Nokia's New York and Chicago flagship stores also closing
Following closure of London high street shop
Times are hard in the mobile industry, and despite the new consumer demand for smartphones and feature rich handsets, the major players are cutting every cost they can.
Recently Nokia pulled the shutters down on its flagship London store on Regent Street, and now it's apparently boarded up the shops in New York and Chicago.
Much like Apple's high street presence, the purpose of these stores is as much about building brand awareness as it is about sales, and Nokia apparently now feels that consumers are aware enough without glass fronted shops.
"The Flagship stores were originally conceived to inspire and educate consumers to the benefits of mobility through an innovative retail experience, and to broaden the appeal of the Nokia brand," reads Nokia's official statement on the closures.
"Since opening the stores in NY and Chicago (2006), consumer awareness in the US has grown substantially. Weighing those dynamics with Nokia's clear strategy in North America, and our well-established retail channel with third parties, we will close these two stores (New York and Chicago) in early 2010."
