Ready For The Spotlight: Apple’s Saket Store To Open On April 20

After announcing its first India store launch in Mumbai on April 18, Apple is going to open its doors to customers in Delhi on April 20. To be located in the Select Citywalk Mall in Delhi’s Saket, the barricade for the Apple store was revealed on Monday morning.

The store’s barricade features a design that takes inspiration from Delhi’s many gates, each signifying a new chapter in the city’s past (pictured in the feature image).

In a press statement, Apple said that the new retail locations in Delhi and Mumbai “mark a significant expansion into India that will offer great new ways to browse, discover, and buy Apple products with exceptional service and experiences for customers.”

The Apple Delhi store will open for customers on April 20 at 10 AM IST.

“The colourful artwork celebrates Apple’s second store in India — located right in the nation’s capital. Beginning April 20, customers will be able to stop by to explore Apple’s latest product lineup, find creative inspiration, and get personalized service and support from the store’s team of specialists, creatives, and geniuses,” Apple said.

The tech giant will also be hosting several sessions at the new store, including training users how to take photos with an iPhone, use the Mac and the iPad and customise their Apple Watch.

Apple’s Delhi store will also allow users to trade in an eligible device to receive credit towards their next purchase with the tech major.

However, while details on the Mumbai store have been out for a while, including the area and how it reportedly does not want around two dozen brands near its store, Apple Saket has been more or less kept under wraps.

The Cupertino-based tech giant has had plans to expand its retail presence in India, having been present on the ground via iWorld Connect, a reseller. Apple planned to open its first retail store in 2020, but COVID-19 delayed the same by around three years.

India’s increasing importance across the tech major’s supply chain, both as a manufacturing hub and a significant market leader has led Apple to take a more focused approach to the country.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, during the company’s Q1 2023 earnings call, noted that the iPhone maker posted an all-time high iPhone revenue in India; double-digit growth in the installed base of active iPhones and saw continued adoption of services.

Further, the Cupertino-based tech giant recently conducted a reshuffle of international management to include India as an independent sales zone. Apple is also looking to promote its India head, Ashish Chowdhary, who will report to Michael Fenger, head of product sales at the tech giant.

Further, in January, the country’s Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said Apple is set to increase its production in India to 25% of its total production from the current 5-7%.

This has resulted in increased exports from India, and between April and December 2022, Apple recorded more than INR 30,000 Cr of exports or around 40% of the total smartphone exports in value from the country.

Further, in December 2022, Apple accounted for 81% of total smartphone exports from India as it sent out $1 Bn worth of iPhones.

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