Flagship Stores Archive

  • Nokia confirms New York and Chicago flagship stores are closing in early 2010

    Nokia confirms New York and Chicago flagship stores are closing in early 2010

    Posted on December 9, 2009 | No Comments
    digg_url = 'http://digg.com/tech_news/Nokia_confirms_New_York_and_Chicago_flagship_stores_are_clos'; No surprises here, but Nokia has confirmed a Nokia Experts report today that the company will be shutting down its North American flagship stores in New York and Chicago, leaning on big boxes and carriers to handle the in-store experiences going forward. Considering the fractional market presence Nokia has in the States compared to the UK -- where it's closing its Regent Street location -- the move comes as no shock, but it's still a shame to see these really attractive, high-tech hero locations close down. The way we saw it, these stores were never about sales; they were about exposing Nokia to the public and vice versa in a cool, hip environment, and regardless of how you feel about the company's handsets, they'd effectively accomplished that with the flagship strategy. Here's Nokia's official statement, which confirms our opinion but takes the questionable stance that the stores have outlived their function now that "consumer awareness in the US has grown substantially":
    "In North America, over 90 percent of consumer purchases are made through carriers - Nokia continues to support our relationship with carriers in this market, as well as the continued expansion of our retail partner network with the likes of Amazon and Best Buy (for example), in line with our strategy. As we continue to expand our services and solutions offerings across these various channels, we have decided to close the NY and Chicago stores to allow more concentration on our other channels.

    The Flagship stores were originally conceived to inspire and educate consumers to the benefits of mobility through an innovative retail experience, and to broaden the appeal of the Nokia brand. Since opening the stores in NY and Chicago (2006), consumer awareness in the U.S. has grown substantially. Weighing those dynamics with Nokia's clear strategy in North America, and our well-established retail channel with third parties, we will close these two stores (New York and Chicago) in early 2010.

    This decision was made to create clear alignment with our local market strategy and, in addition, as part of a global realignment of our retail strategy in overall."

    Nokia confirms New York and Chicago flagship stores are closing in early 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Nokia shuttering London flagship store

    Nokia shuttering London flagship store

    Posted on December 7, 2009 | No Comments
    We're not sure exactly what this means for the rest of the world's nine Nokia flagship stores, but it's been announced that Nokia will be pulling out of its prominent Regent Street location in London as it apparently prepares for a retail revamp going into early 2010. Weak foot traffic is cited as the main reason for the closure, and if Nokia can't generate sales in the heart of one of its strongholds -- Western Europe -- we can't imagine that this bodes well for the other flagships either, all of which were designed and built around a high-tech, pricey theme (the Regent Street store alone was rumored to run Nokia a cool £4 million, about $6.5 million, to open) that likely drags on the company's bottom line quarter after quarter. Then again, we'd assumed that these stores were built to foster mindshare, not necessarily to contribute euro day in and day out -- but this is probably why we're not executives at a major phone manufacturer. Other Nokia stores in the UK will remain open, but for Espoo, the days of the over-the-top retail marvel of design and architecture may be over.

    [Image via All About Symbian]

    Nokia shuttering London flagship store originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Nokia N900 now available in the US

    Nokia N900 now available in the US

    Posted on November 18, 2009 | 1 Comment
    We’ve got news, both good and bad. What do you want first? We’ll start with the bad news first. It’s easier that way, you know? Bad news: We were supposed to have an N900 review — or at least a first look — up by now. Nokia assures us a review unit has been sent, but [...]

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  • Nokia’s Maemo 5-equipped N900 on sale in America for $649

    Nokia’s Maemo 5-equipped N900 on sale in America for $649

    Posted on November 18, 2009 | No Comments

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    We've already given you a glimpse at the N900, but as of today, you Yanks in the crowd can wrap your own limber paws around Nokia's hero device. Admittedly tailored for enthusiasts and developers to use while the company maneuvers Maemo into its product line, the N900 is now available through Nokia Flagship stores in New York and Chicago, the firm's website and "various independent retailers and e-tailers." A tidy sum of $649 (or $510 if you're smart enough to check Amazon) nabs you an unlocked version with a 5 megapixel camera, 32GB of internal storage and a bombastic, Flash-lovin' web browser. Ain't no shame in lusting after one, but tell us earnestly -- are you forking out nearly seven bills to bring one home?

    Nokia's Maemo 5-equipped N900 on sale in America for $649 originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Nokia N86 coming to America, but does anyone care?

    Nokia N86 coming to America, but does anyone care?

    Posted on July 17, 2009 | No Comments
    Remember this guy? Me either. Nokia just announced that the 8-megapixel N86 will be hitting stateside with a $558 price tag. No thanks, Nokia. The award winning Nokia N86 8MP, the most advanced Nokia imaging device, is coming to the United States. With its eight megapixel camera, dual LED flash and Carl Zeiss Optics, [...]

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  • Tesla to open seven new dealerships this summer

    Tesla to open seven new dealerships this summer

    Posted on June 4, 2009 | No Comments
    teslaLooking to take a Tesla electric car for a spin, are ya? Lucky you, as the company will be opening seven sales centers this summer -- four in the US and three abroad. You'll be able to take a test drive in New York, Seattle, Chicago, and Miami, along with London, Monaco, and Munich.

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