, as well as through a franchise system. It renovated its stores in accordance with the international standards of the Dixons group and introduces a new store concept in the market, featuring total support coverage for appliances.<ref name=":2" />
In 2007 it launched its online store www.kotsovolos.gr.<ref>{{Cite web|title=kotsovolos.gr revenue |url=http://ecommercedb.com/en/store/kotsovolos.gr?q=%2Fen%2Fstore%2Fkotsovolos.gr|access-date=2020-10-12|website=ecommerceDB.com|language=en}}</ref>
In 2008 Kotsovolos entered appliance recycling, recycling tons of electrical and electronic devices within a few years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kotsovolos Recycling Van April–May 09 {{!}} Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.131253995838.106616.131131070838&type=1|access-date=2020-10-12|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>
thumb|300x300px|Kotsovolos Store at The Mall Athens<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ανακαινίστηκε πλήρως το κατάστημα Κωτσόβολος στο The Mall Athens|url=http://www.economy365.gr/article/96420/anakainistike-pliros-katastima-kotsovolos-sto-mall-athens|access-date=2020-11-05|website=www.economy365.gr|language=el}}</ref> In 2010 Kotsovolos launched the Support 360° integrated customer support umbrella of services, and introduces innovative products to the market, such as 3D TVs and Smart TVs.<ref name=":0" />
In 2015, Kotsovolos celebrated its 65th anniversary<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kotsovolos 65th Anniversary Campaign|url=https://athens.mullenlowe.com/news/65-years-kotsovolos/|access-date=2020-10-12|website=MullenLowe Athens|language=en-US}}</ref> with a technology exhibition at the Technopolis of Athens. Exhibits included appliances of the past and state-of-the-art appliances of the future that are not yet released in the Greek market. The Thanks to Tech<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thanks to Tech we were all surprised by Kotsovolos|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/thanks-tech-we-were-all-surprised-kotsovolos-maryam-sadri|access-date=2020-10-12|website=www.linkedin.com|language=en}}</ref> annual technology exhibition was thus established. Free of charge and easily accessible to all, the exhibition presents technological innovations and devices that are not yet on the market, together with devices that have appeared only at the IFA International Exhibition.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IFA Xtended Space|url=https://xtended.ifa-berlin.com/login|access-date=2020-10-12|website=xtended.ifa-berlin.com}}</ref>
Kotsovolos launched its first online show, "TryMe" on YouTube in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kotsovolos|date=October 1, 2015|title=Try Me - Youtube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5_bHYg_19I|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=YouTube}}</ref>
In 2016 the company presented the corporate social responsibility program "Second Home", which mobilizes those who own appliances that work but are not in use, to offer them to families in need.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kotsovolos|url=https://www.gravitythenewtons.gr/case-studies/kotsovolos.html|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Gravity The Newtons|language=en}}</ref>
In 2019, for the first time in the Greek market, Kotsovolos created the Pay Express service.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-19|title=Η Κωτσόβολος δημιουργεί την υπηρεσία Pay Express για πρώτη φορά στην Ελλάδα |url=https://www.iefimerida.gr/ellada/kotsobolos-dimioyrgei-ypiresia-pay-express|access-date=2020-10-12|website=iefimerida.gr|language=el}}</ref>
In 2021 the company opened up its first online and physical stores in Cyprus. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=Greece’s largest retail electrical company opening in Cyprus |url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/07/07/greeces-largest-retail-electrical-company-opening-in-cyprus |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=cyprus-mail.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2023, Kostovolos was acquired by the Public Power Corporation for €200 million as part of the PPC's €9 billion investment plan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=keeptalkinggreece |date=2023-11-03 |title=Greek Public Power Co. (PPC) buys Kotsovolos electronics retailer |url=https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2023/11/03/greece-public-power-company-ppc-buys-kotsovolos-retails/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Keep Talking Greece |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-04 |title=Why PPC is acquiring the Kotsovolos chain {{!}} eKathimerini.com |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1224028/why-ppc-is-acquiring-the-kotsovolos-chain/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=www.ekathimerini.com |language=English}}</ref> The transaction was approved and completed in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DEI Acquires Kotsovolos for €200 Million |url=https://fastforward.com.cy/business/dei-acquires-kotsovolos-eu200-million |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=fastforward.com.cy |language=en}}</ref>
==See also== *List of companies of Greece
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://www.kotsovolos.gr/}} *[https://corporate.kotsovolos.gr/ Corporate website] *[https://career.kotsovolos.gr/ Career website] *[https://blog.kotsovolos.gr/ Official Blog]
{{Currys plc}}
Category:Consumer electronics retailers Category:Currys plc Category:Greek brands Category:Greek companies established in 1950 Category:Retail companies established in 1950 Category:Retail companies of Greece Category:2024 mergers and acquisitions