OnePlus, the renowned smartphone manufacturer, which sells its phones only through online channels, will be setting up its first-ever offline experience store in India soon. The Chinese smartphone maker has chosen Bengaluru for its 14,000 sq ft brick-and-mortar store.
OnePlus India's general manager Vikas Agarwal said the opening of its experience store doesn't mean any change in its online sales model. The OnePlus smartphones will still be available exclusively on Amazon India, as the online-sales model gives the company the pricing advantage.
Agarwal did not reveal the exact timeline to successfully complete its experience store setup, but revealed the company's plans to expand the number of such centres across India, based on the success of the first one. OnePlus experience store will offer consumers the option to "touch and feel" the phones before purchasing them online, Economic Times reported.
OnePlus has made itself a name for being one of the most disruptive smartphone companies in India and China by offering premium products at affordable price. The company's latest flagship, OnePlus 3, was launched in India for Rs 27,999, and competes against the likes of Samsung Galaxy S6 series, iPhone 6s series and other premium smartphones.
Agarwal also told ET that the company is planning to locally manufacture OnePlus 3 smartphones in India starting next quarter.
