The Google Store

I read this interesting article on Mashable today that really got me thinking about a company that we all interact with multiple times a day. Google. (In fact, I realized now that I actually used Google to google information about Google. It is now so big, its a noun AND a verb. Crazy.)

The Big News: Google is planning on opening several retail brick and mortar stores later this year.
*shocked face*

First impression--- "Wow, Google. Do you have to copy everything that Apple does? Are you always this late to the party? Get some new unique ideas." (I pre-warned you of my Apple loyalty in a previous post)

Impression after thinking logically and using the marketing side of my brain--- "With the recent launch of the Google Chromebook and the upcoming release of Google Glass, launching a chain of retail stores in which the customer can physically interact and experience the product for themselves actually sounds like a pretty logical, smart move."

Why did Apple launch its own line of stores? Many reasons I'm sure can be thought of, but the list definitely includes having complete control of the product from production to final sale, enhancing customer understanding of the product features/benefits, and creating an unique experience for customers that increases brand loyalty. I think for many of the same reasons, Google is now interested in launching a line of stores of their own.

Google is no longer just a search engine. With its recent acquisitions of YouTube, Blogger, Picasa, and Android, Google is building a company based on much more than simply search. Google is building an entire web experience for consumers. They own their own OS, are launching their own tech gadgets, and have money to spend. Why wouldn't they open a store of their own?

While the features and functionality of the Chromebook are not drastically different than a regular laptop, keeping the learning curve rather minimal, the same will not be true of the the yet-to-be-released Google Glass. Google Glass will require significant customer-to-associate interaction in showing the consumer the features of the new product and how to properly wear and operate the glasses. As you can see from the video below, there are a lot of interesting features rumored to be in these glasses. (Granted, this video was uploaded by Google almost a year ago as a mock-up of what Glass could be like. Who knows if features like these will actually be a part of the product. Sure would be sick though!)



I will be interested to see what more comes of this potential Google store news in the coming months. For Google to branch out of the virtual world and enter the tangible one will be a bold move. I'm not sure how well two main products (Glass and Chromebook) can support a chain of retail stores, but I suppose Google could sell products that they are affiliated with as well such as cell phones and tablets, assuming they get the proper permissions from the manufacturers. If Google can strike those selling agreements, I think Google will be launching itself into an entirely new and financially profitable chapter of its story.