Samsung to rival Apple on the high street
The move will see the South Korean technology giant launch branded standalone stores showcasing its full range of mobiles, tablet computers and laptops in seven European markets within the next three months.
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Hide AdCarphone has been chosen as Samsung’s “preferred partner” to launch and run the stores in Europe under a five-year contract, which follows a successful trial with three stores that opened in Spain last autumn.
Around 20 of the stores will open in the UK, with the remainder launching across Ireland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and the Netherlands.
It will see Samsung step up the pressure on Apple, which already has a successful global retail store portfolio.
Samsung, which overtook Apple as the biggest smartphone seller in 2011, said the deal will create a “powerful new retail concept”.
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Hide AdIt is also said to be planning to open standalone stores across the US, reportedly hiring former Apple Store designer Tim Gudgel as part of the push.
The group already has Samsung Experience stores in the US as concessions within consumer electronics giant Best Buy, while it recently opened a Samsung Experience site in Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, London.