Google hopes to open its first flagship Google Store in major US metropolitan areas before the end of year holidays, someone with knowledge of the matter told 9to5Google. The stores will be a place where consumers will be able to try out the new Google Nexus, Chrome and upcoming products. The company feels that customers need a hands-on experience with its products before buying. Apple and Microsoft have been doing this in their stores for years.
Google currently operates stores-in-stores to demonstrate Chrome in hundreds of Best Buy stores in the US and in 50 PCWorld/Dixons stores in the UK. Google Stores will operate independently and, like Google Play, will make direct sales from Google. 9to5Google writes that the idea of opening stores emerged when discussing how to launch the Google Glass product, with staff thinking that trying the display glasses would be necessary to sell the USD 500-1,000 product to non-techies.
Although the ramping up of the retail network is due to be handled by an external agency, the blog notes that Google is hiring workers to develop PoS systems.
