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Image credit: Macotakara
Apple is building a dedicated Apple Watch store in Japan, a new report has revealed.
According to Macotakara (via AppleInsider), the shop is being erected behind black barriers at the Isetan department store in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
The display area is being built in the accessories section, and will be positioned near other high-end brand outlets like Cartier, Boucheron, Chaumet, Mauboussin, and Tiffany’s.
According to the article, the Isetan department store adopts a continental approach whereby floor space is segmented by brand, with dedicated employees.
That’s in contrast to the US style of department stores like Macy’s where customers can pick up items in one area and pay for it anywhere within the store.
It’s also reported that the store will be ‘semi-permanent’, which could mean dedicated Apple Watch retail outlets could be a mainstay of high streets one day, just like existing Apple stores.
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The area is described as being under construction on an online floor plan, and there’s no estimated completion date listed.
It’s likely, however, that we’ll see the store open for business before the April 24 launch of the Apple Watch.
Apple has already announced that it will be showcasing the Apple Watch starting from the April 10 pre-order date at a host of physical locations. That could clue April 10 as the completion date for this particular store.
There is also talk that we’ll see similar stores and pop-ups showing up in other locations worldwide, including Paris’ Galaeries Lafayette and the USA’s Nordstrom.
Apple has declined to comment on the matter.
