Inside Samsung's new Silicon Valley retail store, which is opening up down the road from its main rival, Apple

Advertisement
Inside Samsung's new Silicon Valley retail store, which is opening up down the road from its main rival, Apple
samsung retail store palo alto silicon valley 25

Katie Canales/Business Insider

Advertisement

Bay Area customers can come to Samsung's new store in Palo Alto to test out the Galaxy Fold, among other products.

  • Samsung is opening a retail experience store in Palo Alto, California, in what is the company's fourth store opening of its kind in the US.
  • The store is designed to give customers firsthand access to the company's product line, as well as device support and repair services.
  • We toured the new store days before it opened to the public. Take a look inside.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Samsung enthusiasts in Silicon Valley will soon have a physical destination to test out the tech giant's products.

Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

The company is opening a retail experience store in the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, California, home to long-time tenant and consumer electronics competitor Apple.

The retail store will be open to the public starting on Thursday, December 12. It's the fourth retail location of its kind in the US, with others already in Southern California, Long Island, New York, and Houston, Texas.

Advertisement

The idea behind the store is to give Samsung customers firsthand access to the full breadth of the company's product line, from tablets and laptops to the Galaxy line of smartphones, including the company's new $2,000 Galaxy Fold. The foldable smartphone isn't in stock in the store, but customers can test it out upon request, and preorders are available. Full customer service is also available, like device repair and support.

The company said it has plans to roll out retail stores globally in the future.

"Every new store opened around the world will be based on this prototype," Alan Robles, Samsung's vice president of retail design and development, told the media during a preview of the store.

We visited the new location two days before it opened to the public. Check it out.

{{}}

Samsung's fourth US retail store will soon open in the Silicon Valley city of Palo Alto, California.

Samsung's fourth US retail store will soon open in the Silicon Valley city of Palo Alto, California.

We toured the 5,000-square-foot space a couple of days before it opened to the public on December 12.

We toured the 5,000-square-foot space a couple of days before it opened to the public on December 12.
Advertisement

Lights in purple and blue hues bathed the entire store. It's a different, though still cool, vibe from the crisp white layout Apple customers are used to experiencing in the tech giant's own retail stores.

Lights in purple and blue hues bathed the entire store. It's a different, though still cool, vibe from the crisp white layout Apple customers are used to experiencing in the tech giant's own retail stores.

Samsung's new store has all of the same sections in it as the company's other US locations.

Samsung's new store has all of the same sections in it as the company's other US locations.
Advertisement

There's a wearables section, which includes the Samsung Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Watch Active.

There's a wearables section, which includes the Samsung Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Watch Active.

We spotted tablets, laptops, TVs, gaming computers, speakers ...

We spotted tablets, laptops, TVs, gaming computers, speakers ...
Advertisement

... the HMD Odyssey Virtual Reality Headset …

... the HMD Odyssey Virtual Reality Headset …

... a whole section for accessories, like phone cases ...

... a whole section for accessories, like phone cases ...
Advertisement

... and the entire center of the store was devoted to Samsung's line of Galaxy smartphones.

... and the entire center of the store was devoted to Samsung's line of Galaxy smartphones.

It's the first thing you're greeted by when you walk in.

It's the first thing you're greeted by when you walk in.
Advertisement

The company chose Palo Alto because of the Bay Area's large Samsung following. Allister Jones, senior vice president of retail for Samsung, told the media that there are lots of Galaxy fans in the region.

The company chose Palo Alto because of the Bay Area's large Samsung following. Allister Jones, senior vice president of retail for Samsung, told the media that there are lots of Galaxy fans in the region.

At the very front of the store are Galaxy Note 10 smartphones in varying colors ...

At the very front of the store are Galaxy Note 10 smartphones in varying colors ...
Advertisement

... on nearby bays is the Galaxy Note 10 Plus ...

... on nearby bays is the Galaxy Note 10 Plus ...

... its accompanying S Pen is in a holographic display alongside it.

... its accompanying S Pen is in a holographic display alongside it.
Advertisement

Further back is the Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10 Plus ...

Further back is the Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10 Plus ...

... then there are the Galaxy A Series phones ...

... then there are the Galaxy A Series phones ...
Advertisement

... and gleaming brightly in its own standalone case immediately to the right as you enter the store is Samsung's new $2,000 Galaxy Fold.

... and gleaming brightly in its own standalone case immediately to the right as you enter the store is Samsung's new $2,000 Galaxy Fold.

When the phone debuted for the first time in April 2019, reviews came out that the device was easily breaking. It was released again in September 2019, with what seems like some marked improvements.

When the phone debuted for the first time in April 2019, reviews came out that the device was easily breaking. It was released again in September 2019, with what seems like some marked improvements.

Source: Business Insider

Advertisement

The foldable smartphone may be on display, but it's not in stock in-store.

The foldable smartphone may be on display, but it's not in stock in-store.

Customers can test out the device upon request, as well as ones that team members have on hand, but the store is only taking preorders for now.

Customers can test out the device upon request, as well as ones that team members have on hand, but the store is only taking preorders for now.
Advertisement

Jones said the company took lessons from Samsung's other retail locations when designing this one.

Jones said the company took lessons from Samsung's other retail locations when designing this one.

One was anticipating where customers move most often from section to section. So they made the bays in the store movable.

One was anticipating where customers move most often from section to section. So they made the bays in the store movable.
Advertisement

For example, if the company found that customers often gravitate from the Note 10’s to the tablets, they could move the two bays into closer proximity of each other.

For example, if the company found that customers often gravitate from the Note 10’s to the tablets, they could move the two bays into closer proximity of each other.

Another key function of the store is to teach customers how to get the most out of their Samsung devices.

Another key function of the store is to teach customers how to get the most out of their Samsung devices.
Advertisement

The Samsung store will have full customer service, with device repair and support available.

The Samsung store will have full customer service, with device repair and support available.

A Samsung spokesperson during the store preview told the media that if a customer brings their cracked phone screen in, it can be fixed within an hour.

A Samsung spokesperson during the store preview told the media that if a customer brings their cracked phone screen in, it can be fixed within an hour.
Advertisement

And if the phone is deemed irreparable, it can be swapped out on-site. In the meantime, Samsung will give you a loaner device until your new phone is serviced.

And if the phone is deemed irreparable, it can be swapped out on-site. In the meantime, Samsung will give you a loaner device until your new phone is serviced.

The Palo Alto store will serve as a prototype for future Samsung retail shops, which Robles said the company has plans to expand in the future.

The Palo Alto store will serve as a prototype for future Samsung retail shops, which Robles said the company has plans to expand in the future.
Advertisement

The Palo Alto store will be open to the public starting on Thursday, December 12.

The Palo Alto store will be open to the public starting on Thursday, December 12.