South Korean firm to gain European presence in next three months almost as large as that built by rival Apple over a decade
Samsung is to open 60 standalone stores across Europe in partnership with Carphone Warehouse in a direct challenge to Apple.
The outlets, fitted out with minimalist white and blue interiors, will sell Samsung's full computing range from laptops to tablets, phones and smart watches.
Between 10 and 15 of the shops are expected to be in the UK – with the rest in Ireland, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands and Spain (where there already three pilot stores).
The Samsung outlets, which open in April, may not be able to match the opulence of Apple's flagship stores, which have sales of $19bn (£11.5bn) and generate more cash per square foot than any other retail chain in the world.
But the South Korean group will gain a European presence in the next three months almost as large as that built by Apple over a decade. The US firm has 98 wholly owned outlets in eight European countries. There 37 are in the UK.
Samsung has promised Carphone Warehouse a 60% share of its shops across Europe, suggesting more outlets could be on their way.
Andrew Harrison, chief executive of Carphone, said: "This is an important alliance playing to both companies' strengths. Together we will create a powerful new retail concept to showcase, for our customers, a wide range of products, content and services as well as injecting both investment and new jobs into the retail sector."
Around 114 million people visited Apple's stores during the busy December quarter, which equates to almost 21,000 visitors a store a week. Analysts expect the Samsung stores will also attract a healthy number, and believe they will generate profits of £10m a year within two years for Carphone after the cost of the refits has been absorbed.
Most of the stores will be converted from Carphone's existing 2,000-strong estate. They will be staffed by Carphone employees, although Samsung may pay a portion of the salaries.
Samsung will even offer a service similar to Apple's Genius advisers, who help customers get new gadgets up and running before leaving the store and provide after sales help. Samsung's version of these technical helpers will be supplied by Carphone, which will rebrand its Geek Squad service.
Samsung's move into retail comes just after the group reported a drop in quarterly profits for the first time in two years, triggered by a fall in margins at its mobile phone division, which saw operating income decrease 18% quarter on quarter.
In Asia Samsung is having to drop its prices to compete with cheap handsets from Chinese manufacturers.
Carphone has been looking for the next big thing since exiting its partnership with the US electricals retailer Best Buy. The UK firm's chairman, Sir Charles Dunstone, is hoping the Samsung-Carphone model will be adopted by other brands such as Microsoft and Blackberry, or by general stores looking to specialise in electronics.
"The 60 stores should be seen as a first step in Samsung's European rollout, implying the deal could be extended further in the medium term," analysts at Exane bank said. Reported by guardian.co.uk 9 hours ago.
Samsung is to open 60 standalone stores across Europe in partnership with Carphone Warehouse in a direct challenge to Apple.
The outlets, fitted out with minimalist white and blue interiors, will sell Samsung's full computing range from laptops to tablets, phones and smart watches.
Between 10 and 15 of the shops are expected to be in the UK – with the rest in Ireland, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands and Spain (where there already three pilot stores).
The Samsung outlets, which open in April, may not be able to match the opulence of Apple's flagship stores, which have sales of $19bn (£11.5bn) and generate more cash per square foot than any other retail chain in the world.
But the South Korean group will gain a European presence in the next three months almost as large as that built by Apple over a decade. The US firm has 98 wholly owned outlets in eight European countries. There 37 are in the UK.
Samsung has promised Carphone Warehouse a 60% share of its shops across Europe, suggesting more outlets could be on their way.
Andrew Harrison, chief executive of Carphone, said: "This is an important alliance playing to both companies' strengths. Together we will create a powerful new retail concept to showcase, for our customers, a wide range of products, content and services as well as injecting both investment and new jobs into the retail sector."
Around 114 million people visited Apple's stores during the busy December quarter, which equates to almost 21,000 visitors a store a week. Analysts expect the Samsung stores will also attract a healthy number, and believe they will generate profits of £10m a year within two years for Carphone after the cost of the refits has been absorbed.
Most of the stores will be converted from Carphone's existing 2,000-strong estate. They will be staffed by Carphone employees, although Samsung may pay a portion of the salaries.
Samsung will even offer a service similar to Apple's Genius advisers, who help customers get new gadgets up and running before leaving the store and provide after sales help. Samsung's version of these technical helpers will be supplied by Carphone, which will rebrand its Geek Squad service.
Samsung's move into retail comes just after the group reported a drop in quarterly profits for the first time in two years, triggered by a fall in margins at its mobile phone division, which saw operating income decrease 18% quarter on quarter.
In Asia Samsung is having to drop its prices to compete with cheap handsets from Chinese manufacturers.
Carphone has been looking for the next big thing since exiting its partnership with the US electricals retailer Best Buy. The UK firm's chairman, Sir Charles Dunstone, is hoping the Samsung-Carphone model will be adopted by other brands such as Microsoft and Blackberry, or by general stores looking to specialise in electronics.
"The 60 stores should be seen as a first step in Samsung's European rollout, implying the deal could be extended further in the medium term," analysts at Exane bank said. Reported by guardian.co.uk 9 hours ago.