Apple CEO Tim Cook has schedule a trip to open the iPhone maker’s first stores in India next week, underscoring the company’s ambitions for the country as a growth market and manufacturing base. Tim Cook is likely to preside over the opening of the twin outlets in India’s financial and political capital, people familiar with the matter said, asking to remain anonymous discussing private plans.
Apple said it’ll open a store in Mumbai on 18th April 2023 and other in New Delhi on 20th April 2023.
The trip comes 7 years after the CEO’s maiden visit in 2016 and coincides with the world’s most valuable company hitting important markers, India sales of iPhones reaching all-time high and annual iPhone export from the country reaching billions of dollars.
Apple is betting on India to diversify its assembly operations beyond China amid strain Beijing-Washington relations.
Tim Cook is set to open Apple’s first India store inside an upscale mall in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, or BKC as the neighborhood is call.
A few days after that, Tim Cook is set to unlock the doors of the New Delhi store, in a high-end mall in the Saket neighborhood.
The two stores have a long time in the making as India’s strict rules forbid global brands from opening own-brand outlets unless they source a significant portion of the goods from within the country.
Apple didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comments on Tim Cook’s visit.
Apple open its Indian online store in 2020.
The country is the world’s second-largest smartphone market and among the fastest-growing, but Apple’s relatively high sticker prices are still a deterrent in the nation of 1.4 billion where affordability plays a major role in purchase decisions.
Apple has sought a meeting for Cook with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said one of the people.
PM Modi’s government has pushing for electronics manufacturing and has offer billions of dollars in incentives to attract Apple’s manufacturing partners like Foxconn Technology Group and Pegatron.
On Apple earnings calls, Tim Cook has stress India’s importance as a market and production base.
During the latest such conference, Tim Cook said Apple set “a quarterly revenue record and grew very strong double digits year over year” in the country.
“India is a hugely exciting market for us and a major focus,” Tim Cook said on the call. “I’m very bullish on India.”
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Know all about Apple’s first retail store in India
At the brand’s first retail location, which will shortly open at Mumbai’s Reliance Jio World Drive mall, Apple iPhone, AirPods, iPads, and other Apple products will be offer in India.
Long-awaited Apple’s first official shop opening has allegedly rented a “exclusive zone” in the Ambani-own mall to make the most of the opportunity.
According to media reports, Apple’s leasing deal forbids 22 other companies, including Amazon, Facebook, Google, LG, Microsoft, Sony, and many others, from renting space or running any kind of advertising inside the mall’s exclusivity zone.
According to the report, CRE Matrix, an information analytics business, got information on the exclusive leasing arrangement.
The lease prohibits the licensor from granting any licenses, sublicenses, leases, subleases, or other arrangements to Apple competitors.
Apple has signed an 11-year lease with Ambani’s Mumbai mall for an area of around 20,800 square feet.
The store’s rent will rise by 15% every 3 years, and the corporation will make a minimum monthly payment of Rs 42 lakh as well as a 2% revenue sharing contribution for the first three years.
After the first three years, the revenue share contribution will increase to 2.5%.
Apple has unveiled a brick-and-mortar shop wall in India at Mumbai’s Jio World Drive Mall, formally commemorating the forthcoming inauguration of Apple BKC.
The Apple BKC creative, inspire by the legendary ‘Kaali Peeli’ cab art exclusive to Mumbai, contains bright versions of the decals blend with many Apple goods and services.
The store’s advertising displays a cheery welcome to passers-by with the famous Apple greeting, “Hello Mumbai.”
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Apple Offers Free Creative Sessions Ahead of Mumbai, Delhi Store Openings
Apple’s India retail stores are finally opening doors for customers next week.
The Apple BKC store in Mumbai will open on 18th April 2023 follow by the Apple Saket store in Delhi on 20th April 2023.
Apple BKC and Apple Saket have announce special “Today at Apple” sessions.
These free educational sessions offer online and in Apple’s retail store cover vast topics like photography, videography, music, art, design and many more.
The sessions led by traine team members are design to celebrate the local community and culture in Mumbai and Delhi.
The programme receive an immense response from Apple fans across India, and all sessions got book within one day of opening reservations.
In a buildup to the opening of its first-ever India retail store, Apple BKC is conducting special at Apple series title “Mumbai Rising” running from opening day through the summer.
The sessions bring visitors, local artists, and creatives together and offer hands-on activities with Apple’s products and services that celebrate the local community and culture in Mumbai.
They combine workshops and creative performances in its retail stores.
The reservation for Apple in Apple BKC from 21st April 2023 to 24th April 2023 touch the maximum soon after booking began.
Apple Saket also receive a massive response and has been fully book from 23rd April 2023 to 25th April 2023.
At Apple programmes in Apple BKC aim to encourage engagement with the brand includes a filmmaking session with award-winning sci-fi director Arati Kadav, photography and video editing sessions with iPhone models by photographer Prarthna Sing, emoji-making classes for kids, and music sessions by Sandunes among many others.
Sessions in Apple Saket include iPhone photography and video editing sessions.
After, new users of iPhone, iPad, and Mac can avail of learning and refreshing sessions at both Apple BKC and Apple Saket stores.
The Today at Apple programme is available worldwide since 2017, with sessions in every store.
Interest users can sign up for sessions happening globally from the official website or calendar on Apple’s website or via the Apple Store app.
To celebrate the opening of Apple BKC and Apple Saket, the Cupertino-based company has release special wallpapers for iPhone, iPad, and Mac base on the illustrations of the barricades of new India retail stores.
It has also launch a special Apple Music playlist featuring “sounds of Mumbai and Delhi.”
