South Korea doesn’t have any Apple stores, and that’s because Samsung reigns supreme. The smartphone maker accounts for about 23 percent of the country’s economy. That’s not stopping Apple from building a retail presence, and the store may even sit across Samsung’s headquarters.
Apple executives have scouted locations in the vicinity, according to sources who spoke to the Wall Street Journal. Plans aren’t complete, though, and could take about a year.
An Apple spokesperson said the company hasn’t made any announcements regarding a store in South Korea. Apple devices are sold via authorized third-party vendors, as well as carrier partners. The company already has a presence in several countries in the region, including China and Japan.
In the U.S., Apple is looking to have a presence at the historic Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C. It’s not just going to be a store, as sources tell the Washington Post the company is gunning for a space akin to its location in Union Square in San Francisco. That would mean an event space for concerts and children’s events, along with public Wi-Fi, and a plaza with outdoor seating.
Apple stores in Arlington, Virginia; Brea, Calif.; Glendale, Ariz.; Pleasanton, Calif.; and Birmingham, England will reopen or open on Saturday. While the Birmingham store is new, the others were renovated to follow Apple’s new next-generation layout, which includes The Avenue, The Forum, The Plaza, large glass doors, sequoia wood shelves, indoor trees, and more, according to MacRumors.
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