Regardless of where Apple sells them from, it’s fairly easy to find someone with an iPhone in just about every country in the world. The same can’t be said for Apple’s physical storefronts, but new rumors suggest that could change — with a definite focus on Latin America.
MacRumors published an internal Apple document from an anonymous source on Tuesday (Jan. 5) in which Apple calls for interested applicants in Mexico City to apply for positions at as-yet-nonexistent Apple Stores in the country’s capital. The tipster went on to detail that Apple’s first store in Latin America would be located in the Centro Santa Fe shopping center — the largest mall in both Mexico and all of Central America. A rumored second location would be built according to specifications Apple has tested out at its other “global flagship” locations across the U.S. and internationally in cities like Dubai and Brussels.
While Mexico may be the biggest nation name drop surrounding rumors of Apple’s international retail expansion, MacRumors’ tipster also said that the company plans on moving into Chile, Peru and Argentina as soon as possible.
Though the source did not mention any possible timetable for Apple’s first store in Mexico, The New York Times noted that Angela Ahrendts, senior vice president for retail at Apple and overseer of its in-store operations, has shown a willingness and preference to strike while the iron is hot.Quentin Sannié, cofounder of an audio manufacturing startup that worked with Ahrendts to get its Phantom wireless speaker in Apple’s stores, explained how accelerated timetables are part of Ahrendts’ talents.
“She moved incredibly fast, from our first meeting to figuring out how the Phantom would be displayed,” Sannié told NYT.
With millions upon millions of Mexican shoppers waiting to spend their money at a brick-and-mortar Apple Store, it’s unlikely Ahrendts plans on changing her pace now.