China-based smartphone manufacturer OnePlus will soon open its first global experience store in Bengaluru, India Today reported on Monday. The company, known for its range of OnePlus handsets, said its decision was based on the fact that Indian consumers prefer a “touch and feel” model of buying their smartphones.
The proposed store will be spread across 14,000 sq ft and will allow people to try out their range of smartphones, OnePlus’ General Manager for India Vikas Agarwal (pictured above) said, according to The Economic Times. However, potential customers will still have to buy the company’s products from online portals. Agarwal further said that the company will open similar stores in other cities, depending on the success of the first one.
India is among the top three markets for the company. While its devices have been praised for their design and price points, some of OnePlus’ sales and marketing policies have received criticism from the public and the media. Till the launch of its newest OnePlus 3, the company relied on an invite-based system to allow people to buy their smartphones.
In 2014, the company faced a backlash after it announced a contest for women to post a photo of themselves with the company logo drawn or painted on their “hand/face/wherever”. The entrants with the most-liked photos by OnePlus’ user community would then receive an invitation to purchase their OnePlus One device.
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