Nokia opens up retail store in Moscow
By Ryan Block 
posted Dec 8th 2005 5:50PM
posted Dec 8th 2005 5:50PM
Doesn't look like Nokia got the memo that opening stores doesn't equal increased sales (see:
Gateway), but Nokia opened up shop in Moscow today with
the intention of opening another seventeen Nokia retail stores in the next two years. Perhaps they might be forgetting
the fact that you can already try out and trade in your Nokia handset at carrier retail locations the world over, but
we assume they're approaching this as a brand-builder where Nokia phones won't have to fight tooth and nail for
consumers' attention, and where customers can get the definitive word (or even support) on old, new, and forthcoming
devices.
[Thanks, Gristle]
I think it's worth noting that Nokia already operates a handful of "stores" in the US called Nokia Experience Centers in high end shopping centers. Oddly, they don't actually sell phones, they exist only to showcase Nokia's products.
http://www.nokiausa.com/experience/1,7449,,00.html
Nokia already has tiny walk-in kiosks that look like giant glass cubes at several malls in my area... (in Chicago and the suburbs)
And you mention the failure of gateway's stores, but that was just bad implementation. Look how popular Apple's Retail Stores are!
These Nokia Kiosks also allow you to buy many phones that aren't sold through carriers in the U.S., and gives more brand awareness to Nokia, showing people that they offer much more than just those "free phones" that they're known for.
Oops, I guess someone replied first. Anyway, I'm fairly sure that you can buy at least some of their phones at the kiosks, but maybe I'm just not remembering correctly.
The Nokia Experience is wonderful, but it's not sufficient. We (in the US) NEED retail locations that can upgrade firmware, offer product support, and *sell* the latest handsets. Future versions of S60 will support FOTA (enabling you to upgrade your firmware over-the-air), so upgrading firmware won't be a problem. But in the meantime, we have very few options.
What the hell is Morpheus doing there?
i think it should also be noted that Nokia have had stores in the Middle East for quite a while now.
And people prefer to go and buy from Nokia because there is no fuss with the warranty, there is a direct place to go, and some people just feel better of buying it from the manufacturer directly.
Must be a slow news day.
Nokia stores have been around for years. This hardly qualifies as "news".
I guess the news is that they've opened a store in Moscow, and that another seventeen stores are to be opened in Russia
Well I actually think that nokia should be selling actual phones instead of just showcasing them. In asia, where I live, you can sell your phone and buy a second hand one. And the nokia shops actually have phones to sell. Having it just for showcase is just.. weird
Hello? I live in India, and Nokia stores are damn popular over here, esp since most GSM phones and connections are bought seperately. So yea, I do think having these stores increases sales a lot, since people prefer to buy Nokia phones directly from Nokia....
As for Morpheus, he is looking for Neo, obviously....