New Delhi: Smartphone maker Apple has tied up with Tata-owned consumer electronics chain Croma to launch its store in India.
In the initial phase, the technology giant will host Apple at six of its locations.
The stores will set up at five Croma stores in Mumbai — Malad, Juhu, Oberoi Mall, Phoenix Mall and Ghatkopar. In Bengaluru, this will be at Croma in Jayanagar. They are set to open by Diwali next month.The Economic Times reported.
The Apple space will be 400-500 square feet in area and the store design, furniture, fixtures and lighting will the same as that used in Apple stores globally and the sales staff will also be trained by the company, the report said.
"We are proud to partner Apple to launch the Apple Store in India and extremely bullish about it," Avijit Mitra said, chief executive officer of Infiniti Retail, which owns Croma.
"These stores will be modeled on the global design and and will offer the best experience to consumers, showcasing the entire range of Apple products," he added.
CEO Tim Cook is said to have asked for an ease in the sourcing rules when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US recently, according to two persons with knowledge of this.
Croma said it has 97 stores across the country with 3.8 million customers. Apple owns more than 460 stores in 17 countries — more than half in the US.
