What Cellular Sales does

Cellular Sales Management Group, LLC, founded in 1993 by CEO Dane Scism in Knoxville, TN, operates as a Verizon Authorized Retailer running more than 900 company-owned retail stores across 43-45 U.S. states with over 7,500 team members. The company is a pure-play physical retailer — it does not sell devices or plans for online shipment — and its value proposition centers on face-to-face, consultation-driven wireless experiences for consumer and small business customers. Its product portfolio spans smartphones (Apple iPhone, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, Motorola, Kyocera), tablets, smartwatches, accessories, and mobile hotspots, sold alongside Verizon mobile plans (myPlan tiers, Simplicity Plan, Prepaid, Connected Device plans), home internet (Verizon 5G Home, LTE Home, Fios, Frontier Fiber), device protection (Verizon Mobile Protect, Home Device Protect), entertainment perks, family safety tools, small business solutions, and dedicated in-store device repair at seven repair centers.

The business model is a hybrid of one-time hardware sales margin and recurring commission/subscription revenue tied to Verizon service activations. Hardware revenue is generated through device sales, trade-in credits, and promotional offers sourced from the carriers and OEMs. Recurring revenue flows from monthly mobile service plan commissions, device protection subscriptions ($19-$25/month per line/device), and home internet sign-ups, supplemented by small-business service contracts (phone systems, internet, fleet management, cybersecurity) handled by a dedicated business sales team. Pricing is dictated by Verizon's published plan tiers (e.g., Unlimited Ultimate $60/line, Unlimited Welcome $30/line, Simplicity Plan $30/line, Prepaid $35-$60/month, Connected Device $20-$30/line/month) with AutoPay discounts, bundle incentives, and trade-in rebates used to drive conversion. Marketing is concentrated in the retail footprint, supported by a website/blog, organic social, community engagement (hurricane relief, Toys for Tots), and localized SMB outreach.

Cellular Sales' core operational assets are physical: a national retail network, seven repair centers, a National Contact Center, and the 2015-vintage Knoxville corporate headquarters housing finance, HR, and contact center operations. The company has been recognized nine times on the Inc. 5000, three times as Verizon Agent/Partner of the Year (2017, 2020, 2021), and as a Newsweek America's Greatest Workplaces 2026 honoree. Dane Scism remains CEO, with JT Thome (COO), Pam White (CFO), Brett Patterson (EVP Sales), and Reese Thomas (General Counsel) on the executive team. The company is privately held, has no disclosed external investors or parent company, and does not appear to have a public revenue or valuation disclosure in the source data.

Name

Cellular Sales

Legal name

Cellular Sales Management Group, LLC

Website

https://cellularsales.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Cellular Sales is a privately held Verizon Authorized Retailer operating 900+ company-owned stores across 43-45 U.S. states, selling wireless devices, Verizon mobile plans, home internet, and device protection to consumer and small business customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wireless Retail

NAICS

Agents for Wireless Telecommunications Services (517122)

SIC

Retail-Radio, Tv & Consumer Electronics Stores (5731)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile Carrier Devices & Bundling (Operator-branded devices, subsidy/bundle programs) (CRACALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Consumer Electronics & Mobile Device Protection Plans (FSAJALAH)

Keywords

• Wireless retail stores
• Verizon authorized retailer
• Mobile device sales
• Wireless service plans
• Smartphone accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville, TN

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wireless Device Sales: Sale of smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and accessories from major brands including Apple, Samsung, Google, Motorola, and Kyocera. Revenue generated from one-time device purchases, often with trade-in credits and promotional discounts.
2. Mobile Service Plans: Recurring revenue from Verizon wireless service plans including Unlimited Ultimate ($60/mo per line), Unlimited Plus ($45/mo per line), and Unlimited Welcome ($30/mo per line) for 4 lines. Includes add-on perks for streaming services.
3. Device Protection Plans: Monthly subscription services including Verizon Mobile Protect ($19/mo per device) for mobile device coverage and Verizon Home Device Protect ($25/mo) for home electronics protection.
4. Home Internet Services: Sales and subscription of home internet services including Verizon 5G Home Internet, LTE Home Internet, Fios, and Frontier Fiber. Plans range from $35-$109/mo with various speed tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cellular Sales operates more than 900 company-owned Verizon Authorized Retail stores across 43–45 U.S. states, selling wireless devices (smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, mobile hotspots, accessories) alongside Verizon-branded mobile service plans, home internet (5G Home, LTE Home, Fios, Frontier Fiber), device protection plans, and in-store repair services. Revenue is generated from one-time device sales, recurring wireless and internet subscriptions, monthly protection plan fees, and Verizon commissions on activated lines. The company differentiates through face-to-face consultative selling, same-day device repair/replacement capabilities, and a National Contact Center supporting both consumers and small businesses.

Product overview

Cellular Sales is a Verizon Authorized Retailer operating a network of 900+ retail stores across 45 states. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of wireless products including smartphones (Apple iPhone, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, Motorola, Kyocera), tablets (Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab), smartwatches (Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch), accessories (cases, chargers, audio), and mobile hotspots. The service portfolio centers on Verizon mobile plans (myPlan with Unlimited Ultimate/Plus/Welcome tiers, Simplicity Plan, Prepaid plans, Connected Device plans), home internet options (5G Home, LTE Home, Fios fiber, Frontier Fiber), device protection services (Verizon Mobile Protect, Home Device Protect), entertainment perks (Disney+ Bundle, Netflix & Max, Apple One, Apple Music Family, YouTube Premium), family safety tools (Verizon Smart Family), business solutions, and repair services. The company operates as a relationship-driven retail experience provider, not a technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Smartphones Retail sale of smartphones from Apple iPhone, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, Motorola, and Kyocera with 5G connectivity, sold to individual consumers and small businesses through company-owned stores.
• Tablets Retail sale of tablet devices including Apple iPad lineup (iPad Air M4, iPad Pro, iPad A16) and Samsung Galaxy Tab series for personal and business use.
• Smartwatches Retail sale of wearable smartwatches from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Verizon including Apple Watch, Pixel Watch, and Galaxy Watch lines.
• Accessories Retail sale of phone cases, chargers, screen protectors, audio products, and travel accessories from brands such as OtterBox, PureGear, and Gadget Guard.
• Mobile Hotspots Portable WiFi hotspot devices including Verizon Orbic Speed and Jetpack MiFi for on-the-go connectivity.
• Verizon myPlan (Unlimited Welcome / Plus / Ultimate) Customizable Verizon postpaid unlimited wireless plans (Unlimited Ultimate, Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Welcome) sold with a 3-year price-lock guarantee and optional perks, targeting consumers and families nationwide.
• Simplicity Plan Entry-level 5G postpaid plan at $30/mo per line including 5G Ultra Wideband, Verizon Dollars, unlimited data/talk/text, satellite texting, 10 GB mobile hotspot, Call Filter and Verizon Family.
• Verizon Prepaid Plans No-contract Verizon prepaid wireless plans (15GB, Unlimited, Unlimited Plus) priced $35–$60/mo with AutoPay and 5G access, no credit check required.
• Verizon Connected Device Plans Unlimited data plans for tablets, smartwatches, and hotspots at $20–$30/line/mo with 5G Ultra Wideband access, with up to 50% off when bundled with select Unlimited plans.
• Verizon Mobile Protect Monthly device protection plan at $19/mo per device covering damage, loss, theft, and post-warranty defects with same-day repair/replacement, free screen repair, 24/7 tech support and digital security tools.
• Verizon Home Device Protect Monthly home tech protection plan at $25/mo covering home entertainment products, office devices, and wearable accessories, including in-home installation, premium tech support, digital security tools, and twice-yearly device expert visits.
• Repair Centers In-store and standalone repair centers offering screen repair, battery replacement, water damage recovery, and data backup services, with same-day repair capabilities across locations in NC, NM, TN and elsewhere.
• Verizon 5G Home Internet Fixed wireless home internet using Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband with plans starting at $35/mo, including router and no data caps, with multi-year price-lock guarantees.
• Verizon LTE Home Internet 4G LTE-based home internet service starting at $35/mo with WiFi 6 router included and no annual contracts.
• Verizon Fios Home Internet 100% fiber-optic Verizon Fios home internet with speeds up to 2.3 Gbps, plans starting at $34.99/mo with router included and multi-year price locks.
• Frontier Fiber Home Internet Fiber optic home internet plans through Frontier/Verizon with speeds up to 2,000 Mbps and eero Pro 7 router included.
• Business Solutions Small business wireless services including business phone systems, internet, voice collaboration, fleet management, and cybersecurity, sold through a dedicated business sales team.
• Verizon Visa Card Co-branded Verizon Visa credit card offering 4% rewards on gas, dining, groceries, and Verizon purchases with no annual fee.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years of business operations and continuous growth
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• VerizoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCellular Sales is an authorized Verizon Retailer operating independently to sell Verizon wireless services, devices, and related products. As a Verizon Authorized Retailer, the company offers Verizon mobile plans, home internet services, device protection plans, and the full range of Verizon products. The partnership provides access to Verizon's 5G network infrastructure, promotional offers, and device lineup. Verizon has recognized Cellular Sales as Agent of the Year multiple times (2017 Partner of the Year, 2020, 2021 Agent of the Year).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TCC: Verizon Authorized Retailer operating hundreds of stores across multiple states, selling smartphones, accessories, and Verizon service plans. Same agent model, similar customer acquisition motion, and similar reliance on Verizon commissions.
• Wireless Zone: Verizon Authorized Retailer with a multi-state franchise/store footprint focused on wireless devices and plan activations. Operates in the same agent channel as Cellular Sales with comparable SKU mix and revenue model.
• GoWireless: Authorized agent for Verizon (and other carriers) selling smartphones, plans, and accessories through owned retail locations. Highly comparable operating model to Cellular Sales as a multi-state carrier agent.
• Prime Communications: Multi-carrier authorized retailer operating stores for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and others with similar device-plus-plan retail model. Comparable in physical-retail distribution, though less concentrated on a single carrier.
• Victra: One of the largest Verizon Authorized Retailers in the U.S., operating a comparable multi-state store footprint selling Verizon wireless plans, devices, and accessories. Closest pure-play comparable to Cellular Sales by business model, scale, and carrier dependence.

Broad incumbents

• Best Buy: Big-box consumer electronics retailer that carries smartphones from all major carriers and operates carrier-branded shops inside its stores. Competes for the same device-purchase moment but offers a much broader electronics assortment.
• T-Mobile Retail Stores: Carrier-owned retail stores selling T-Mobile wireless, devices, and home internet. Comparable customer experience (in-store activation, device demos, plan consultation) but limited to a single competing network.
• AT&T Retail Stores: Carrier-owned retail stores selling AT&T wireless, devices, and home internet. Directly competes with Cellular Sales for the same consumer wireless purchase, but only offers AT&T service and operates on a different cost structure.
• Target Mobile: Major general-merchandise retailer with carrier wireless kiosks inside stores, competing for foot traffic and device attach. Overlaps with Cellular Sales on the wireless device and plan activation, but as part of a much broader retail mix.

Emerging players

• Amazon (Mobile & Wireless): Online marketplace and carrier partner that sells smartphones, accessories, and wireless plans directly to consumers. Competes for the device-purchase entry point that historically drives plan attach, pressuring purely physical retailers like Cellular Sales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cellular-sales

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cellular Sales