First Apple Store in Belgium Opens in Brussels on September 19

[5105973]

Kind of depressing that even very developed and rich EU countries like Belgium are just now getting their first Apple store. Makes me pessimistic if I'll ever see official Apple presence in my small country.

Don't forget the USA is a large country. They don't have complete coverage here, either. Some states have a lot of stores, others have only one or a few. Even states that have decent coverage often have insane traffic congestion. Travel to an actual store location can be a once a year thing for many Americans, too.

I wonder how often the Apple design aesthetic clashes with local architecture. It's not so hard for them to build ultra modern glass and steel monstrosities here but what happens when they want to build in a beautiful old European city with elegant old style architecture? I know I may be in the minority with my love for old buildings but I'd hate to see an old city with unique character not found anywhere else suddenly sprouting a huge modern splinter.

 

[PBMB]

Nothing. Apple have authorised resellers and repairers everywhere, in countries even when there are already lots of Apple Stores. The more options consumers have to get their product serviced, or purchase an Apple product from, is never a bad thing.

The problem that I see is that Apple's products are nowhere near popular in Belgium as they are in the U.S.A. or in other countries. I don't know though how well the authorized resellers are doing in Brussels. It is not long ago when some changes happened with the appearance of easy-m, but I don't remember exactly what.

 

[lionsy]

Don't forget the USA is a large country. They don't have complete coverage here, either. Some states have a lot of stores, others have only one or a few. Even states that have decent coverage often have insane traffic congestion. Travel to an actual store location can be a once a year thing for many Americans, too.

I wonder how often the Apple design aesthetic clashes with local architecture. It's not so hard for them to build ultra modern glass and steel monstrosities here but what happens when they want to build in a beautiful old European city with elegant old style architecture? I know I may be in the minority with my love for old buildings but I'd hate to see an old city with unique character not found anywhere else suddenly sprouting a huge modern splinter.

They do pretty well at building to compliment surrounding buildings, just look at Covent Gardens in London, it's beautiful.

 

[cwt1nospam]

How come Google and Microsoft can be officially here in Baltics and offer local support and quality product localisation? Countless Apple resellers flourish - I'm sure Apple wouldn't operate at a loss.

First, Google, and especially Microsoft, need to be everywhere. They cater to Corporate IT, so they need to be anywhere a Fortune 1000 company might have offices. If they weren't they'd lose their biggest strategic advantage. Not so for Apple.

Second, Apple opened their own stores because of the lack of support they were getting from their resellers. I worked for one in the 90s who treated them same way most other resellers did: as an afterthought. They never attempted to sell Macs, they sold PCs and only took orders for Macs. If Apple resellers in your country are doing a good job then Apple has little incentive to open a store. Why fix something that's not broken?

 

[2457282]

Apple. Belgium. Waffles.

Three words that go well together no matter what we are talking about. LOL

 

[CJozef]

Same problem in our country ... I hope in Prague next year...

It is cause Prague is not interesting market for Apple. Look at Prague's average monthly income.

 

[Toinman]

The problem that I see is that Apple's products are nowhere near popular in Belgium as they are in the U.S.A. or in other countries.

That's just not true. Of course Mac's in the US will always have a higher popularity since Apple is a US company. But if we look at the numbers, Mac's are quit popular in Belgium compared to other countries. Even the ones with lots of mac-stores.

Some random countries. (Not a top-10):
Switzerland: 21,72%
USA: 15,19%
UK: 12,68%
France: 12,5%
Belgium: 11,88%
Netherlands: 9,89%
Italy: 9,83% (10+ Apple stores)
Germany: 8,58% (10+ Apple stores)
---
August 2015, % of all web traffic generated by OSX (iOS not included)

 

[jef82]

Yeah, finally in Belgium

 

[AEdouard]

I was just on the phone with Apple support last night and they had to set up an in store appointment for me. The person on the phone was amazed that I had 5 Apple stores all within a half hour from where I live. I guess my metropolitan area demographic must skew heavily Apple.

Pretty strange to me that Apple wasn't set up in Belgium before. It's not a huge market, but still.

Anyway, when Apple decides it's in a country, it's in deep. I have 4 Apple Stores in my metro area , in Canada, and it's not like on a per capita basis Apple sells way more here than in say Brussels, I'm sure.

 

[PBMB]

Some random countries. (Not a top-10):
USA: 15,19%
Belgium: 11,88%
---
August 2015, % of all web traffic generated by OSX (iOS not included)

OK, I admit that I expected a bigger difference between the USA and Belgium. On the other hand, these numbers are based on web traffic which evidently can skew their meaning.

 

[AEdouard]

That's just not true. Of course Mac's in the US will always have a higher popularity since Apple is a US company. But if we look at the numbers, Mac's are quit popular in Belgium compared to other countries. Even the ones with lots of mac-stores.

Some random countries. (Not a top-10):
Switzerland: 21,72%
USA: 15,19%
UK: 12,68%
France: 12,5%
Belgium: 11,88%
Netherlands: 9,89%
Italy: 9,83% (10+ Apple stores)
Germany: 8,58% (10+ Apple stores)
---
August 2015, % of all web traffic generated by OSX (iOS not included)

OS X doesn't matter, it's a small percentage of Apple's sales. What matters is iOS. Although I'm sure the iPhone is about as popular in Belgium as it is in France or Germany, which do have Apple Stores. It just seems like Apple only goes into its very large, just by total numbers, not per capita, markets with its Apple Stores.

 

[darkknight14]

I'd second that. A few years ago Apple had the opportunity to open a store in Milan centre - very near to the Cathedral plus in the hub of the city's fashion boutiques and luxury shops. Apparently their bid wasn't high enough and the store went to Prada (you can check out the place here).

WOW! What a location, beautiful!!

 

[mXMach]

It is cause Prague is not interesting market for Apple. Look at Prague's average monthly income.

biggest problem is APR in prague is about 15 shops with Apple products.. Genius Bar and first wave of sales is what i want. When my iphone is broken i have two options : 1/ send it to "authorized" apple repair service and wait 1 month to tak repair or get in car and drive 250km to nearest munchen apple store...

 

[mr.bee]

I wonder how often the Apple design aesthetic clashes with local architecture. It's not so hard for them to build ultra modern glass and steel monstrosities here but what happens when they want to build in a beautiful old European city with elegant old style architecture? I know I may be in the minority with my love for old buildings but I'd hate to see an old city with unique character not found anywhere else suddenly sprouting a huge modern splinter.

there are many examples where it fits perfectly, like the one in Amsterdam

 

[amirite]

So this pretty much confirms the Sep 19 iPhone 6S release date.

 

[mXMach]

Saturday ? I dont think so.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Love the waffles, hate the sprouts, unless there is cheese on them.
(either way...)

 

[PBMB]

Apple. Belgium. Waffles.

Three words that go well together no matter what we are talking about. LOL

Love the waffles, hate the sprouts, unless there is cheese on them.
(either way...)

Yet, no one mentioned the famous Belgian chocolate, arguably the finest in the world.

Oh, and beer.

 

[opeter]

Kind of depressing that even very developed and rich EU countries like Belgium are just now getting their first Apple store. Makes me pessimistic if I'll ever see official Apple presence in my small country.

Don't be sad. Whenever you get your Apple Store or not in the future, you sure will get a bunch of migrants in your country. Soon. Don't worry, be happy.

 

[nsayer]

 

[jovada]

What an unappealing location!

 

[Internaut]

Isn't it just lovely to be able to welcome Belgium to the first world?

 

[jpgr15]

<deleted>

 

[jpgr15]

Yet, no one mentioned the famous Belgian chocolate, arguably the finest in the world.

Oh, and beer.

..and the Frites ...and the Speculoos

 

[Dreadnought]

Anyone have a full picture of that building or know the address? It looks interesting.

The architect is UNStudio from Amsterdam, the earlier designs where better, more dramatical lines in the building. But with every project they always needed to downplay the design because of the customer, budget, the difficulty to build and rules and regulations... Check out their website:
http://www.unstudio.com/projects/entre-les-deux-portes

I worked their a couple of years ago and already knew in 2012 that Apple was going to be one of companies that would open a store. However that was a big secret so we didn't say Apple's name, but always laid out our iPhone on the table when we spoke about it.