After years of delay, Apple’s first retail store will reportedly open in India next month. The 22,000 sq. ft. store is located inside the Jio World Drive mall in Mumbai.
Apple started hiring for its retail store in India at the beginning of this year.
Apple’s second store in Delhi is also ready to open
An Economic Times report claims Apple’s first store in India will be a “retail landmark” like its stores in New York, Singapore, and other countries. The company will decide the Mumbai store’s opening date based on its global executives’ availability. Apparently, Apple’s SVP of retail and people, Deirdre O’Brien, will fly down to India for the store launch.
After opening its flagship Mumbai store, the Cupertino giant will open its second store in Delhi “soon after,” says one of the sources. Fitouts for both stores are complete, with the Delhi store being ready ahead of the Mumbai one. Apple’s flagship store in Delhi will be located inside Select Citywalk mall in Saket, known for having several high-profile brands.
Apple currently sells iPhones, Macs, iPads, and other products through its online store and authorized resellers in India. The company initially planned to open its first retail store in the country in 2020 but was delayed due to COVID.
India could become the next China for Apple
India’s importance inside Apple has only grown in recent years. The company has seen massive growth in the country in the last few years. Despite a supply bottleneck, Apple recorded its best-ever sales in the region in the quarter ending December 2022. It recently made some organizational changes to further focus on India.
India is also emerging as a major manufacturing hub for Apple. The Cupertino giant has asked its suppliers to ramp up their efforts to manufacture more of its devices in India. This move comes as Apple looks to reduce China’s importance in its supply chain.
