Samsung store in London follows Apple's lead
The company teams up with U.K. retailer Phones 4U to offer a store-within-a-store that comes with the "clean" look found in Apple Stores.
Samsung has opened a new retail shop in the U.K. And it seems to feature some rather familiar design ideas.
According to Engadget, which visited the Oxford Street store in London earlier today, a host of Samsung's popular mobile products are on display, including the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Note, and Galaxy S II. In addition, the shop is currently in the process of training staff, so they can be well-versed on just about any question that might be posed by visitors.
Interestingly, Samsung's shop is right around the corner from one of Apple's London stores. But unlike Apple's retail location, which is a standalone store, Samsung's outlet is located inside U.K. retailer Phones 4u's store, according to Engadget.
What's perhaps most striking about the Samsung shop is its resemblance to Apple stores. The company's products are laid out on simple tables so users can try them out. The stores appear to come with the same kind of "clean" look one would find in an Apple Store. And with trained staff roaming about, it might make some customers who frequent Apple stores feel at home.
Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Apple has been celebrated by retailers worldwide for delivering a top-notch retail experience. And a host of retailers have tried to follow in its footsteps. JC Penney CEO Ron Johnson, for example, was plucked from Apple after setting the iPhone maker's retail initiative. He's now planning to bring some of those ideas to his new company.
