Samsung London Store Closes, But Note 4 And Gear VR Could Revive Company
A high-profile Samsung Experience store in London has closed due to Samsung’s declining profits. The London store was considered the flagship Samsung store. Unfortunately, 50 Samsung employees will lose their jobs. There is no word yet as to whether other Samsung store locations will close down. Samsung talked to CNET about the unfortunate London store closing.
“We regret to announce that we will be closing the Samsung Experience Store at Westfield Stratford City at the end of this year. We will do our utmost, where possible, to look to find affected employees alternative employment within the business or offer a financial package should they choose to move on to find new opportunities.”
The closure of Samsung’s flagship London store occurred as the Korean company’s smartphone profits have been plummeting throughout 2014. Samsung saw its mobile division drop profits by 37.9 percent last quarter. The Samsung Galaxy S5, released last April, did not live up to sales expectations. But it’s way too early to count Samsung out; they have just released the Galaxy Note 4 and the Samsung Gear VR virtual reality headset. Both products have been very well received by critics and consumers.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4, which has been on display at the Experience store since a month before its release, has a gorgeous 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED (2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution) screen. The review from Engadget pretty much summarizes how most people feel about the phone.
“The Galaxy Note 4 is the best large phone on the market. It’s a device you’ll be proud to whip out in public, thanks to its elegant design, robust build, beautiful screen, impressive battery life and solid camera.”
Samsung’s website and current Samsung Experience store locations offer the Gear VR, a virtual reality headset made by Oculus, for use only with the Galaxy Note 4. Twitter users have gone nuts over the device, which is perhaps the most innovative technology product since the iPod.
After spending 1 hour inside a #GearVR I no longer have doubts about VR's future.
— mrdoob (@mrdoob) December 21, 2014
Just experienced Virtual Reality. Mind-Blowing #Samsung #GearVR http://t.co/daWLS8IE6I
— Chris J. Cater (@cater_atl) December 17, 2014
Even if Samsung was forced to close their store in London, they will be opening more soon. The buzz and sales for their latest flagship devices are too high for Samsung to go under. Are you optimistic about the future of Samsung despite the closing of the Samsung Experience store in London? Tell us in the comments section.
[Images Credit: The Telegraph and Daryl Deino]
