London: Google has opened its first Google-branded store in London. Named as Google Shop, the store will give the internet giant the opportunity to show off its wide range of products including Android phones and tablets, Chromebook laptops and Chromecasts. Google employees at the shop will also train them on how to use these devices.
Wall Street Journal quoted James Elias, the U.K. marketing director for Google as saying that the Google Shop will offer people a place where they can play, experiment and learn about all of what Google has to offer.
The store, housed in Dixons Carphone's Currys PC World store in London, is believed to be more of a branding exercise than an approximation of a standalone store. The sales from the store will go to Dixons Carphone.
Dixons hasn't rented the space out to Google but the company has just branded a space within Dixons. An executive from Dixons Carphone said that it's like billboarding for Google.
The Google Shop features what the company described as “an immersive surround-screen installation” where users can “fly” through any part of the planet through Google Earth. It will also have a wall where people can use digital spray cans to paint their own take on Google's logo, which they can then share on social media.
Previously, Google promoted its product Chromebooks within some Best Buy retail stores in the U.S. and Dixons in U.K. The tech company has had its own employees working in U.S. retailers such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart Stores and Office Depot.
Google's store is located close to Apple's London flagship store and the company hopes to host regular classes and events for the public at its store, just like Apple does.
