Apple Plans to Launch Fifth Avenue-Like Stores and Other Outlets in India

By siliconindia | Monday, 21 March 2016, 12:53 Hrs

BENGALURU: According to Economic times, Apple plans to set up a flagship Apple store in India. The flagship store will have the same design and architectural grandeur for which Apple is famous for.

Leading real estate brokerage companies are already scouting for 15,000-20,000 square feet on high streets and in malls, prompting rival Samsung Electronics to look for space to set up a similar flagship outlet and revamp its existing 1,100 smartphone brand stores. According to the executives of three senior industries, brokerage firms are looking for prime locations in the national capital, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Pune, for Apple's first phase of company-owned stores. Apple wants to set up most of its stores in India, with an area over 2,000-3000sqft and include space for technical support and workshops.

While Samsung follows a franchisee model to run its smartphone brand stores, the company is directly involved in the revamp of the outlets, which includes new fixtures, designs and more space for tablets and wearable. According to executives, Samsung is planning to set up at least one flagship store in India with an area of over 15,000 sq ft on the lines of its 'Samsung D' Light'—Samsung’s headquarters in Seoul which showcases and sells all its products under one roof.

Both Apple and Samsung are trying to dominate the smartphone segment in India and the retail war between the two will intensify and getting prime location will be a problem with both of these brands.