The iPhone makers first store in India, is scheduled to open today at Bandra Kurla Complex, commonly known as BKC in Mumbai. According to the company executives, Apples CEO Tim Cook may welcome customers to their first store. Fans have waited in line to be the first customer at store openings for the legendary brand all around the world, so it will be interesting to watch how Mumbai residents will react when the store opens during the workday.A media preview was hosted at the 20,000-square-foot store the night before it opened to the public. Following the opening of the Mumbai location, a comparable facility will open on April 20 in Saket, New Delhi. Tim Cook will reportedly also have a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India.The Senior Vice President of Apple, Deirdre OBrien, told the company has paid the attention to its core values and sustainability. He also noted that a staff of 100 people will be there with known to 18 Indian languages.Reportedly, the company has employed 2,500 people in the country and has helped to create 10 lakh jobs through its app ecosystem. The corner location of the two-storey shop, which also houses Diesel, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and Swarovski, is valuable real estate in a large mall.The store shares many features with Apple stores around the world, but the company appears to have made an effort to make it more Indian by incorporating regional elements, beginning with the much-discussed “kaali-peeli” theme on the facade that was inspired by the black and yellow taxis that can be seen on city streets. Apart from this an eclectic mix of songs will which are rooted in Mumbai will also be played at the store.OBrien claims that if the upper level were included, the store would have a 14-meter-long, single-piece glass wall on each side and an 8-meter ceiling. She claimed that the stores ceiling and walls were decorated with 4.5 lakh pieces of wood, and that the company had specifically bought Rajasthani stone for the interior walls.The new store will have Apple products, merchandise, and other services like repairing gadgets also. An official executive of the store stated that the customers here will be able to check out the products and can also educate themselves on how to use the product optimally.In the very competitive Indian smartphone industry, which is dominated by Chinese and South Korean companies, Apple now holds a 3 percent market share. Since the Covid pandemic supply chain issues, the corporation has increased its dependence on production in India, which is increasingly being considered as a substitute for China.Since at least 2019, when Indian policymakers warmed to the concept of allowing foreign direct investment in single-brand retail, there has been much speculation about Apple opening its first retail location in the nation. The approvals to allow such stores have conditions attached, such as requirements for local procurement of the finished goods.According to the Sources, the company has an 11-year lease on the Jio World Drive mall area and has been successful in negotiating to prevent 22 other companies from renting space or running advertisements nearby, including Amazon, Facebook, Google, LG, Microsoft, Sony, and others.Tim Cooks StatementIn a statement, Tim Cook said, “India has such a beautiful culture and incredible energy. Were excited to build on our long history, supporting our customers, investing in local communities, and working together to build a better future with innovations that serve humanity.”Hello, Mumbai! We cant wait to welcome our customers to the new Apple BKC tomorrow. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/9V5074OA8W— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 17, 2023Taking to Twitter by sharing his picture with the employees of the BKC store, saying, “Hello, Mumbai! We cant wait to welcome our customers to the new Apple BKC tomorrow”.
