Xiaomi is expanding quite well in the market, penetrating different countries and now, the company has officially launched its first brick and mortar store in Bangalore, India – the first Xiaomi retail outlet in the country.
This is a special treat for Xiaomi customers as they will be able to experience these Mi Homes, as the company calls its stores were customers will be able to check out the phones and other Mi products also available, much like in Apple stores. The timing and reason behind the company to create its first retail store in the country is quite appropriate, since Xiaomi has had a strong presence in social media and has created quite the fan following, owing to sales and events such the infamous flash sales.
The store will be opened at Bangalore’s Phoenix Market City Mall on May 20. Those who are interested in reserving a smartphone for themselves will be able to book one by paying Rs 1,000 on the website starting May 16. Xiaomi is aiming to launch at least 100 more stores in the sub-continent. Other stores are set to pop up in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad as well as Chennai. The company wants to know adopt the DTR (Direct to Retail) model that will complement its online sales figures.
The Mi Homes are said to bring together the company’s Internet+ and new retail approach, that will help in combining customer experience with the convenience of e-commerce at hand. The store opening in Bangalore will not only feature the company’s many phones, but also headphones, power banks, fitness bands, air purifiers and other different products that are otherwise unknown in the country. In adding a different stream towards customers for selling phones, Xiaomi will be able to maintain a balance with the number of phones now sold offline as well as online. The company had already partnered with the likes of Flipkart, The Mobile Store, Snapdeal, Amazon as well as Airtel stores to sell its products, and now it seems like Xiaomi wants to take matters into its own hands as well.
The company already has 70 Mi Homes in China so far. The company is looking to invest in India as India has increased the company’s phone’s popularity and has soared the sales numbers even while the sales in in its own home country in China is now declining. Xiaomi will not be first online-only phone-manufacturer who will be making the break to the offline world. In India, even OnePlus has its own store, located right at Bangalore too.
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