Samsung plans London showroom matching size of Apple Regent Street

A rendering of Coal Drops Yard, which has a 'kissing' curved roof.

Samsung is preparing to launch a new showroom space in London a year from now in a bid to raise its prestige as a brand, a report said on Friday.

The Korean company is finalizing a lease for 20,000 square feet on the top floor of the Coal Drops Yard mall, still under construction, according to two Bloomberg sources. The location is a former Victorian coal store, and Samsung is expected to adopt a design similar to the space it has in New York City's Meatpacking district.

That U.S. site isn't a store, but instead described as "a new kind of place filled with ideas, experiences and Samsung's cutting edge devices." Companies like Google have adopted a similar promotional strategy, content in letting people buy devices online — or elsewhere — if they like what they see.

Samsung is likely interested in capturing the same attention as Apple's flagship store on Regent Street, which measures about the same size. Coal Drops Yard won't open until Oct. 2018, however.

Another Apple rival, Microsoft, recently confirmed that it's intending to open a flagship store in London's Oxford Circus, very close to Regent Street. While it has all but abandoned phones, it has been pushing harder into laptops and tablets with its Surface line, most recently announcing the Surface Book 2 — aimed directly at the MacBook Pro.

Samsung's London footprint will presumably focus on Galaxy S and Note phones —

which compete with Apple's iPhone — putting products like tablets, laptops, smartwatches, and fitness trackers in the periphery.

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16 Comments

williamh

said about 6 years ago

Hope they have good fire suppression. :) By coincidence, I was at that very spot about 5 weeks ago. it's basically alongside a canal and next to another coal warehouse turned into a Waitrose grocery store. The Waitrose is very nice and I don't doubt the "mall" will be very nice. (It's not a mall in the American sense, more like the size of an office building with multiple shops inside.) However, the area around King's Cross is sort of down-market and dirty even for London.

MacPro

said about 6 years ago

I hope their doors handles don't drop off like they did on our almost new Samsung refrigerator and microwave! Of course ours were not covered by retailer's extended warranty as apparently handles dropping off due to cheap plastic connectors, is 'fair ware and tear!"

jasonfj

said about 6 years ago

williamh said:

Hope they have good fire suppression. :) By coincidence, I was at that very spot about 5 weeks ago. it's basically alongside a canal and next to another coal warehouse turned into a Waitrose grocery store. The Waitrose is very nice and I don't doubt the "mall" will be very nice. (It's not a mall in the American sense, more like the size of an office building with multiple shops inside.) However, the area around King's Cross is sort of down-market and dirty even for London.

Downmarket and dirty enough for Google and several major ad agencies to move their HQs there. It’s also the home of Central St Martins Art college. I’m just surprised Apple don’t have a store planned there already.

williamh

said about 6 years ago

jasonfj said:

williamh said:

Hope they have good fire suppression. :) By coincidence, I was at that very spot about 5 weeks ago. it's basically alongside a canal and next to another coal warehouse turned into a Waitrose grocery store. The Waitrose is very nice and I don't doubt the "mall" will be very nice. (It's not a mall in the American sense, more like the size of an office building with multiple shops inside.) However, the area around King's Cross is sort of down-market and dirty even for London.

Downmarket and dirty enough for Google and several major ad agencies to move their HQs there. It’s also the home of Central St Martins Art college. I’m just surprised Apple don’t have a store planned there already.

You're right, I didn't know that. Doesn't change the fact that the area is a bit gross. Better for offices than for a showroom. It didn't feel like the place Apple would put a store. I didn't go by any Apple Store in London that I recall, but in Scotland they were in the best shopping areas.
And to correct my previous post, I was there about 7 months ago and not 5 weeks ago. (different trip)

night9hawk

said about 6 years ago

williamh said:

jasonfj said:

williamh said:

Hope they have good fire suppression. :) By coincidence, I was at that very spot about 5 weeks ago. it's basically alongside a canal and next to another coal warehouse turned into a Waitrose grocery store. The Waitrose is very nice and I don't doubt the "mall" will be very nice. (It's not a mall in the American sense, more like the size of an office building with multiple shops inside.) However, the area around King's Cross is sort of down-market and dirty even for London.

Downmarket and dirty enough for Google and several major ad agencies to move their HQs there. It’s also the home of Central St Martins Art college. I’m just surprised Apple don’t have a store planned there already.

You're right, I didn't know that. Doesn't change the fact that the area is a bit gross. Better for offices than for a showroom. It didn't feel like the place Apple would put a store. I didn't go by any Apple Store in London that I recall, but in Scotland they were in the best shopping areas.
And to correct my previous post, I was there about 7 months ago and not 5 weeks ago. (different trip)

What ever happened to the space across the street from the Regent Street Apple Store? At one point Nokia occupied that space. Nokia's store was a dreadful place to visit, especially in comparison with the Apple Store across the street. There wasn't much in the way of product-a dozen or so candybar and flip-style phones and a few accessories in a space far too big for such meager wares. It'd be a good location for Samsung to position their crap though.