The Tata Group<\/a> aims to open small exclusive Apple stores<\/a> across the country, two people aware of the development said.
The iPhone maker is tying up with Tata-owned Infiniti Retail, which runs the Croma store chain, for the venture, they said.
Infiniti Retail will become an Apple<\/a> franchisee partner and intends to open 100 such outlets of 500-600 sq ft each at malls as well as high-street and neighbourhood locations.
These Apple Authorised Reseller<\/a> outlets will be smaller than Apple Premium Reseller stores, which are typically more than 1,000 sq ft in area. The smaller stores will mostly sell iPhones<\/a>, iPads<\/a> and watches while the larger format ones will have the entire Apple range, including MacBook<\/a> computers. India currently has about 160 Apple Premium Reseller stores.
Apple India and Infiniti Retail didn’t respond to queries.
“Tata has already started discussions with premium malls and high streets for space,” said a retail consultant aware of the development, adding that the lease terms include details of brands and stores that can’t be opened near the outlet. This is similar to the terms that Apple insists on, the person said.
The Tata-Apple partnership comes as Apple’s first company-owned flagship store is set for a likely opening in Mumbai in the March quarter.
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