New Delhi: Apple may be finally ready to open its physical stores in India as the Cupertino, California-based company has started hiring a workforce for a number of roles in Mumbai and Delhi. The iPhone maker had launched its online store in India last year and its offline expansion plans were dampened by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the company has a strong franchise retail network across the country.


According to a posting on its website, Apple has started to hire for a number of roles in Apple Retail that include Specialist, Technical Special, Store Leader, Genius, Senior Manager, Manager, Operations Expert, Market Leader, Expert, Creative, Business Pro, Business Expert, etc. and the roles are available in Mumbai and New Delhi. The company is reportedly seeking individuals interested in working part-time or on contractual basis in addition to working full-time. 


Apple enthusiasts have been waiting for its brick-and-mortar stores for quite some time. According to reports, the first physical Apple store will be opened at the Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai, followed by another Apple store in Delhi.


The iPhone maker had confirmed a delay in the launch of its first physical store in Mumbai and had attributed the delay to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.


Meanwhile, since the launch of its online store in India, Apple has registered record sales. The online store aided in sales beyond the company's franchise retail network. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, during an earnings call had announced that Apple sold over a million devices in India for the first time.