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Apple has decided to close one of its retail stores in China, marking the first time the company is shutting down a store in the country. The Apple store in the Parkland Mall, located in the Zhongshan district of Dalian, will close permanently on August 9th. Apple cited ongoing changes within the shopping complex and the departure of several brands as reasons for the closure. Major brands such as Coach, Sandro, and Hugo Boss had already vacated the Parkland Mall.
This move comes amid a backdrop of declining consumer spending and economic pressures in China. Apple’s sales in China decreased by 2.3 percent in the second quarter, reaching $16 billion, falling short of the projected $16.8 billion. Apple has stated its commitment to providing a strong customer experience. The company operates approximately 56 stores in China, representing 10% of its global retail footprint. Employees from the Dalian store will be relocated to the Olympia 66 mall store, which is only a 10-minute distance away.
Furthermore, Apple is expanding its retail network outside of China. A new store is scheduled to open on August 16th in Uniwalk Qianhai, Shenzhen. Additional store openings are planned in Beijing and Shanghai, following the opening of a new store in Anhui province earlier this year. Meanwhile, India is emerging as a significant manufacturing and export hub for Apple.
