Exclusive by Patrick Avenell
SYDNEY: Sony is set to go head-to-head with Apple in storeland, with the Japanese company this morning confirming that it will be opening a Sony Centre in the same Gold Coast suburb as the new Apple store.
In addition to this store, Sydney is set to get another Sony Centre, its third, with a Drummoyne centre also announced.
Just two days after Apple revealed that a Robina Apple store, its first in Queensland, would be opening this Saturday, Sony contacted Current.com.au this morning to say they will not have to wait long for serious direct boutique competition.
“Sony plans to expand its network of Sony Centre stores throughout this year, including an additional store in Drummoyne, New South Wales, and Robina on the Gold Coast,” said Sony Australia retail marketing manager Neil Stow. “Both stores will be opening in the next few months.”
Whilst the Gold Coast is an obvious choice for a new Sony Centre, with the southeast Queensland locale experiencing rapid population expansion, especially amongst young families, Drummoyne, in Sydney’s innerwest is a more curious choice.
Although unconfirmed, Current.com.au understands this new Sony Centre will be on Victoria Road, a major transit road between the Sydney CBD and inner residential areas. We asked Sony for comment on the thinking behind this choice, but it was unable to reply in time for publication.