Nokia opens flagship Moscow store in retail push

reuters.com
Thu Dec 8, 2005 2:21 PM ET6

HELSINKI (Reuters) - The world's top mobile phone maker Nokia (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research) inaugurated a flagship store in Moscow on Thursday and said it would open another 17 similar stores in the coming 24 months.

Nokia said the new outlets, the company's first, were part of its revised retail strategy.

"The Nokia Flagship Stores will be opened in high-profile locations in major shopping destinations in the next couple of years," the Finnish firm said in a statement, without giving details of where the stores would be.

The firm said partnerships with retailers and telecom operators would continue to be the main sales channel under its new strategy, while the flagship stores would function as a source of customer feedback.

"This will ... allow us to faster respond with products and services that meet consumers' needs and desires," said Cliff Crosbie, Nokia's retail and trade marketing head.

The flagship stores will be wholly owned and run by Nokia.

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