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Xiaomi closes its first and only Mi Store in the UK

Efe UdinMarch 8, 2020

Chinese manufacturing giant, Xiaomi, started out its smartphone business with an online marketing strategy. For its first few years, the company was consistent with its online marketing which seemed to be working. However, a few years ago, it started offline marketing and only then did its “real” potential in the global smartphone market come to light. Xiaomi currently has thousands of offline stores worldwide but it only had one in the UK. Nevertheless, recent reports suggest that the company has closed its first and only Mi Store in the UK.

This Mi Store is Xiaomi’s first and only authorized store in the United Kingdom. It opened in November 2018 and is located in London’s Westfield Shopping Centre. According to reports, as of March 5th, the Mi Store is no longer functional. In addition, the store’s official Twitter account @mistorelondon is also not active. According to the Westfield website, the Mi Store located in this mall is no longer open.

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A Xiaomi spokesperson said in a statement:

Our adjustment to our local retail strategy is a response to the company’s rapid growth in Western Europe. Since officially arriving in the UK more than a year ago, we have always loved building relationships with our users, Mi Fans and partners, and thank them for their support. UK users and Mi Fans can continue to buy Xiaomi products through our official website mi.com/uk and other official channels, and these products will be announced in future product launch events.

Xiaomi is doing quite well in Western Europe

According to media reports, Xiaomi has grown rapidly in Western Europe since its debut in Spain in 2017. According to data from research company, Canalys, Xiaomi’s overall share in Europe has risen to fourth. In the third quarter of 2019, the company grew by 73% year-on-year. What do you think about Xiaomi’s closure of its only Mi Store in the UK? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

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About the author

Efe Udin
Efe Udin, a government tech policy expert is a seasoned tech writer with over seven years of tech writing experience. Efe's true passion lies in exploring the intersection of technology, politics, and brand feuds.
With an astute understanding of the power dynamics and competitive landscape within the tech world, Efe delves into the intricacies of how technology influences political discourse and how brand rivalries shape the industry.

Kris Quinn
March 9, 2020
It sucks, I’d love for them to open one in America and bring some more attention to their awesome products
Oberoth
March 9, 2020
But if they got too big then Trump would ban them!
Jason Long
March 9, 2020
I live in central London, have been to the shop quite a few times. What a shame it’s been closed, they have excellent quality and well priced merchandise. What they may not understand is that not everyone wants to buy online, people like to get their hands on the item, have a fiddle etc. But this is the way the world is going, just like Bose ended all of their bricks and mortar shops…..

Oberoth
March 9, 2020
Maybe they need to be a little smarter about the locations they choose. So I agree there are a lot of people that would much rather buy from a shop and even someone like me who would happily order online but for something like a phone or camera I want to hold it in my hands first. So i think a bricks and mortar shop would help sales both from the shop but also online too. Therefore if they can’t justify a really expensive store in the capital in an expensive shopping centre then open up in a nice area but a much cheaper area. Then if people want really want to go they will but it doesn’t cost too much. I just mean like Sutton high street or something like that or maybe out of London, go to Bristol or Manchester etc. There are places where the foot-fall is around the same but the prices would be a tenth of Westfield Shopping Centre and if someone wanted to see a product that much they would go there, these are the people that would be likely to spend money anyway but just a passer by.

Masters are Jaiden and Issac 12
March 9, 2020
Quite frankly I believe that they should try elsewhere like Milton Keynes where new technology is always welcome
Kris Quinn
March 9, 2020
That’s not how the trade agreement works, they just have to adhere to the new trade agreement stipulations and getting exposure like that in America would boost their popularity big time.

Oberoth
March 9, 2020
What part of the new trade agreement would Huawei not adhere to?
Kris Quinn
March 9, 2020
Huawei was banned long before the new trade agreement. Back in 2014 Obama started the ban on Huawei for suspected intellectual property theft and some other things.. really what it is is that the US govt feel Huawei is too comfortable with the Chinese govt

Guest
March 10, 2020
Aww its sad they closed down. It was a really good shop but on the other hand they were lacking the best products in the shop. Only once when I went there, they had the item, I was after. Bicester Village might be a good place for their little shop.
Uchiha Madara
March 10, 2020
😂😂 hahaha.. that’s quite funny but true…
David Byer
March 10, 2020
I guess the rental facilities are high in that Westfield Mall. They should move it closer to London Center maybe. I love their mobile phones. Got 3 still and sold my previous 3!!! 👍👏😁

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Xiaomi is doing quite well in Western Europe

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