Apple said it will likely open its second brick-and-mortar store in Bengaluru, in line with its Indian expansion as the company ramps up its penetration into one of its fast-scaling international markets in India.
The new store appears to be another prominent retail venue for Apple consumers in the state after the company’s first two official stores opened in Mumbai and Delhi.
And yet, with its huge tech-savvy population, thriving startup ecosystem and premium customer base, Bengaluru became one of Apple’s best-located locations, sometimes called India’s tech hub.
The establishment of Apple’s new outlet in Bengaluru will include Apple's entire retail experience. It can be expected to have a product assortment, technical assistance, workshops, and customer-centric services. Apple is already available in Bengaluru for retail via authorised resellers and premium partner outlets with a retail distribution, but the branded official Apple Store brings a level of branding and engagement unlike a flagship retail outlet.
That flagship-style style, where hands-on product experience zones and dedicated service support take centre stage, comes from the company’s flagship-style stores. India has been an increasingly growing market for Apple, not only on the consumer side, but also as a manufacturing and export destination, these industry observers said.
Apple is not taking the initiative in India either, so it will ultimately be dependent upon the strategic choices made by Apple leadership. With a joint venture from Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata Electronics, the company has been aggressively expanding its production ecosystem across the country in India.
Some iPhone models are now assembled in India so that Apple can cut dependence on China and can help fund the Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative. Bengaluru has a burgeoning, rich customer market and technology-savvy culture, which makes it an obvious choice for
Apple’s Retail Rollout
High concentration of premium smartphone users and software professionals makes it the most premium smartphone city, and it has a strong demand for Apple products and services. Timing for the second Bengaluru store has never been formally announced, but reports have suggested Apple is eyeing premium commercial locations in large shopping and business districts.
The shop is anticipated to attract a high level of footfall from consumers, tourists, and tech enthusiasts once open up, it said. Apple’s India retail strategy seems to be ramping up after launching its first official stores:
- Apple BKC in Mumbai
- Apple Saket in Delhi
Both stores drew intense public scrutiny upon their openings and helped Apple reinforce direct engagement with Indian consumers. The move is also coming on the back of intensifying competition in India’s premium smartphone market. In the metros, Apple has experienced greater ease of growth with young buyers, working professionals and content contributors in urban.
Analysts expect more Apple Stores to come in other leading Indian cities like Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai as the retail giant expands its footprint across the nation. As India becomes one of Apple’s premier markets around the world, the upcoming store in Bengaluru is another key step for the company’s broader strategy of expanding into that region.
