By Nick Pino
BOSE經過27年於零售市場經營扎根，提供消費者商品體驗；受到電商崛起的影響，如今宣布部分區域取消公司直營門市的計畫(如美國，歐洲，日本與澳洲)，但消費者仍是可以至其他大型賣場或合作經銷商體驗實機音質與了解商品，市場上當然還是有BOSE的優質商品陳列展示中。
According to information obtained by The Verge, Bose retail stores in those four territories are expected to shutter in the next few months as the company invests more heavily in its online presence.
預計這些地方約有119間門市會在近期內陸續結束營運。但大中華區、中東以及印度，東南亞與南韓等地還是會繼續經營與考慮展店計畫。
In total Bose says around 119 stores will be closed down in the coming months, but says that it will keep 130 stores running in Greater China and the United Arab Emirates with additional stores planned for India, Southeast Asia, and South Korea.
“Originally, our retail stores gave people a way to experience, test, and talk to us about multi-component, CD and DVD-based home entertainment systems,” said Colette Burke, vice president of Global Sales, Bose Corporation. “At the time, it was a radical idea, but we focused on what our customers needed, and where they needed it – and we’re doing the same thing now.
Hundreds of employees are expected to be laid off because of the decision, however Bose said that it will be offering outplacement assistance and severance to affected employees.
Third-party retailers to the rescue
The news is disappointing for audiophiles who have been frequenting the audio store since its first shop opened in 1993 and devastating for the employees who are being let go, but Bose is just the latest victim of the shift from brick and mortar to online commerce that began back in the ’90s.
As sad as it is to say, electronics retailers the world over are having a hard time competing with online retailers like Amazon who can offer better prices and faster shipping for folks who don’t need or want personal interaction when buying tech.
The silver lining here is that, for folks who do want that, Bose products won’t disappear from the retail world entirely: all the products currently in stores at Best Buy, Target and others won’t disappear, and it’s possible the brand may actually have a stronger presence at those retailers once there aren’t any dedicated Bose stores.
Long story short, you’ll still be able to go somewhere to get buying advice on Bose headphones both in-stores at the remaining local electronics retailers and online, but the Bose store at your local mall probably won’t be there much longer.
WAWU TECH 