If it’s good enough for Apple and Microsoft, then it’s good enough for Google. The company yesterday launched its first retail store in London as part of a “low-key experiment.” The store is actually located within another store, the Tottenham Court Road PC World. It currently only offers Chromebooks and and accessories. According to Google UK’s head of consumer marketing Arvind Desikan:
“It is our first foray into physical retail. This is a new channel for us and it’s still very, very early days. It’s something Google is going to play with and see where it leads.”
The experiment came about after research found that some 80 percent of laptops are sold through brick and mortar retail shops.
Google is planning to open a second Chromezone retail shop in Essex on October 7th with more to follow as part of the pilot program. There is no word if the pilot program will be extended to North America.