Any Hidden Reason?
Apple opens a dedicated store for Apple Watch customers on the first floor of a famous department store located in Shinjuku, Japan. In addition, the Apple Stores in London, Berlin, Paris, LA, and the like will display the Apple Watches from April 10, two weeks earlier than the official launch, so that consumers can get a feel for the watches.
In contrast, Apple has no plans to open such a store in Korea, and has mentioned nothing about the release of the watch in Korea. Industry insiders predict that the watch will come to Korea by June, but no preview of the watches is possible because there is no Apple Store.
Consumers are wondering why Apple is so stingy about investment and slow at product releases in Korea, in spite of its five years of business here.
Furthermore, Apple Korea’s sales per employee surpassed those of all other markets in 2012, when 160 Apple Korea employees recorded approximately 2 trillion won (US$1.79 billion) in sales. At present, about 200 employees are recording over 3 trillion won (US$2.7 billion).