Apple is considering the addition of several flagship stores in India, according to The Economic Times. Quoting senior retail industry executives, the report says the company is planning five to six franchisee-run outlets that could be up to 5,000 square feet in size. An Apple India spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
The retailer currently has approximately 150 franchised Apple Premium Reseller stores in India that are up to 1,500 square feet in size. One franchise owner said the flagship stores are planned for New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, with additional openings possible in Hyderabad and Pune.
Advertisement
The flagship stores are part of an effort to reinforce Apple’s premium reputation in India and drive experience-based sales, in response to brand dilution caused by online discounting, according to the industry executives.
Apple has suffered from lower iPhone sales in the quarter that ended in June 2018 due to business restructuring, with its share of the premium smartphone market dropping to 14%. The company’s plans for a revamp also include reducing its number of distributors from five to two, and entering new agreements to ensure online and offline sales all take place at company-mandated prices.
