Xiaomi opens Mi Home store in India, an ‘Apple Store-lookalike’

Chinese smartphone brand Xiaomi has announced its first ‘Mi Home store’ in India, with plans to open 100 more in the next two years. These Mi-Home stores mark a big u-turn in the company’s strategy as they are in contrast to its much-touted online-exclusive sales mantra followed till last year.
Incidentally, these Mi Home stores from the company, which was till some time back called Apple of China, bear strong resemblance to Apple Stores.
Mi Home stores are Xiaomi’s exclusive offline retail stores that allow Mi customers to experience and purchase Xiaomi’s latest products under one roof, the company said.
The stores represent Xiaomi’s “Internet+” and “new retail” approach — combining the Internet efficiency of e-commerce with the service and user experience of offline retail, it said in a statement here.
The first Mi Home store in India, which will open to public starting May 20, will feature Xiaomi’s range of smartphones, power banks, headphones, fitness bands, air purifiers and other ecosystem products launched in India.
Xiaomi plans to open 100 Mi Home stores across India in the next two years, the statement said.
Upcoming Mi Home stores will be located in other metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Speaking at the launch, Manu Jain, Vice President, Xiaomi and Managing Director, Xiaomi India said Mi Home stores are built on their Internet+ new retail concept, and will have efficiencies similar to the online channel.
In addition to Mi Home stores, Xiaomi will continue to expand its offline presence with retailers and distributors in the country through its Direct to Retail (DTR) model which eliminates several layers within the offline distribution channel. This allows Xiaomi to continue to maintain price parity between products sold across both its online and offline channels, the statement added.