On Tuesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook opened the doors of the company’s first-ever physical retail store in India. Thousands of Apple fans and tech enthusiasts cheered from outside the Jio World Drive mall in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) as the store opened its doors for business. The store marks a significant step for Apple as it seeks to increase its offline presence in the Indian market and take on its closest rival, Samsung.
Close to 5000 tech enthusiasts attended the Apple BKC store opening, with some arriving at the venue as early as 8 am in the morning, almost three hours before the doors were officially opened. Apple hosted a special preview of the store on Monday, where a select group of media professionals were given a special tour of the store.
The store’s unique approach to the shopping experience is evident from the moment you walk in. It is spacious, has a warm vibe, and ample sunlight coming through the glass walls. Apple claims that this is one of the most sustainable stores, which will be carbon-neutral and work on 100 percent renewable energy. The store’s sustainability and green theme reflect in the t-shirt colors (Green) of the sales team members.
The store has a 100-member team that can speak more than 20 languages, understands every Apple product, and is capable of guiding visitors through the desired technologies. The design philosophy of the store is similar to other Apple stores worldwide, but the company has added an Indian touch to it as well. The store features a triangular, handcrafted timber ceiling that extends beyond the glass façade. It has over 4,50,000 timber elements sourced from Delhi. The store also features a 14-meter-long stainless steel staircase and two grey stone walls, all sourced from Rajasthan, along with the mosaic flooring.
The store will sell all of Apple’s currently available products in India, including MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, and watches. It also showcases the Apple Arcade, the Apple HomePod, Apple Music, and Apple TV+. The store has a Genius Bar on the first floor to provide necessary assistance to visitors.
The opening of the store is the next big step from Apple in strengthening its footprint in India. The company has been expanding its operations in India in recent years, including the launch of an online store last year. The new store will help Apple compete more effectively with its closest rival, Samsung, and strengthen its position in the Indian market.
