India is now on roller coaster ride with in the smartphone industry. With multiple smartphone manufacturers setting up their production facility for Make-In-India Bandwagon, there is also an equal opportunity rising for opening formal brick-and- mortar stores to further facilitate the market for physical buying. Very recently Apple has also signed a deal with Chroma for setting up physical stores in India.

Apple to formally launch stores in India starting from November

In its test phase, Apple will utilize Chroma designated space in Chroma five outlets in Mumbai and one in Bengaluru. The Chroma will dedicated about 400-500 sq. ft. for same design, lighting, and overall experience as other Apple Stores globally offer. Previously the only hindrance was India’s mandatory local sourcing norms for brand’s foreign direct investment which did not allow Apple to build physical stores in the country.

However, the same job was previously done by Apple Solution Expert at Chroma’s five outlets at Mumbai. These solution experts act as consultants for providing solution to the users of Apple devices. Chroma is basically a third party Multi-brand electronic store where the agency hires the staff and wear the t-shirts with Apple reseller written on it. The Upcoming is the highly sophisticated reseller franchise as well but only for Apple products and devices. So the whole Idea is Apple plans to re-brand it presence in Chroma.

Also the Indian market should hope that the prices of the Apple products should be close to US market. As the base model of 6s is speculated to be near INR 62, 000 ($949) which is way much expensive than base model in US that is 649. Very Ironically, Apple is aiming to have formal check In with this costlier approach that may backfire.