Apple hen chief executive Tim Cook last year confirmed the news that the company’s first store in India will open in Mumbai in 2021.
There was excitement and high expectations from technology researchers on how it could help Apple raise the game in India.
However, the epidemic appears to have taken over corporate plans and led to delays.
Apple on Friday confirmed that due to the Covid-19 epidemic, it is delaying plans to open the country’s first retail store.
Delays may have an impact on Apple’s offline growth plans in the country as the Mumbai store could be the start of a multi-store system in many cities.
Indian Express initially reported delays in the launch of Apple’s first store, and the company also confirmed the same to India Today Tech.
Apple confirms delays in the opening of its first
Apple’s first store was widely reported last year that it will open at the Maker Maxity mall in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai.
Other reports last year say that the Cupertino-based tyrant rented more than 20,000 meters of space from BKC to open its first national retail store.
The Mumbai store is said to have three floors and is said to be the same size as the company’s Hong Kong store.
Like other grocery stores, the Mumbai store is expected to have a dedicated one-storey experience center for consumers who plan to purchase Apple products.
The other two floors are said to have been dedicated to commercial outlets and services.
However, it is important to note that there are no details about the original store, including space, floor, and exact location, confirmed by Apple.
Therefore, we would recommend users to take this information with a little salt.
Apple’s new store in Mumbai is said to be the largest in the country compared to other Apple franchise stores.
Apple first ratified the plans for its Indian retail store in October 2019.
In February 2020, Tim Cook, while speaking to investors, highlighted the importance of having the company’s sales in a significant potential market.
While answering a question about India’s marketing strategy, Cook confirmed the first plans to sell in stores in 2021.
Explaining further, he said, “I don’t want anyone else to bring us this product.”
Conterpoint marketing company in January this year said Apple shipped more than 3.2 million iPhones to India last year.
Earlier this year, a report quoting CyberMedia Research said Apple had shipped more than a million iPhones to India in the first quarter of 2021.
Last month chief executive Cook said the company has recorded growth in double-digit revenues in India, Latin America, Vietnam and other regions.
He also added that Apple continues to see a strong demand for the iPhone 12 and entry-level offerings like the iPhone SE 2020.
Last year was an important year for Apple as the company launched its dedicated online store in India, competing with established players like Amazon and Flipkart in the e-commerce space.
The online store offers more than just products, including access to Apple specialists who can guide users in their purchases and provide support, as well as on-board customer support who will provide assistance to users.
