Pandemic delays Apple’s first store in Mumbai

 

Apple CEO Tim Cook had announced that the company would be opening its first retail store in 2021 which had been delayed becuase of the pandemic. Apple's first offline store in India was announced for this year for Mumbai, which now has been delayed.

While Apple has a strong franchise retail network across India, it’s online store launched last September has been helping the company reach buyers beyond its retail network. This January, in an earnings call after announcing the company’s 2020 results, Cook said Apple had sold over a million devices in the country for the first time.

The use of Apple products have doubled the business last quarter compared to a year ago but there is still quite low comared to the size of the opportunity. Since offline retail was closed for most of 2020, because of the introduction of Online purchases have skyrocketed. In the Q3, the revenue record has gone to $81.4 billion (35.9% from last year) due to strong growth in emerging markets, including India, Latin America and Vietnam.”

In India, iPhone SE being the more affordable is also helping increase the numbers alongside the older iPhone 11 and the new iPhone 12 series. Apple, which has been in India for over two decades now, has been manufacturing selected models in India over the last few years. This June, Apple completed the reopening of all its US stores which had been shut down last year following the pandemic.