Apple Hires Staff Ahead of First Retail Stores Opening in India

[MacRumors]

Apple has begun hiring staff for its first flagship stores in India, reports The Financial Times. Job listings for 12 store worker roles have been found in "various locations" throughout the country, indicating that Apple is almost ready to establish a retail presence in the Indian market.

The job listings directly refer to the Apple Store, with roles including store leaders, store managers, technical specialists, and Genius Bar staff. Separately, at least five employees based in Mumbai and New Delhi have announced on LinkedIn that they have been hired for the yet-to-be-announced stores, according to the report.

Apple has not confirmed its plans to open stores in India, but a report last year by The Economic Times claimed that Apple planned to launch its first store between January and March 2023, with a flagship 22,000-square-foot Mumbai store scheduled to open first. The store was originally planned to open in 2021, but the global health crisis and economic uncertainty reportedly forced Apple to delay the opening.

Apple is also said to be planning a second, smaller 10,000 to 12,000-square-foot store in New Delhi, and possibly other stores in locations such as malls and high-end shopping districts across India, with the intent of making retail a large part of its presence in the country.

In 2020 Apple opened its online store in India, offering Indian customers a direct way to purchase products directly from Apple without having to go through an authorized premium reseller. Apple's online store offers a full range of Apple products and accessories with shopping assistance from Apple Specialists, EDU pricing for students, free no-contact delivery, financing options, a trade-in program for iPhone sales, and more.

In the past, Cook and other Apple executives have remarked on the importance of India, which is home to the world's second biggest smartphone market. Apple has also been working to build out a manufacturing supply chain in the country, and in an indication of the country's perceived importance as a production hub, Apple shifted iPhone 14 assembly from China to India in the weeks following its release.

Article Link: Apple Hires Staff Ahead of First Retail Stores Opening in India

 

[BvizioN]

Looking forward to receive "This is Apple technical support here, we are refunding you £500 for the butterfly keyboard" type of calls

 

[Kierkegaarden]

India is quite an opportunity for Apple. Population of almost 1.4B, and Apple has less than 5% market share.

 

[Powerguru]

Now that China love affair is over …. Time to move on to the next frontier ….

 

[kshitijshah]

Oly 16 years too late but a welcome move. Hopefully now Indian customers can get same service standards as Apple Stores provide worldwide.

 

[tonie walker]

…nice! Ireland is waving

 

[racerhomie]

India is quite an opportunity for Apple. Population of almost 1.4B, and Apple has less than 5% market share.

Apple is looking at MAX 14-17% share over 10-15 years. You have to realize most of these 1.4B are extremely poor and cannot afford food,shelter and toilets.

 

[racerhomie]

Now that China love affair is over …. Time to move on to the next frontier ….

Yeah only in marketing headlines. Apple has over 180+ suppliers in China. India will join Indonesia,Vietnam,Brazil and Thailand in assembly of Apple products

 

[racerhomie]

Oly 16 years too late but a welcome move. Hopefully now Indian customers can get same service standards as Apple Stores provide worldwide.

Lol most indians will still use 3rd party low quality repair

 

[kshitijshah]

Lol most indians will still use 3rd party low quality repair

I thought the entire world was fighting for right to repair and here you make sweeping assumptions for all Indians. Point is even in-warranty repairs are more tedious in India compared to countries which have Apple Stores.

It's good to have an option of going directly to Apple rather than third party authorized service centers

 

[ilikewhey]

India is quite an opportunity for Apple. Population of almost 1.4B, and Apple has less than 5% market share.

population isn't everything, you should look at how many population can afford apple's premium products, last i checked the avg indian consumer mindset wants something very cost effective, why would you buy an iphone when you can do the same exact thing on a android for 1/2 the price.

 

[ilikewhey]

Now that China love affair is over …. Time to move on to the next frontier ….

lol it's never over, nothing can replace china in terms of marketshare, you can combine southeast asia, australia, singapore, india, and middle east, apple still makes more money from china. if its truly over as you assumed, china would've kicked apple to the curb and their stock price would see a massive reflection of that,

 

[racerhomie]

I thought the entire world was fighting for right to repair and here you make sweeping assumptions for all Indians. Point is even in-warranty repairs are more tedious in India compared to countries which have Apple Stores.

It's good to have an option of going directly to Apple rather than third party authorized service centers

The problem with warranty service in India was due to stupid Indian gov policies, same policies are found in socialist governments of Bangladesh as well. Bangladesh couldn’t easily import parts for service.

 

[ThomasJL]

APPLE EXEC: Hey Tim, India is a poor country. Since we’re opening our first Apple Store there, what do you think we can do to increase sales there?

TIM COOK: Raise prices, of course!

APPLE EXEC: But Tim, that won’t increase sales.

TIM COOK: True, but it will increase profit margins.

APPLE EXEC: But that won’t increase Apple’s market share as much as lowering prices.

TIM COOK: That doesn’t matter because it will mean more total money for us and our shareholders.

APPLE EXEC: Good point.

 

[svish]

Eagerly waiting for Apple to open it's first store in India.