Browsing through the provided pictures, the Mac Store in question looks to be completely ordinary; yet, despite its convincing facade, this is an unlicensed, fake Apple store in Kunming, China.
How could this be? While anyone (including the staff members, allegedly) might believe this place was the real mccoy, it's a counterfeit store front. According to the BBC, it's not clear who owns or operates this fake Apple store, but there are more like it in the relatively lenient south-central region of China.
Mostly the result of China's lax intellectual property laws, this behavior isn't uncommon. If anything, this might be good news for Chinese Mac customers -- they can probably pick up counterfeit iPhones at a real discount.
Counterfeit Store Fronts
A Fake Apple Store Pops Up in Southwestern China
Trend Themes
1. Counterfeit Store Fronts - The trend of counterfeit store fronts will increase and companies should implement innovative measures to prevent their brand from being exploited.
2. Lax Intellectual Property Laws - Strengthening of intellectual property laws will be necessary to tackle the increase in counterfeit products globally.
3. Exploitation of Consumer Behavior - As customers continue to favor cheaper prices, companies should continue to be vigilant against counterfeit products on the market.
Industry Implications
1. Luxury Retail - Luxury retailers should use technology to create unique and difficult to counterfeit product designs or engage in legal lobbying to protect brands.
2. Consumer Electronics - Consumer electronics industry should invest in innovative anti-counterfeit technologies to minimize availability of counterfeit products on the market.
3. Fashion and Apparel - Fashion and apparel companies must implement strategies that will deter counterfeiters from taking advantage of the brand.