Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is ready to launch their first retail store in Brazil. The shop will be located in Rio de Janeiro inside the Village Mall. This will be the first Apple store in all of Latin America – most of Apple’s other retail outlets are located in the United States and Europe. This store will officially open on February 15.
Apple to kick off store opening with workshops
To kick off the opening, this location will offer a few workshops for the iPhone and iPhoto on the opening day. The next day, the store will offer iPad workshops.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) first announced their store’s opening back in November with the following statement: “We look forward to the opening of the first Apple Store in Brazil, where we have longstanding customers and hope to win many more every day. We cannot wait to offer the unique Apple retail experience to the people of Rio de Janeiro and customers from across the entire region.”
A growing market
Brazil is a growing market for consumer electronics, which is why Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was smart to set up a store right in the country’s most significant city. What’s more is that Apple planned the store’s launch date during a key period: the FIFA World Cup. The new store opening would fit perfectly with the huge rush of visitors expected to hit the city around the period. Back in 2008, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) launched a retail store in Beijing when the Olympics were about to take place. It was a smart marketing move to entice visitors to come to their store.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is also set to relaunch the iPhone 4 in India, Brazil, and Indonesia. This move is a strong effort to gain more customers in regions where the company lost market share to cheaper phones. Re-introducing these phones should prompt budget-conscious iPhone fans to fall in love with Apple again.