Dell recently opened its second Experience Store in India at E-Mall in Kolkata and yes we were there at the amazing store launch that took place on 15th September. At the small event, we were able to have a look at the new store and what it offers to gamers, yes, you can walk into the store at E-Mall and experience, and play games on the latest Dell and Alienware products. Not only you can buy but also experience gaming with Dell products at the store itself.
Here’s a short interview with Raj Kumar Rishi, Vice President and Managing Director of Consumer and Small Business, at Dell Technologies India:
An Exclusive Interview with Dell India’s VP & MD Raj Kumar Rishi at Dell’s Experience Store Kolkata Launch
1. Why did Dell choose Kolkata for its gaming store, despite other larger metro cities in India?
There is a very happening community of gamers in Kolkata and building an experience center where gamers can play, meet and have fun together was our primary aim. We were grateful to have partners who have partnered with us to open this store at E-Mall which is the hub of gamers and tech enthusiasts in Kolkata.
2. What can the people of Kolkata experience here at the gaming store?
Dell’s Gaming experience stores provide gamers the opportunity to come into stores experience and play games with our products, aiming at the happening community of gamers in Kolkata. We want gamers to visit our store, spend hours and enjoy various gaming events, and activities we will have from time to time at the store itself, also interested gamers can directly buy our products from the Experience Store itself.
3. Any offers or messages Dell has for its new customers for the Kolkata gaming store?
Our biggest offer is the experience, but like every other big season, there will be offers on Durga Puja or Diwali coming up and there will be offers at launch as well.
4. Dell has been a major player in terms of Windows laptops and has won the trust of common people, however, in terms of gaming what is Dell’s strategy with Alienware and other G-Series laptops?
As far as gaming is concerned, what gamers look for is a great display, very fast processing, thermals, the latest graphics and an overall experience, so everything needs to be right. So, when all these features are combined including our G-Series that starts at a really affordable price or the Alienware series with the latest specs and features like Cryo-tech cooling, our laptops try to solve the needs of gamers.
5. What is the next move or say future expansion in terms of offline stores in India?
We do want to have more experienced stores in India, so how these stores work is that we have our partners who are responsible for all the promotion, branding and experience, owned by a franchise. We are looking for active franchise owners, like this experience store is owned by an existing partner, so there is discussion going on, we will have more experience stores.
6. Dell already has various retail outlets across India, so will those be converted to experience stores?
So, yes some of them can be converted to gaming experience zones, it will depend on the sizes and all that, so it’s a mix of both retail outlets and experience zones.
7. How is Dell’s online + offline influencing the buying process of the Indians?
Online and Offline is a static merger in the way, we want people to check prices online and they can walk into stores, and experience the products. So, we first ensure that the same products are available online and offline, then we ensure there is a price parity between both channels and people can buy from both Dell.com, Amazon and other online outlets.
We ensure an omnichannel distribution, consistent with our pricing and offers, in India, we have a very diverse kind of buyers, people love buying online or even walking into stores.
8. Can people customize their products at experience stores similar to Dell.com?
At Dell.com, yes, but at stores, there is a significant portfolio that can meet all kinds of needs of customers, there are certain products on display but yes, people can customize products such as gaming desktops or laptops.
9. Due to recent restrictions on imports from China, what impact can it have on Dell and how is the company handling that?
We have a very robust supply chain and we have had a manufacturing facility for close to 15 years now and we keep looking at various options. Then we have a supply chain team that takes of this and ensures that retail business is not impacted.
10. Any closing remarks?
We are happy that we have opened the store, the message to the consumers will be please come and experience the products, come and play the contests that will happen at the Kolkata Experience Store. We thank all the gaming community, supporters and our partners who have been very supportive throughout.
How did you like the interview? Let us know in the comments down below and for any queries regarding the store, feel free to comment or contact Dell’s social media accounts.
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