Apple plans to open 25 Stores in China

SVP Apple Retail - Ron Johnson

I attended the Apple (AAPL) Shareholders’ Meeting today (Feb 25, 2010) and heard the word directly from Apple Chief Operating Officer (COO) Tim Cook … Apple plans to open 25 Apple Stores in China. Specific timelines for groundbreaking weren’t revealed, but Apple (Tim Cook) did note during the recent Goldman Sachs Technology Conference that Apple was taking advantage of raging deals (low rents) on premium properties globally (sites for future Apple Stores) and that Store openings in 2010 were likely to be on the “high side” of their normal store opening pace (25 to 50). To put it another way, Apple will likely open in the vicinity of 50 new stores in 2010.

How many Stores will Apple open in China in 2010 and 2011? That remains to be seen … but things will get busy soon! It’s a safe bet that Apple is looking at locations in: Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi’an, Chengdu, Tianjin and Hong Kong. Any other good bets?

Apple is making big/bold moves in China. You might want to file the following under “just an interesting coincidence” as there is not necessarily any connection…

• Apple announces Andrea Jung (fluent in Mandarin and with substantial China business connections) as the new co-lead Director of Apple’s Board
• Not long after China steps up its anti-smut on the Net campaign (vigorous Great Firewall blocking), Apple purges the US App Store of thousands of racy “iCandy” (too much skin) apps. Granted Apple’s China App Store is already devoid of lurid apps, so it’s hard to find any China connection to the US App Store purge.
• Google irks China with its not so veiled accusations of China’s involvement in cyber-attacks

Design Plan for Apple Store in Shanghai?