Portuguese group Marques da Silva (GMS) is getting ready to open an official Apple store at Forum Algarve Shopping Centre in Faro on Thursday (July 31).
The group is one of the American corporation’s “authorised resellers” – licensed to sell a multitude of Apple electronics and products.
So if you’re looking for one of Apple’s latest iPhones, iPads, computers or any other gadgets, Forum Algarve will be worth the visit.
GMS administrator André Marques da Silva told Lusa news agency that the group has invested €600,000 and hired seven new workers to bring this store to life, and is planning further expansion within the country. It will all depend on “opportunities that may appear”.
Silva explained that Apple is very demanding over criteria used to open a new store – locations must be “premium, prestigious and widely visited”.
Besides the new store in Faro, GMS also has outlets in Lisbon (Chiado, Amoreiras Shopping and Colombo Shopping) and Almada.
According to the group, the four stores have been showing “very interesting” growth, with sales volume increasing 30% between 2012 and 2013.
The goal for this year is to increase 40% compared to 2013.
The opening at Forum Algarve was scheduled to start at 6.30pm on Thursday with a performance by famous Portuguese DJ Pete Tha Zouk, as well as the opportunity to try out some of Apple’s latest products.
