Apple opened its first retail store in India in Mumbai on April 17.- The store has over 100 team members who speak over 20 languages.
- The store is operationally carbon neutral, running on 100% renewable energy.
- The
Apple store in the Ambani-owned Reliance Jio World Drive Mall, BKC in Mumbai, will open for customers from Tuesday.
The company opened the doors of the 20,000 sq ft-store, while playing the Bollywood song ‘Yeh Hai Bambai Nagaria’ in the background. The Apple team was enthusiastically clapping and hooting as the doors of the massive glass facade building were opened.
The store in the Ambani-owned Reliance Jio World Drive Mall, Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, will open for customers from Tuesday.
The store boasts of 100 team members who speak over 20 languages, and trained to assist customers with the products and unique features.
The ground floor of the store has all the devices -- iPhone, Mac, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple TV lineups, as well as accessories like AirTag lined up. The first floor is designed as a service centre to resolve customer grievances related to the products.
The tech giant founded by Steve Jobs claims that the Mumbai store in BKC is one of its most sustainable stores. It is designed to be one of the world's most energy-efficient Apple Store locations.
This comes as Apple celebrates more than 25 years in India. “India has such a beautiful culture and an incredible energy, and we’re excited to build on our long-standing history — supporting our customers, investing in local communities, and working together to build a better future with innovations that serve humanity,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.
The Mumbai store has a dedicated solar array and zero reliance on fossil fuels for store operations. The store is operationally carbon neutral, running on 100% renewable energy.
Reports say that Apple will pay roughly ₹42 lakh per month for the retail store in Mumbai.
Apple BKC features a triangular handcrafted timber ceiling that extends beyond the glass façade to the underside of the exterior canopy, reflecting the unique geometry of the store.
Each tile is made from 408 pieces of timber, forming 31 modules per tile with 1,000 tiles that make up the ceiling. Upon entering the store, customers are greeted by two stone walls sourced from Rajasthan and a 14-meter-long stainless steel staircase connecting the ground level and the cantilevered mezzanine.
The specialist team is skilled in Apple products to help customers learn about products, different ways to pay and how to switch to iOS.
The store will offer a special ‘Today at Apple’ series -- “Mumbai Rising,” running from Tuesday, April 18 through the summer featuring local artists and creatives, with a team of over 100 ready to aid customers.
‘Today at Apple’ is a creative initiative offered online and in Apple's retail stores worldwide, offering free educational sessions on features of Apple products.
“At Apple, our customers are at the center of everything we do, and our teams are excited to celebrate this wonderful moment with them as we open our first retail store in India,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail.
“Apple BKC is a reflection of Mumbai’s vibrant culture and brings together the best of Apple in a beautiful, welcoming space for connection and community,” she added.
Apple began manufacturing iPhones in India in 2017, and since then, the company has worked with suppliers to assemble iPhone models and produce a growing number of components.