IndiaRetailBiz

“We have tied up with Apple for stocking a whole range of products in shop-in-shop format in Music World, including iPods and accessories.” –  Subrata Chowdhury, President (Books and Music), Spencer’s Retail.

Music World, the music retail chain of RPG group owned Spencer’s Retail, has tied-up with the US-based Apple Inc. — a personal computer and consumer electronic behemoth to sell its products in its stores. This, according to a Business Standard report, marks Apple’s first shop-in-shop tie-up in India.

Apple, in the past few years, has stormed the consumer electronics space with its iconic iPod and iPhone products. Apart from computing products like iMac and iBook, Apples is also among the biggest retailers of music under the iconic iTunes brand.

According to the accord, Apple employees will train Music World employees who in turn will assist our consumers on usage of different Apple products.

Reliance Retail, incidentally, also has agreement with Apple Inc to operate an independent retail chain of Apple’s iconic iStores in India.

Meanwhile, Music World has also decided not only to go in for image makeover of its stores, but expansion of the chain as well.

Not only it will redesign its stores and add new products to offer a complete range of personal entertainment products, but the new touch-and-feel look of the stores will also ensure 20% more space for display of products in the stores. The posters in the stores will also be replaced by hi-tech LCD display screens. These screens will showcase its product range. The changes are expected to become visible by the next month.

Recognising that the consumers now want complete personal entertainment, it is also adding new product categories like shirts and gadgets. In short, the chain is looking beyond selling just music and video.

“We are in the process of tying up with various brands for selling their shirts and disco wear through our Music World stores,” added Chowdhury.

Music World is also expanding from 249 stores at present to around 300 stores by adding 40,000 sq ft to the existing 80,000 sq ft of space, this year.