With devices like the iPad, iPhone, and MacBook being popular names, Apple has long been a powerful player in the global technology sector. India is one of the largest and fastest-growing consumer markets in the world, but the corporation has had some difficulty building a strong retail presence there. We will examine the factors that contributed to Apple’s delayed arrival in India in this essay, as well as the prospects for Apple stores there.
The Future of Apple Retail Store
Apple stores are now a crucial component of the company’s retail strategy since they offer customers a distinctive shopping experience and serve as a one-stop shop for all Apple goods and services. The retail sector has been severely impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, and Apple outlets are not exempt from the effects. Apple has introduced a new retail strategy in reaction to the epidemic that places more of an emphasis on online sales and contactless delivery. The business has also been restructuring its retail locations to accommodate the post-pandemic reality.
Apple’s retail strategies in India are far-reaching in the future. The company launched its first retail location in India in Mumbai followed by a store in Delhi. Additional stores in Bangalore will open after this. These retail stores are anticipated to operate as Apple’s flagship sites in India, providing customers with a distinctive purchasing experience that highlights the business’s most recent goods and services.
Apple’s Delayed Entry to India
It is not surprising that Apple has been anxious to forge a significant footprint in India given the enormous market for smartphones and other consumer gadgets. Despite dominating the world market, Apple has had trouble breaking into the Indian market.
Apple’s delayed launch in India is due to a number of factors. High import levies on electronic devices imposed by the Indian government have been one of the key obstacles. Because of this, Apple has found it challenging to offer its goods at competitive prices in India. Foreign businesses have found it challenging to operate in India due to the complicated regulatory framework of the nation.
The competition from other companies has been another issue for Apple in India. Smartphone companies like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, which provide users with affordable handsets with cutting-edge capabilities, have made significant inroads in the Indian market in recent years.
Government Regulations
The “Make in India” initiative of the Indian government has promoted domestic manufacturing. One of the biggest tech businesses in the world, Apple has been a focus of the government’s initiatives to encourage domestic production and draw in foreign capital.
The Indian government changed its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy in 2017, requiring single-brand retail businesses like Apple to source at least 30% of their production domestically. As Apple heavily relies on China for its manufacturing requirements, this move was viewed as a major barrier for the company.
Apple had to locate local partners to source and produce its products in India, which caused the company’s entry into the Indian market to be delayed. While the company started assembling its iPhone SE model locally in 2017, it took until 2020 for the company to begin producing its flagship iPhone 11 in India.
