Samsung shuts flagship, Apple Store-like London shop as sales plunge
Westfield Stratford had housed one of the Samsung Experience Stores, but it’s now been shut
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Samsung has shut one of its biggest shops in Stratford’s Westfield, as sales plunge and shoppers said that the store never matched the Apple experience that it was apparently trying to copy.
Samsung has nine of the Samsung Experience Stores across the UK, including one on Oxford Street, but described the one in Westfield as its ‘flagship’. The shops sold a range of Samsung products, including TVs and domestic appliances, in airy and light shops reminiscent of Apple’s shops.
But Samsung’s performance in Europe seems to be slipping — it no longer sells laptops in the continent, and mobile sales are dropping. The stores were busy as they opened, but have apparently petered out.
Najeeb Khan, the Twitter user that noted the closure, said that the store “never came close to” the ambience of Apple’s shops with respect to “buying experience, staff knowledge” and so on.
The company bought 60 Carphone Warehouse shops in Europe at the beginning of the year, with the intention of opening them as standalone stores. But it’s unclear what will happen to those shops or its Europe push as the flagship store closes.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments