Apple Stores set to enter India; partners with Croma Retail

So far, in India, Apple sold its products through premium resellers who run exclusive stores under the franchise model.

In 2014 we posted a report about Apple being blocked by the Indian Government to open flagship Apple Stores.

The new Apple Stores will be opened in multiple locations across Mumbai including Malad, Juhu, Oberoi Mall, Phoenix Mall and Ghatkopar.

As has been the trend with Apple’s stores globally, these new stores too will acquire a decent 400-500 square feet of space, and will display all of Apple’s products in trademark fashion.

According to The Economic Times, the tech giant has signed an exclusively partnership with Croma, chain of consumer electronics stores owned by Tata. The store in Bengaluru will be at Croma in Jayanagar.

The store design, furniture and fixtures, lighting etc. shall match the global standards, and even the sales staff shall be accordingly trained by the company. Apple’s products are also sold on e-commerce platforms and multi-brand retail. Apple hasn’t been able to set up its own stores because of mandatory local-sourcing norms for single-brand foreign direct investment in retail, it is said.

The company now typically releases its products, particularly the iPhones, in India within a month or two of the USA release. To be sure, this could also be a precursor for a possibly stronger retail presence.

Recently Tim Cook also met with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which Apple’s CEO said that India holds a “very special place in the heart of every Apple employee” because it was the country Steve Jobs visited as a young man searching for inspiration. Apple owns more than 460 stores in 17 countries – more than half in the US. The iPhone 6S too which is launching on October 16, is launching for the first time within 30 days of its U.S. launch.